Next week tens of thousands of young men and women and their leaders will arrive at the Summit Bechtel Reserve near Beckley, West Virginia for the 2017 National Boy Scout Jamboree. While there, they will have an opportunity to participate in whitewater rafting, shooting sports, scuba diving, zip lines, BMX and mountain biking, and many other activities including three booths sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Stan Child, the Co-Chair for the LDS exhibit explained that “Scouts can expect to see an excellent exhibit in the Duty to God and Country Pavilion about our belief in the Savior Jesus Christ, but more importantly, they will feel the Savior’s love for them, both during the Jamboree and long after the event.”
The exhibit has been tailored to help Scouts of all faiths feel the Spirit and connect them to heaven as they learn where they came from, why they are here and where they are going after this life. All visitors to the exhibit will also have an opportunity to earn the 2017 Jamboree Compass Award. The liahona shaped award is inscribed with the words “Decisions determine destiny”. This award can only be earned in person at the Jamboree and will be a wonderful keepsake to help the visitors to the exhibit remember the spirit they felt as they learned important gospel truths. Preview the requirements here.
In addition to the exhibit, Scouts will learn why family is so important in this world as they visit the Family Life merit badge area. Here they will learn that strong family ties help strengthen us against the pressures of our day. The Genealogy merit badge area will also provide Scouts the opportunity to connect with family members, as they learn about the importance of Family History. This experience will provide them a lasting feeling of the important nature of family.
On Sunday, July 23rd, everyone at the Jamboree is invited to attend LDS Sacrament Meeting that will be held at the AT&T Arena where Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, will be the guest speaker.
Throughout the Jamboree we will be posting daily photos and stories featuring LDS Scouts and Scouters and their experiences at Jamboree. Please follow along on the following social media streams:
- facebook: com/LDSjambo
- instagram: @LDSjambo
- twitter: @LDSjambo
-Rob Newbould is an award-winning photographer known for his unique ability to capture light and bend color. He first fell in love with taking pictures while working on the photography merit badge as a Boy Scout. This led to a lifelong career in the photo industry and a passion for telling the story of scouting through his images. Rob lives in Clearfield, Utah and serves in his Stake’s Young Men Presidency. Additionally, he is the NYLT Coordinator for the Trapper Trails Council. Rob is an Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver recipient. The views and opinions expressed in these blog messages are solely those of the author.