Like leaven, the positive influence of 3,000 LDS boys and their leaders permeated Fort A.P. Hill, Va., site of the 1989 National Scout Jamboree Aug. 2-8.

Many Church members had positive missionary experiences at the jamboree, and copies of the Book of Mormon were distributed by LDS Scouts throughout the camp.Lee Maxwell of the Farmington 9th Ward, Farmington Utah Stake, one of 13 volunteer LDS chaplains, visited each sub-camp in his charge and gave each LDS boy a copy of the Book of Mormon.

"I told them to keep it for their personal use, or write their testimony in it and give it to a friend," Maxwell explained. "Many of the boys gave them away, and some of them came back for two or three books. It was marvelous."

About 36,000 participants from throughout the United States and 12 foreign countries participated in the jamboree, which centered around the theme "The Adventure Begins. . .with America's Youth." During the week, the Scouts had to deal with stifling heat and humidity that had them drinking gallons of liquids daily during part of the encampment.

For the LDS contingent, a highlight of the jamboree was a special sacrament meeting Aug. 6, attended by President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency. About 50 priests and 150 deacons from throughout the United States blessed and passed the sacrament during the service, held outdoors in an area near the center of the camp.

Also participating in the service were Elder Marion D. Hanks of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone of the First Quorum of the Seventy and general Young Men president; and Elder Robert B. Harbertson of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and Young Men second counselor; and local Church leaders. Elder Harbertson conducted the service.

"You are a marvelous sight," President Monson told the Scouts and their leaders. "There is nowhere in this world that I would rather be, and no group with whom I would rather be meeting at this hour, than right here with you on this occasion. We have felt the Spirit of the Lord as we have partaken of the sacrament, and we shall long remember the experiences of this jamboree.

"When I told President Ezra Taft Benson I was coming, his reply was, `Take me with you.' He is a great Scouter."

President Monson referred to a nearby sign titled "Confidence course."

"Scouting provides you confidence," he emphasized, "confidence among your peers, confidence in school, confidence as a missionary. I hope that every one of you young men will qualify to be a missionary, and that you are training for that right now."

He encouraged the boys to obey the Scout Law and Scout Oath. "If we obey that law, we will be prepared to be missionaries, and if we earn the merit badges that are available to us, we will have that confidence we need to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond to any assignment that may come to us in life."

President Monson also praised the Scout leaders.

"I pay tribute to all of you leaders who are here today who could very well be somewhere else. You may never have a monument erected to you; yet you don't really need one, because if you want to see the Lord's monument to you, just look around today at these young men who one day will exemplify in their lives the training which you have provided them here."

Elder Hanks counseled Scouts to engage in truly "fun" activities - activities that they can look back upon without guilt.

"Unless," he continued, "what we do is inclined to strengthen and build up and help people, and unless we would be able to look our Heavenly Father in the eye, then it really isn't going to be remembered as much fun.

"If in the years ahead you look back and you think of fun, you will think of things that your own conscience can approve, that strengthen your self-respect, that make you feel really good about yourself."

Service was the theme of Elder Featherstone's remarks. He referred to Mosiah Chapter 2 and Section 4 in the Doctrine and Covenants, exhorting each boy and leader to serve with their "heart, might, mind and strength."

"When we add love to service, great things begin to happen," he emphasized.

He recounted America's rise to its full stature to aid "underdog nations of the earth" following the crippling Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.

"That's what the Aaronic Priesthood of this great Church should do. We ought to rise to our full height. I think the outside world will be startled as this great giant, this young army of God, moves forward in the days ahead."

The temperature during the meeting was near 100, and the humidity also was high.

Elder Featherstone and Elder Harbertson staffed the LDS exhibit at the Religious Drop-in Center and served as supervisory chaplains throughout the jamboree. They also ate and spoke with boys on a one-on-one basis at their sub-camps during the week.

During the jamboree, Church leaders also met with the national leadership of Boy Scouts of America to reaffirm the bond between the two organizations. (See accompanying story on page 4.)

In addition to being nourished spiritually during the jamboree, Scouts were strengthened physically and mentally by a host of activities.

The Merit Badge Midway included 80 booths on different merit badge topics. It provided many hands-on opportunities, including a simulated downhill ski run.

"A boy can go in there and and pass off requirements, or at least learn about all of the different badges," noted Elder Featherstone. "Other than Philmont (Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico), I don't know of a better way of getting in touch with this many young men in a close, outdoor setting that emphasizes principles the Church teaches."

Other activities included an obstacle course, fishing, rafting, canoeing and kayaking, swimming and snorkeling, arts and science fair, air rifle and archery ranges, buckskin games, trap shooting and competitive patrol events such as volleyball, flagpole raising, tug-of-war and the Brownsea Island Camp - a re-creation of the first Boy Scout camp, conducted by Baden-Powell in 1907 on Brownsea Island off the coast of England.

Huge arena shows featured film director and producer Steven Spielberg on opening night, the LDS performing group The Jets Aug. 5, and a 45-minute visit from President George Bush Aug. 7. Fireworks and "flyovers" by Navy fighter jets added to the excitement of the first two programs.

President Bush flew in via helicopter during the day on Aug. 7 and spoke to 35,000 Scouts. The president called Scouts "America's future," and praised Scouting's efforts to fight drug abuse, child abuse and to aid the homeless. He called drugs the "greatest challenge of our time, the corruption of the very soul of young America," and also encouraged boys to stick with the Scouting program and to pursue worthwhile goals that build their confidence.

The jamboree provided the opportunity for some Scouts and leaders to renew acquaintances, and for many to tour historic sites in the Washington D.C. area.

Leader David S. Glauser went back a week early with about 500 Scouts and adults from the Great Salt Lake Council to tour the historic area.

"The boys have had a fantastic time," he said. "This has been a great opportunity for them to see an exciting part of the country. Elder Featherstone spoke to us during a sacrament meeting in Washington the first Sunday we were here. The boys also gave away 30 or 40 copies of the Book of Mormon while we were traveling around."