TOOELE COUNTY, Utah — The advent of a new millennium — with all the prospects of forging the future — was sufficient reason for the Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America to organize Expo 2000 where Scouters from across the Wasatch Front in Utah joined in a three-day festival of Scouting June 8-10 in the wide open valley of Tooele County.

Two days of high winds had whipped the Expo into a suffocating dust bowl and left many of the boys and their leaders with sand-crusted arms and faces. "It's nice to come out here to Desert Storm," President James E. Faust said to the delight of the Scouters who assembled to hear the second counselor in the First Presidency speak June 9.

"I'll be brief so you'll remember my comments," President Faust continued. "Always, everyday, obey the Scout Law and the Scout Oath."

As the grand marshal of the Expo, President Faust asked, "Why Scouting?"

"Scouting is more than merit badges," he continued. "It's about building character, about building leadership. Lord Baden Powell, who established the Scouting movement, said a Scout's first duty is to God."

After completing his comments, President Faust invited his grandson, Jacob Smith, who had accompanied him onto the stage, to stand with him and lead the Scouts in reciting the Scout Oath. Thousand of Scouts and their leaders then stood as they dusted their clothes and squared their arms to form the Scout Sign and repeated the Oath in unison.

Expo 2000 combined all the traditional Scouting events of the year, such as Scout-O-Rama, jamborees and camporees into one huge event, explained Jim Davidson, general chairman of the Expo. An estimated 40,000 people attended each day, including 24,000 Scouts and Cub Scouts, making this event the largest activity ever sponsored by the Great Salt Lake Council, according to Brother Davidson.

Unique to Expo 2000 was the opportunity for families to participate with Scouters by camping near the encampment and joining the activities. "They were able to eat dust in their food just like the Scouts," said Ted Phillips, a member of the steering committee.

"Based on events and activities, this must rank among the greatest Scouting experiences," he said.

The encampment was situated on hundreds of acres beside the Deseret Peak Recreational Complex located in the open valley between Tooele City and Grantsville in Tooele County. Facilities included an Olympic-size swimming pool, a demolition derby arena, a BMX bike track and grandstand seating for major events.

Boy Scouts were able to complete some aspect of each of the 100 merit badges offered by the Scouting program in venues along the merit badge midway. Varsity Scouts had 30 activities from which to choose that emphasized all five fields of the Varsity program. Activities for Venture Scouts included an opportunity to take a short flight over the Tooele valley in a small aircraft.

E-mail: shaun@desnews.com