Obeying the Law of the Pack

As young boys growing up in Simi Valley, California, Michael Oakford and Austen Anderson first met at Cub Scouts. It was here that they learned the Cub Scout Law:

I, (say your name), promise
to DO MY BEST
To do my DUTY to GOD
And my Country
To HELP other people, and
To OBEY the LAW of the Pack

Their families moved into the same ward (congregation) and they attended the same high school. They played on the same volleyball team. And they both received mission calls at the same time to Pennsylvania -- one to the Harrisburg Mission and one to the Philadelphia Mission. This would mean that even though they'd be in the same state, they wouldn't see each other until they returned home after two years.

Elder Oakford (left) - the Philadelphia missionary - served in Frankford (7.5 months), Germantown (3 months), Pottstown (6 months), Morrisville (4.5 months), and Rising Sun (4 months).

Elder Anderson (right) - the Harrisburg missionary - served in the following locations during his two year mission: West Pittston (4.5 months), Williamsport (4.5 months), Bedford (3 months), Lemoyne (4.5 months), Hollidaysburg (6 months) and Nazareth (3 months).

It was during Elder Anderson's last assignment in Nazareth that part of the Harrisburg mission got moved into the Philadelphia mission. And Nazareth was included in that change. So Elder Anderson ended his mission as one of our Philadelphia missionaries.

Tonight Elders Anderson and Oakford prepare to go home. They arrived at mission home at 6PM -- one from Rising Son, Maryland and the other from Nazareth, Pennsylvania. And seeing each other for the first time in two years, they had a great reunion full of hugs and shouts of joy. They leave on the same flight tomorrow morning at 6:30AM, heading back home to California.

These two fine young men fulfilled their Cub Scout promise. They have done their best. They have done their duty to God and their country. They have help many other people. And they have obeyed the law of the Pack.

What is the law of the Pack?

The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

And who is Akela? "Akela, the great gray Lone Wolf, who led all the Pack by strength and cunning, lay out at full length on his rock, and below him sat forty or more wolves of every size and color."
—Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

In Cub Scout packs, Akela is a symbol of wisdom, authority, and leadership. Akela is anyone who acts as a leader to the Scout. Akela can be a Cubmaster, Den Leader, parent or teacher depending on where the guidance takes place.

As these two Cub Scouts grew and became mature, thoughtful Mormon Missionaries, Akela was replaced appropriately by Jesus Christ. For two solid years, Elders Anderson and Oakford gave of their heart, might, mind and strength in serving Jesus Christ and in teaching and inviting hundreds and hundreds to follow Him. They have helped build the Kingdom of God. We thank them for their service.