Embark in the Service of God: 2015 Young Women's Camp

Now in the full swing of summer, many families spend their weekends and holidays communing with nature by leaving the comfort of their soft beds in temperature-controlled homes in favor of a sleeping bag on the hard ground inside a tent. It's called “camping,” and it's a beloved summer tradition. Camping has many perks. Kids can get as dirty as they want with no parental shame. It is relatively inexpensive compared with the cost of hotels, especially for larger families. And there is something quite basic, quite honest about sleeping outside among the trees and animals. It brings us close together and teaches us much about ourselves, others, nature, and our relationship with all three.

These past four days I had the privilege of camping with 10 adorable young women, ages 12-16, and two other leaders, both delightful women and new friends. I think the word “awesome” is woefully overused, but in this case, I can't think of a better expression to capture the essence of our four days at Young Women's camp. The 12 of us camped alongside maybe 100 other young women from our stake and numerous leaders and helpers, cooks, nurses, fire fighters, trained challenge course specialists, and more. These many volunteers united with one common goal: Give these sweet, young daughters of God the opportunity to grow closer to Him and to their Savior.

Why camping? Lots of reasons, but one that initially comes to mind is that camping is hard. Everything about it is hard. From eating to sleeping to something as simple as going to the bathroom, everything is harder when you're camping. But we learn through the experience that we can do hard things. And that is valuable. In addition, while camping, these young women left all electronics behind, so they could be present in the moment, not texting, posting to social media, or taking selfies. They communicated with each other in person. They had conflicts, yes, but they resolved them face to face, not through an impersonal text message.

Camping also presents various physical challenges. This particular camp has a challenge experience that concludes with a ropes course followed by a zip line. Some girls are afraid of heights; others wonder if they are strong enough to climb the telephone pole or brave enough to walk across the rope so high. I wondered these things myself, truth be told. But I did it anyway, as did the majority of the 100+ girls at camp. They learned to challenge themselves even when they feel scared and to trust in their own abilities.

Most important, there is something spiritual about being out in nature, where all around you is the beauty of God's creation. Late Wednesday night, all the girls and leaders formed a giant circle called “Circle of Light” and ward by ward, broke through the darkness with flashlights, and sang a song associated with each ward's assigned Young Women's value. It was simultaneously peaceful and powerful, serene and strong. As the girls from our ward sang about virtue, you could feel their strength, their conviction, their testimonies.

And of course we can't forget the most basic element of girls' camp: FUN! From crafts to snipe hunting to tent laughter till the wee hours of the morning, “My hands are high, I'm in the groove, and this is how I bust a move!” I was blessed to be part of this Young Women's camp. I had the added burden of a crazy horrible allergic reaction that caused relentless sneezing; watery, swollen, red eyes; and decreased energy. Nevertheless, it was a joy to participate.

“Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day" (D&C 4:2).