Faith Walk

I had the great opportunity and pleasure in be in charge of the faith walk for our young women's camp this year. To be honest, it was scary and hard, especially at first. I don't remember doing faith walks growing up so I felt I didn't have much experience with it. My only experience was the faith walk we did last year at camp, and the girls loved it and I felt that I had to live up to that expectation they had. It felt very overwhelming for a few weeks even though I said yes. I pondered on it for weeks and looked online for some ideas, but nothing really sat well with me. I struggled as I thought about it. 

I saw one idea online that I liked but I wasn't sure how to work with it. Someone said they gave the young women the prompt of "My Jesus is/has...." and I loved that and so I asked the young women presidents from each of the wards to send me what their girls said. I loved the responses that came in and they were incredible. I was so touched with them! I knew I wanted this to be how I ended the faith walk, with these phrases that were personal and from the young women in our stake.

The overall youth theme this year is "Walk with Me" and I knew I wanted to incorporate that in some way. Also, the new names of the young women groups had recently came to be and I thought I could work with that. When I first heard the names, I was a little unsure about them but the more I listened to videos from the general young women presidency about them, I knew they had thought about it and felt inspired about these names. I wanted the young women to feel something about these names also and for them to have some sort of connection with them.

Then the last thought that I knew I wanted to work with was stories from the scriptures, in particular, stories of women in the Old Testament. We are studying the Old Testament this year for Come Follow Me, and there are so many good stories, but it is hard to read the Old Testament and connect with these stories from so long ago. I love and cherish my scriptures and my study time of the scriptures. This did not come until later in life but I wanted to share my love of the scriptures with these young women and show them that we can connect with these stories and if God showed up in their stories in these ways and gave these people of the Old Testament eternal promises, then He can show up that way in our stories and He will also promise us these same promises.

Now I knew I wanted to use the new names of the young women's groups and women in the Old Testament but was struggling how to make it a faith walk and which stories do I use that make the most sense. So, I turned to good old ChatGPT for some help. Once I started there and had some ideas to work with, it started to come together. It wasn't all at once and this whole faith walk definitely came line upon line, precept upon precept, a little here and a little there. I would work on it for a day and then take a break and get a new ideas of what to add or take out. One of the biggest things I had to figure out was the flow for each group. There was a lot of waiting last year so I had to figure out a solution to that problem. I decided to do three different stations and within each group were mini stations so there was movement and flow and the girls weren't just sitting the entire time. I would get ideas on little interactive ideas to do that would come as impressions in my mind as I pondered on how to best do this. I found the most amazing pictures that I could download for each of the new names that I knew I wanted each girl to have. It was really such a sweet experience to see how the Lord worked through me and gave me thoughts and impressions. My overall prayer was constant and was that at least one small part of this faith walk would touch each of the girls. Each one could be different but either something that they did, heard, or felt would touch their hearts. 

I wanted to share here what I came up with so that I can always remember this experience. It was truly an amazing experience for me. I had to really work through it, and it was time where I truly recognized the Spirit working through me to help this faith walk be something memorable for these young women and help build their testimonies of their Savior.

Builder of Faith- Ruth (Station One)

Station One: (Have small blocks of wood.)

 Introduction: Sometimes we look at people with strong faith and think they were just born brave. Like maybe Ruth just woke up one morning fearless and faithful. But that’s usually not how faith works. Faith is almost always built slowly — in ordinary moments, through small choices, on hard days when you decide to trust God one more time.

And honestly, that’s what makes Ruth’s story so hopeful for us.

Ruth was not part of the covenant people at first. Then her husband died, and suddenly everything felt uncertain. Naomi, her mother-in-law, was grieving too. They were poor. They had no clear future. Naomi even told Ruth, “You should stay behind. Go back to what’s familiar. Go back to what’s safe.”

And Ruth could have.

But instead, Ruth chose covenant over comfort. She chose faith over fear.

She says this beautiful line that feels so much bigger than just loyalty to Naomi. It feels like a declaration of discipleship:

“Whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” — Ruth 1:16

What I love about Ruth is that she did not know how the story would end. She didn’t have a five-step plan. She didn’t know where provision would come from or how things would work out. She only knew the next faithful step.

And sometimes that’s exactly how walking with Christ feels.

You may not know the whole future. You may not know how everything will work out. But you can know the next right thing. Say the prayer. Keep the promise. Show up. Trust Him today.

That’s how faith is built.

Not all at once.
One faithful step at a time.

(Give each young women a wooden block.) Say, “Carry this with you during this walk. It represents the things we carry in life- worries, choices, fears, responsibilities, hopes, doubts, and dreams. Think about what you are carrying right now.”

(Let them think for a short period and then have them move to the next station.)

Builder of Faith- Ruth (Station Two)

Station 2: (Have grain/wheat stalks scattered. Have the girls gather the grain together and place it in a pile. Have the girls sit in a circle around the grain.)

Share: When Ruth and Naomi finally arrived in Bethlehem, life did not suddenly become easy. They were still poor. They were still grieving. They still had to figure out how to survive.

So, Ruth went out into the fields every single day to gather leftover grain. And honestly, it was probably exhausting work. Hot, repetitive, unnoticed work. No applause. No dramatic miracle moment. Just showing up day after day and doing what needed to be done.

And I think sometimes we skip over that part of Ruth’s story too quickly.

Because Ruth’s faith was not only built in the big moments — like when she chose to leave Moab. Her faith was also built in the ordinary moments. In the quiet work. In the daily effort.

I love that President Nelson has taught that “the Lord loves effort.”

Not perfection.
Not having everything figured out.
Effort.

And maybe that’s comforting, because a lot of discipleship actually looks like “gathering grain.”

It looks like saying your prayers even when you feel distracted.
Reading scriptures when you’re tired.
Trying again after a hard day.
Being kind when nobody notices.
Showing up to church.
Helping at home.
Starting over with God again and again.

Those small things can feel repetitive sometimes. Maybe even invisible. But those are often the very things God uses to slowly build strength, faith, and character inside of us.

Ruth probably did not realize while she was gathering grain that God was also gathering something inside of her.

Steadiness.
Trust.
Faithfulness.

And He does the same thing with us.

So maybe think about this for a minute:

Ask: What are the “daily grain gathering” things in your life that nobody really sees, but they are strengthening your faith? And how might those hard, ordinary, repetitive parts of your life actually be helping God build you into something stronger? (Share and talk about it for a couple of minutes)

(After discussion, quietly have the group move to the next station.)

Builder of Faith- Ruth (Station Three)

Station 3: (Gather the girls around a small flat surface along with markers. Also have Builders of Faith picture)

Share: As Ruth kept faithfully working in the fields, someone noticed her: Boaz. But he did not notice Ruth because she was loud or impressive or trying to get attention. He noticed her because of her kindness, her loyalty, and the quiet strength of her character.

And I wonder if there were days Ruth felt invisible.

She was a widow. An outsider. A foreigner in a new place. She probably carried fears and worries nobody else could fully see. But even when Ruth may have felt unnoticed by the world, God saw every faithful step she took.

And He sees yours too.

Sometimes we carry heavy things quietly — worries about school, friendships, family, the future, feeling not good enough, wondering where we belong. And sometimes we act like we have to carry all of it alone.

But one thing Ruth’s story teaches us is this: God is already involved in your story, even in the small and ordinary moments. He notices your effort. He notices your faithfulness. He notices you.

So right now, I want you to take the wooden block you’ve been carrying.

Think about how sometimes we carry things every day — burdens, fears, hopes, prayers, questions, even dreams for who we want to become. And then, instead of carrying those things alone, write on your block one small daily step of faith you want to build into your life.

(Some ideas to share: Pray every night, Be kind to siblings, Read scriptures for 5 minutes, Stop gossiping, Serve daily, Have courage, Listen to the Spirit and act on the promptings.)

(Hand out markers and have them write one thing on their block. Once mostly done, share next part.)

Here’s what I love about Ruth’s story: her small daily choices mattered more than she could see. Ruth probably had no idea that her faithful little acts would eventually place her in the family line of Jesus Christ.

Small choices matter because small choices build us.

One prayer builds trust.
One act of kindness builds compassion.
One brave decision builds courage.
One faithful step leads to another.

And now, together, we’re going to build something.

As you place your block with everyone else’s, watch what happens: one block alone may not seem like much, but together they create something strong. That’s how faith works too. It’s built one small choice at a time, one day at a time, until eventually God creates something stronger and more beautiful than you could have imagined. We are builders of faith. (Place blocks on top of each other to build a wall or tower. Leave all the blocks there for all the groups to add to)

(Give them each the builders of faith picture and bear your testimony of faith.)

Messengers of Hope- Esther (Part One)

Station 1: Introduction: Sometimes we think making a difference means being the loudest person in the room. Or the most talented. Or the most confident. But Esther’s story reminds us that God often works through ordinary people who are simply willing to trust Him. Esther was just a young woman living a normal life, and suddenly everything changed. She found herself in the palace as queen, probably wondering, How did I even get here? Maybe she didn’t fully understand why her life was unfolding the way it was. And honestly, haven’t we all felt that before?

Sometimes God places us in situations we do not fully understand yet. In a certain family. A certain school. A certain friendship. A certain moment. And while we may not always see the reason right away, God sees the bigger picture.

Esther was exactly where she needed to be because her people needed hope.

And maybe one of the things we learn from Esther is this: you are not where you are by accident either.

Then came the terrifying moment. Esther learned that her people were in danger of being destroyed, and she was asked to go before the king and plead for their lives. The problem was that approaching the king without being invited could actually mean death.

Can you imagine how afraid she must have felt?

Esther could have stayed silent. She could have protected herself. She could have chosen comfort and safety.

But instead, she chose courage. She chose faith over fear.

I love that Esther’s courage did not mean she wasn’t scared. It meant she trusted God more than her fear.

And sometimes being a messenger of hope looks exactly like that. Speaking when it would be easier to stay quiet. Standing for goodness when it feels uncomfortable. Helping someone feel seen. Trusting that God can use your small voice in powerful ways.

You do not have to be perfect or fearless for God to work through you.

(Have the group walk to the next station.)

Messengers of Hope- Esther (Part Two)

Station 2: (Have a line made with rope on the ground and have the girls stand on one side.)

I want everyone to stand on this side of the line for a minute.

This line represents those moments in life when you know the right thing to do… but doing it feels scary. Maybe your stomach drops a little. Maybe you feel nervous, anxious, or worried about what people will think.

And honestly, that’s exactly how it probably felt for Esther.

Esther was asked to do something incredibly brave. She had to walk into the king’s presence and speak up for her people, knowing it could cost her everything. I don’t think Esther felt fearless walking into that moment. I think she probably felt very human — nervous, uncertain, maybe even overwhelmed.

But courage is not the absence of fear.

Courage is choosing faith while fear is still there.

It’s trusting God enough to step forward anyway.

So, crossing this line today represents choosing faith over fear. It represents doing the brave thing even when it’s uncomfortable.

Maybe for you, bravery looks like:

• Standing up for your beliefs
• Including someone who feels left out
• Apologizing first
• Asking for help when you’re struggling
• Speaking kindly when others are gossiping
• Defending someone
• Trying again after failure
• Being honest
• Letting someone know they matter

Those moments may not seem huge to the world, but they can bring hope to people in ways you may never fully realize.

Because sometimes the people who bring the most light into the world are simply the people willing to take one brave step.

So, when you’re ready, step across the line.

And as you do, think about this question:
What is one brave thing God might be asking you to do right now to bring hope to someone else?

Like Esther, you do not have to be fearless to make a difference.
You just have to be willing to trust God enough to step forward.

(Once everyone has stepped across the rope.) Discuss: How does it feel to have this kind of courage? How can God help you do these things that are hard or scare you? (Talk for a couple of minutes. Then have the group walk to the next station.)

Messengers of Hope- Esther (Part Three)

Station 3: (Have the girls walk to the mirror with the affirmations on it. Also have Messengers of Hope picture)

I want you to take a minute to look at the words and take them in. Sometimes we forget those things about ourselves. Sometimes the world gets loud, and it becomes easy to focus only on what we lack or where we fall short. (Take one minute for silence and let girls read.)

But Esther’s story reminds us of something powerful:

Esther was an ordinary girl who did extraordinary things because she understood who she was and whose she was.

She was a daughter of God.

And so are you.

Before Esther was a queen…
Before she was courageous…
Before she saved her people…

She was loved by God.

That truth mattered more than her fear.

And the same is true for you. You are not valuable because you are perfect. You are not important because you always say the right thing or never struggle. Your worth was given to you by God long before you ever proved anything.

You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father.
He knows you personally.
He sees gifts and strengths in you that maybe you do not even fully see yet.

And those gifts were not given just for you. They were given so you can bring hope, light, and goodness to the people around you.

You are meant to be a messenger of hope.

Now, stand together in a circle, I want each person to share one way they can show love or bring hope to someone around them. Maybe it’s through kindness, listening, including others, serving, encouraging someone, standing up for what’s right, or simply helping people feel seen.

After you share, hold the hand of the person next to you, and we’ll keep going until everyone is connected. (Do the activity until everyone is holding hands.)

This is what the kingdom of God is supposed to feel like:
People strengthening each other.
People lifting each other.
People helping each other remember who they are.

And I think that’s part of Esther’s message too.

Sometimes we think we have to become fearless before God can use us. But Esther shows us the opposite. She was afraid, and she still chose to walk forward in faith.

That’s real courage.

And because she trusted God, she became a messenger of hope to her people.

As we walk with Christ, He can help us become messengers of hope too — in our schools, our families, our friendships, and in small quiet choices every single day.

And maybe, just like Esther, you were placed exactly where you are “for such a time as this.” 

(Give them each the picture of the messenger of hope and bear your testimony of hope.)

Gatherer of Light- Women of Shunem (Part One)

Station 1: Introduction: Sometimes we think light only shows up in huge spiritual moments — the big miracles, the dramatic answers, the unforgettable experiences. And sometimes it does. But more often, light grows quietly through simple acts of goodness that almost seem small at first.

That’s what I love about the woman of Shunem.

Her story starts with something really ordinary. The prophet Elisha would pass through her town, and she noticed him. Not just once — she kept noticing him. She invited him in to eat whenever he came by. Over time, she realized there was something different about him. Scripture says she “perceived” that he was a holy man of God.

I love that word: perceived.

Because before she could gather light, she had to notice it.

She noticed a need. She noticed goodness. She noticed something holy happening around her.

And honestly, that takes more discipleship than we sometimes realize.

The world is loud and distracting, and it’s easy to move through life without really seeing people. But gatherers of light pay attention. They notice the friend sitting alone. They notice when someone is hurting. They notice quiet promptings from the Spirit. They notice the ways God is trying to speak to them in ordinary moments.

And then they do something about it.

The woman of Shunem didn’t just notice Elisha — she acted. She made room for goodness in her home and in her life. She created a place where light could grow.

And we can do the same thing.

Every time you help someone feel seen, you gather light.
Every time you listen to the Spirit, you gather light.
Every time you choose kindness, goodness, or faithfulness in a small moment, light grows a little brighter.

Sometimes gathering light is not dramatic at all.

Sometimes it looks like paying attention.
Sometimes it looks like making room for God.
Sometimes it looks like small acts of goodness done over and over again. 

(Have the group move to the next station.)

Gatherer of Light- Women of Shunem (Part Two)

Station 2: (Have a blanket and show it to the group. Also have glowsticks by you.)

Ask: When you look at this blanket, what does it make you think of? (Let them answer- some ideas: Comfort, warmth, safety, rest, feeling cared for, feeling loved.)

It’s interesting how something simple can communicate something so powerful.

And that’s part of what I love about the woman of Shunem. When Elisha traveled through her town, she didn’t just notice him — she wanted to care for him. Scripture tells us she made a room for him in her home so he would have a place to stay whenever he passed by.

Think about that for a minute.

She created a place where someone could feel safe, welcomed, and cared for. She made room for light.

And honestly, some of the holiest things we will ever do are exactly like that.

Not huge dramatic moments.
Not standing on a stage.
Not doing something the whole world notices.

Sometimes holiness looks like helping someone feel loved.

A text message.
Saving someone a seat.
Checking in on a friend.
Smiling at someone who looks lonely.
Listening when someone needs to talk.
Being the person who makes others feel safe and included.

Those small acts matter more than we realize because kindness carries light with it.

So, I want you to think for a minute:
What is a small act of kindness someone has done for you that made you feel loved or remembered? Just think about your answer to yourself and remember how it felt.  (Pause to let young women ponder for a moment.)

Maybe it seemed small to them, but to you it mattered deeply.

That’s what light does. It changes people quietly.

Now I’m going to give each of you a glowstick.

As you hold it, think silently about one small act of kindness you can do for someone else this next week. Maybe it’s encouraging someone, serving at home, sitting by someone new, forgiving someone, or simply helping another person feel seen.

And once you’ve thought of one, break your glowstick and place it on your wrist. (Pause and wait for them to do this.)

Because every act of kindness adds more light to the world.

And just like these glowsticks shine brighter once they’re broken open, sometimes the people who bring the most light into the world are the ones who have learned how to love, serve, and shine even through hard things. (Have the group move to the next station.)

Gatherer of Light- Women of Shunem (Part Three)

Station 3: (Have notecards and pens and Gatherer of Light picture)

For years, the woman of Shunem waited and hoped for a child, and eventually the Lord blessed her with a son. You can almost imagine the joy and gratitude she must have felt after waiting for so long.

But then something heartbreaking happened.

Her son became sick and died.

And I think that this part of the story matters because it reminds us that faithful people still experience grief, disappointment, confusion, and pain. Loving God does not mean life suddenly becomes easy.

But what I love about the woman of Shunem is what she did next.

In the middle of her heartbreak, she did not turn away from God. She immediately went to seek the prophet. She kept moving toward the source of light instead of away from it.

And eventually, through the power of God, her son was restored to life.

Now, not every hard story in our lives gets wrapped up perfectly or quickly. But this story reminds us of something important:

When life feels dark, God does not leave us alone.

Sometimes our light feels dim during hard seasons. Sometimes joy feels harder to feel. Sometimes we feel tired, anxious, hurt, lonely, or overwhelmed.

For a moment, place your hand over your glow bracelet and cover the light.

See how the light is still there, even when it feels hidden?

Sometimes that’s what faith feels like.

The light may feel dim for a while, but it has not disappeared.

So, think quietly for a minute:
Have you ever gone through something that made your light or joy feel dim?
And during that time, what helped light return? Who helped you? What brought comfort, peace, or hope back into your life? (Pause and talk about it. Ideas: Maybe it was a person, a prayer, a scripture, music, a hug, a friend, or a quiet feeling of God that reminded you were not alone.)

Now uncover your bracelet again.

Because one of the beautiful things about light is that it was never meant to be kept to ourselves.

God gives us light so we can share it.

Now I want you to take a notecard and write a kind note to someone. It could be someone here at camp or someone back home. Encourage them. Thank them. Remind them they matter. Help them feel seen and loved. Give them some of your light.

Because that is exactly what the woman of Shunem teaches us.

She did not gather light through fame or perfection. She gathered light through kindness, spiritual awareness, service, and faithfulness. She kept choosing God again and again, even in hard moments.

And that kind of light grows slowly as we walk daily with Christ.

He gives us His light…
And then we share it with others.

That’s why this scripture is so beautiful:

“That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” — Doctrine and Covenants 50:24

I love that promise.

Light grows.

One small faithful choice at a time. (Give them time to write on their cards.)

(Give them a picture of the gatherer of light. Bear testimony.)

Walk with Christ- Hannah

Gather all the young women together for one last station together. Have a copy of each of the small pictures that they have received at all the stations.

Over the past little while, we’ve been walking through the stories of women in the scriptures who built faith, shared hope, and gathered light. This morning, we will end with Hannah — and her story brings everything we’ve talked about together. It shows us what it really looks like to walk with Jesus Christ.

Hannah deeply wanted a child for many years. She prayed again and again, carrying a longing in her heart that others around her didn’t fully understand. And that kind of pain can feel very lonely — like you’re waiting for something that maybe won’t ever come.

But what’s so powerful about Hannah is this:

Instead of giving up on God when life felt unfair, she kept walking with Him.

She brought Him her real feelings. Her sorrow. Her questions. Her hopes. She didn’t pretend everything was okay. She trusted Him enough to be honest with Him.

That is real faith.

Eventually, the Lord blessed her with a son, Samuel, who would grow up to become a great prophet. But one of the most important parts of Hannah’s story is this: her faith existed before the miracle came.

She didn’t have an easy story.
She waited.
She hurt.
She wondered.
And still — she stayed with God.

And honestly, that can feel like our own faith walk sometimes.

We pray for answers, friendships, confidence, healing, direction… and we don’t always see immediate results. And in those in-between moments, Hannah teaches us something beautiful:

Walking with Christ doesn’t mean life is perfect.
It means we keep turning toward Him anyway.

One of the most meaningful things about Hannah is her honesty. She didn’t hide her heart from God. She brought Him everything. And He heard her.

Christ notices quiet faith.
He notices prayers no one else hears.
He notices the ones who keep showing up even while they’re still waiting.

And even when we are in seasons of waiting, doubting, or struggling, we can still walk with Him — step by step.

 

As we close, I want you to remember something important:

You will have experiences with Christ just like the women we’ve studied.

(Hold up picture of builder of faith.) There will be times when, like Ruth, you become a builder of faith — taking one small, faithful step at a time and trusting God with what comes next.

 

(Hold up picture of messengers of hope.) There will be times when, like Esther, you will need courage — becoming a messenger of hope to those around you, even when it feels hard or scary.

(Hold up picture of gatherers of light.) There will be times when, like the woman of Shunem, you are a gatherer of light — noticing goodness, bringing light into your own life, and sharing it with others in simple, daily ways.

 

(Hold up picture of walk with Christ.) And there will be times when, like Hannah, you will learn to walk through waiting, struggle, and uncertainty by turning your heart toward Christ again and again.

Because as we walk with Christ, these stories don’t stay just as stories.

They become our stories too.

We begin to have our own experiences with Him. We come to know that He is not just a Savior, but my Savior — my Jesus — and we learn what it really means to walk through life with Him.

 

Now we are all going to quietly walk to the amphitheater. You will receive this Walk with Christ picture as you go. As you reach the amphitheater, please keep a spirit of reverence. Sit down quietly and you can read and reflect about the experience you had today and the pictures and phrases that are on the stage. The phrases on the stage are from YOU! You know your Savior, your Friend, your Jesus. This is a great time to reflect on the experiences you have had with your Savior, write down your testimony, and ponder quietly to yourself.

 

(Have the girls stand up and as they quietly walk away, give them each the picture of “Walk with Christ” and have them walk to the amphitheater and quietly sit down. Have quiet instrumental, church music playing in the background.)

(After a few moments of reflection, have the young women link arms in rows and end with singing together “As Sisters in Zion”- all three verses and then close with a prayer.)

I had different leaders read the different parts. That was another reflection and impression where I saw the list of adult leaders that would be at camp and which ones I felt were best for each of the different parts. I knew that I wanted all women for the readings. We had an adult leader meeting in the morning before the faith walk. I was feeling SO nervous about it and the camp director suggested that I hand out the different parts and let them read their parts and ask any questions if needed. I immediately felt a sense of calm, and it was so sweet to have them read their parts and it just brought the Spirit and I knew in that moment that everything would work out. 

With many hands, we got everything set up for the faith walk. I decided that I would just stand in the middle and help with the rotation part. I truly wish I could have been in each group and listen to their responses and see their reactions to it all, but I knew that this was when I let go and let these other leaders and the young women have their moments with each of these different women in the scriptures and let them feel of the Spirit. I kept it all together until the last rotation when I just started crying and, in that moment, it was relief and accomplishment that it all worked out, and it was such a sweet experience to watch. The different leaders that were just in the groups that got to listen would tell me their favorite parts as they rotated, and they were all different in what touched them which was an answer to my prayers.

I decided that I would read the last station of Hannah. Her story truly touches me, and I cried through most of it. I truly was so touched as this group of young women sat around me as I shared her story and in part was sharing a part of my own story and my own testimony with them. Then I got to lead them to the amphitheater where I got to see their reactions of all these incredible phrases that were from them. The Spirit was so strong as we just sat there together reflecting on what we heard and how Christ has shown up in our own stories.

v  My Jesus  has shown me the positives during hard times

v  My Jesus has shown me love through others

v  My Jesus is always there to bring me back to Him

v  My Jesus has allowed me to be part of the restored gospel and spread His gospel to others

v  My Jesus strengthens me

v  My Jesus is merciful

v  My Jesus is love

v  My Jesus gives me grace

v  My Jesus is always happy to embrace me

v  My Jesus is my light

v  My Jesus is my safe harbor

v  My Jesus is kind

v  My Jesus has a strong connection with me

v  My Jesus is forgiving

v  My Jesus is peace

v  My Jesus loves me just the way I am

v  My Jesus is my everything

v  My Jesus is hope

v  My Jesus is my protector

v  My Jesus helps me to find my Father

v  My Jesus is my Redeemer

v  My Jesus is my guide

v  My Jesus is someone I can trust

v  My Jesus has helped me

v  My Jesus gives me comfort because He knows what I am going through

There was a sweet video by Emily Belle Freeman about how when they were thinking of the new names for these young women groups that she heard the song "As Sisters in Zion" and how each of the verses talks about each of the new names. So, when I heard that video, I knew immediately that this would be the song that we would sing at the end of this. There was also a relief society broadcast earlier this year where we sang this song, and we linked arms in the chapel. This moment came back to me a day or so before camp which is why I added in all the girls linking arms at the end. I led the song and I didn't sing much because I just cried through the whole thing. It was one of the sweetest moments of camp afterwards as I had my YCLs, young women from my ward, and all sorts of leaders come up to me and hug me and thank me for it. It was such a sweet moment and I'm so incredibly grateful that I had this opportunity.

It was sweet to be a part of testimony meeting and hear how these phrases or that parts of the faith walk touched their hearts and strengthened their testimonies. One of the leaders even came up to me afterwards and said every time she heard it mentioned that she would glance over at me. It was sweet how the messages the leaders shared touched their testimonies and their hearts and they cried as they shared their messages. I just wanted everyone to feel love and feel how important the gospel of Jesus Christ is and that we can choose to live it every day. Some favorite moments that I heard from the leaders for themselves and the girls were walking across the rope as they thought about life and the hard parts of life when we have to have courage. The mirror was a favorite amongst the girls. It was touching to see the girls hold hands as they circled together and shared what kingdom living looks like. The young women loved learning about women in the scriptures- their caring for others, showing of love, and the strength and resilience in their faithfulness and that we can be like them. They love, love, loved hearing about the stories of the women in the scriptures. 

I received this from one of the leaders that did the last part of the Gatherers of Light: "I loved the messages with the Women of Shunem- that when life is hard, light and joy or our faith can feel dimmed or even gone but it is still there. And we can still do things to find it. Some of the girls' answers to what has helped them feel joy and light in a hard time: prayer, talking to family or friends, talking to their pet, music, talking to the person that hurt you, being outside, and thinking of something happy.  I loved the sharing light ideas with writing a kind note. It's simple and everyone can do it. Three girls wrote notes to me. They were so kind and I felt incredibly loved. It was the sweetest thing to be a part of. The YCLs talked about it in their meeting that evening and they LOVED the faith walk. They loved the messages, the mirror, they thought through the questions, and appreciated the small activities that helped them keep engaged." Juliette chose to write her note to me which was super sweet and very touching.

The next morning, I happened to walk into the bathroom when one of the stake leaders was talking to a group of girls about their camp experience. She asked them what their favorite part was and of course they said everything, but then she said if you had to take away everything but only do one thing what would it be. Two of the girls said the faith walk. I'm incredibly grateful I walked into the bathroom at that moment and that I got to hear this conversation for myself!

YW Camp

Young Women's Camp 2026 was AMAZING! It is truly such an incredible experience to be a part of something bigger than yourself. It is a time of love multiplied, unity and friendship built, talents shared, and testimonies grown and strengthened. It is an experience where you get a glimpse of heaven and what Zion is really all about. We built the kingdom of God for this week, and it was an honor and privilege to be a part of it.

Our ward always loves to kick off camp week with a fun high adventure activity. We went to navigate a ropes course and flew high on the zip lines at High Trek Adventure. I love seeing the young women work together, cheer each other on, and help one another navigate fears and challenging obstacles. We can do hard things! I kept telling myself this and the other leader that came with me since I took us on some of the hardest obstacles on the course. Our legs were shaking and we were hanging on for dear life. There were moments when we didn't think we could accomplish the task at hand, but we did it and our bodies and mind are stronger than we give them credit for. 

At the end, we had a group huddle and talked about how this course represents the gospel of Jesus Christ. The girls talked about trusting God, holding onto the iron rod, relying on each other, prayer, and knowing that we each took different paths, but we all ended up in the same destination. You truly can relate anything to the gospel if you just take a moment to look and ponder. God is everywhere and God is good! It was a great way to start off our week with some ward bonding time.

Wednesday bright and early, everyone gathered at my house to get all the gear loaded up into cars. My van was filled with all the gear, so it was a nice quiet ride to camp for me and I loved it. I got to listen to Inklings and listen to the Strive to Be album (which is SO good!) and it just got me in the right mind set for camp. We arrive and had some time to set up cabin, get to know our cabins, eat our lunch that we brought from home, and wander around camp to see all the fun Princess and the Frog decorations before our first roll call to kick off a great week.

Then it was time for free time, and I was assigned for the first hour to be at the river. I'm so glad I was there during that time because the water was freezing cold and so there were hardly any girls that went down the river the second hour. I loved cheering them on and encouraging them to go down the river even though I had no intention of getting in. :) I loved being there so I could take lots of fun pictures with so many funny faces of shock from the cold. There was lots of screaming and laughter!

Then after free time, the girls had some self-care time where they can shower, relax, or do crafts. As a cabin mentor, we just get assigned to different areas and rotate every hour so there is an adult presence pretty much everywhere in camp. It is nice to sit in visit with women in the stake. I have loved doing this over the years because you get to know new people and hear their stories. There are so many good people in this world and I'm grateful for the women here that I get to serve around.

Then the young women do what they call "Meet the Brethren" games. We have a group of men that are there is help in any way and it is amazing and they do so much for us. At this activity, they plan some fun games, and it allows the girls to see their fun side and make them comfortable around them so they can go to them if needed. I really didn't know what the games were, but it was so much fun to watch from the sideline and take lots of pictures. The girls had so much fun!

Then we had dinner and the food is always a favorite amongst the girls. We have a group of women that are our cooks for the entire time and they feed us well! The food is always amazing and SO good! Then we had our evening roll call with some camp songs, retiring the flag, minute to win it games, announcements, and getting prepped for skit night.

Skit night is always so fun and super goofy and silly. Each cabin gets a garbage bag filled with props and costumes and they have to use everything in their bag. They also get a phrase that has to be used in their 3-5 minute skit. As a cabin mentor, we pretty much just sit back and watch the silliness. It allows for any walls to come down and for the girls to just have fun and be silly together. The girls come up with the funniest things, and it is always entertaining to watch. 

I was super impressed with my first years! There were some nerves first thing this morning, but they completely embraced it all and had so much fun.

Then because of weather and this night being the clearest, the schedule got moved around a bit and we ended up doing smores and star gazing this first evening. We had a really good message to start off with just the absolute wonder of the Earth that we live on and look up. Look up to God and see His majesty. Then all the girls laid out on the field, and we learned about some different constellations and the stories behind them. It was a nice way to quiet the girls down on this first, exciting night of camp.

Thursday morning, bright and early, those that were brave enough do the polar plunge. This year we did it in the river so the girls could either float a small section or just dunk themselves in the water. I was there to cheer on and take pictures!

These three or just peas in a pod the entire time at camp. They have such a fun and silly relationship and bring such a fun side out in each other. They love being together and it was fun to be their cabin mentor.

The young women started the day off with a service project and learning rotations. The service project was writing cards to children's hospital, veterans, and retirement homes. They also did a diamond dot during this time for a surprise they got to see on Friday. The learning rotations were learning a fun camp game, making ice cream in a bag, and learning about some animals and tracks that are hear in the Pacific Northwest.

Then it was free time after lunch, and everyone went down to the lake. We spent two whole hours down there and they can paddle board, canoe, or kayak in the lake, do mini golf, a zip line, pickleball, or the top favorite thing to do is go on the slip and slide. We all load up in trailers and in the back of pickup trucks to go down and it is so much fun and lots of loud singing of camp songs.

I was assigned to watch over the slip and slide during the second hour we were there so that's when I got lots of fun pictures!

Then the girls had self-care time when we got back, dinner and spiritual rotations. The spiritual rotation topics were spiritual resilience, self-worth, and callings for women in the church. They were so good! I know there were things that I loved hearing and I know that it touched the girls. There is such hope in the gospel!

Then to end the evening, we did another favorite of the girls, HOOPLA! It is just a fun dance party and there is so much energy! This year we did it in a barn and it added a different atmosphere. There was dancing in the barn and snow cones and other treats just outside. It was so much fun, and it was just a party!

Friday was a day filled with fun and so many spiritual highs. We started the day off with the faith walk. I was asked to be in charge of this, and it was a labor of love and a time where I rely on the Spirit, faith, and trust in God more than I have on a lot of things that I have done for a church assignment. My biggest prayer was that there was at least one thing that would touch each of the young women during the whole thing. I want to do a separate blog post with all the details for this because I want to record it and remember it. It turned out so good! It was such a sweet experience, and I put my whole heart into this. I cried more at this than at any other thing and it was such a special thing to watch and be a part of.

Then the girls had lunch and free time. Most of the girls did crafts and this was the one day they could do the rock climbing. I wasn't assigned down at the climbing wall, so I didn't get any pictures, but I heard they had so much fun. It was a cooler day, so most girls didn't go in the river, but I did have one brave young women that did it!

Then the girls had solo time where they get about an hour to read a letter from home, have a conference talk to read, and can study their scriptures and it just a really good time to connect with God in nature. Then in the evening, all the Bishops came up, and we got to eat dinner as a ward and then have ward time. I love these girls SO much! I had the impression to write them each a letter the day before camp and I'm so glad I got to share that with them. I also shared some thoughts about the promises made to covenants children of God (You are mine! You are not alone! I know you! I have not forgotten you! I intend to bring you home!) I shared a little that I am getting released at the end of the summer and the girls all said a big NO! I know how they feel! I tried not to think about it too much while I was at camp, but I wanted the girls to know how much I loved them and even after I get released that I want to still be a part of their lives. They are such a sweet group of girls whom I love with all my heart.

Then we ended with a fun roll call with the Bishops that then led into such a sweet testimony meeting. The beautiful diamond dot was revealed right before, and I always love the audible gasp with it. It was the perfect thing to have on stage right next to the young women that was bearing their testimony. Our stake president started off the meeting with sharing what a testimony is and asked us to take a minute to say a prayer in our heart for the rain to hold off as long as we needed (it had been sprinkling a little bit beforehand) and that we would fill the Spirit. Then we had such a sweet and Spirit filled testimony meeting. So many of the young women shared about how God answers prayers, that He loves each of us so much, that He knows what we are going through and has helped them during challenging time, one young women shared that God doesn't call the qualified but He qualifies the called, and then another young women shared that she had been watching a snail and how slow it was and her words were a dumb little snail but how we can be the same thing where we can be slow when it comes to spiritual things but God created us for a purpose and will help us even on our slow path to becoming like Him. It was such a sweet testimony meeting, and the young women truly pour forth love in this setting and I'm so grateful that I get to witness it. Their testimonies strengthened mine! And the rain held off and started misting again once we were all done and our stake president got up at the end and asked again that we pause a say a prayer in our hearts of gratitude that the rain held off, and our prayer was answered and that we felt the Spirit. It was such a sweet experience, and we saw an answer to prayer!

Friday was a late night since it was the last night of camp! Saturday was pack up, eat breakfast, and our final roll call of camp. It always goes by way too fast but is always an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I loved camp as a young women and it helped build my testimony of the gospel and it is just as good or even better as an adult leader. I get to witness such love and testimony and love for each other and the gospel that I don't get to see anywhere else. God is SO good!