Heber Valley Camp for LDS Girls

Did you know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints actually owns and operates an LDS Girls camp in the mountains southeast of Heber, Utah?

The camp is called Heber Valley Camp and it is located on a tract of land that covers more than 8,000 areas. The building of the camp started in 2003 and each year they have added more facilities with the ultimate goal of housing more than 5,000 campers. Wow...that is a big LDS Girls camp!

On June 1, 2009 at Heber Valley Camp the general Young Women president, Sister Elaine S. Dalton celebrated with 2,300 LDS girls high on the mountain top, unfurling a banner to virtue. The Young Women value of virtue was added to the other values- faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, and integrity- last November. Sister Dalton felt inspired to teach the LDS girls the counsel from the Lord contained in the Doctrine and Covenants asking us each to walk in the paths of virtue.

She told the LDS girls that were with her at the camp, “"So while you are here at Heber Camp and while you are walking on those paths, I hope that you will think about what the path of virtue will look like in your life. Sometimes it will be narrow. Sometimes it will be steep. But you are climbers. And you are not meant to be valley dwellers. You are meant to be up here in high mountain tops overlooking the grand vista you have. You are here on this Earth now for a glorious season and for a glorious purpose."

Sister Dalton explained to the girls that she had visited the camp before it was constructed and had wondered if making the camp would really be possible. She added, “"the Heber Camp is more magnificent than I could have ever dreamed. You are standing on ground that was foreseen by prophets of God for the very purpose to build and strengthen you, to strengthen your faith and testimony of Jesus Christ so that you might become the leaders of the next generation."

The beauty of Heber Valley Camp is one in which the “mountains shout for joy.” The beauty of the camp is like the beauty of each LDS girl.

"These are no ordinary days and you are no ordinary young women," Sister Dalton said. "Remember that. Let that sink into your hearts in the quiet of Heber Camp. Then when you go back to your homes, don't let anyone persuade you otherwise.

"It is my prayer that this day, here in the tops of the mountains, you will resolve to arise and go up to the mountain of the Lord – the temple. That you will resolve to stand for truth and righteousness."

Find out more about Heber Valley Camp at this link.