Menu

Elder Holland: A new pavilion at Heber Valley Camp, and the woman it is named for, remind all to ‘stand as a witnesses of God’

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, second from the left, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Patricia T. Holland, pose for a photograph after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Patricia T. Holland pose for a photograph after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah,  on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
From left to right, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Patricia T. Holland, and Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, smiles during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says goodbye to the crowd after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah,  on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
From left to right, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Patricia T. Holland are pictured after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, pose for a photograph with Sister Patricia T. Holland, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, talks to Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp Director at Heber Valley Camp, during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Colin C. Stauffer, Area Seventy, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Patricia T. Holland, are pictured during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Hundreds young women join the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, are pictured during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
A photograph of Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is pictured during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, waves to the crowd after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reacts to the speech from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
From left to right, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Patricia T. Holland, pose for a photograph after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Brothers and sisters sing the opening song “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is pictured before the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Front row left to right, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Sister Kristy Bond, Young Women Camp director at Heber Valley Camp, during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of that Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Patricia T. Holland, is pictured during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, walks with Elder Colin C. Stauffer, Area Seventy, before the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, waves to the crowd after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Girls Camp in Heber, Utah,  on Monday, June 20, 2022. Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News

HEBER, Utah — Standing in front of colorful flags at a camp created to strengthen the faith and testimony of young women, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president, spoke of the rising generation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They are a “mighty force for righteousness,” she said, moments before a new pavilion at the Heber Valley Camp was named for her life and service on June 20.

Sister Kapp served as general president of the Young Women from 1984 to 1992 — the time the Young Women theme, the Personal Progress program, the value colors and the Young Women motto were developed and rolled out across the world.

From left to right, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Patricia T. Holland, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, are pictured after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022.
From left to right, President Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Patricia T. Holland, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, are pictured after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. | Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News

With the naming of the pavilion in her honor, Sister Kapp joins the ranks of other valiant women recognized at the camp — Lucy Mack Smith, Esther, Abish, Eliza R. Snow, Rebekah, Marjorie Pay Hinckley, Sariah and Bertha Stone Reader.

Current and former general women leaders, as well as campers and volunteers at Heber Valley Camp, attended the ceremony, held on a cold, windy afternoon at the entrance to the 9,000-acre camp located in the mountains above Heber, Utah.

Sister Kapp said that all God’s children have a special mission — with challenges and opportunities to grow.

“We give thanks for this camp that helps young women — and older women — understand the following: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy way acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths’ (Proverbs 3:5-6),” she said.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles dedicated the new pavilion, recalling moving his young family to Bountiful, Utah, almost five decades ago and being greeted by Sister Kapp riding her bicycle. Sister Patricia Holland would later serve as Sister Kapp’s counselor in the Young Women general presidency.

Sister Michelle D. Craig, left, and Sister Rebecca L. Craven, Young Women general presidency first and second counselors, respectively; Carolyn Rasmus, former administrative assistant; Sister Elaine L. Jack, former Relief Society general president; Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president; Sister Patricia T. Holland, former Young Women general presidency counselor; Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon; and Kristy Bond, Young Women camp director at Heber Valley Camp,…
Sister Michelle D. Craig, left, and Sister Rebecca L. Craven, Young Women general presidency first and second counselors, respectively; Carolyn Rasmus, former administrative assistant; Sister Elaine L. Jack, former Relief Society general president; Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president; Sister Patricia T. Holland, former Young Women general presidency counselor; Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon; and Kristy Bond, Young Women camp director at Heber Valley Camp, pose for a photograph after the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion was dedicated at the camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. | Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News

Elder Holland said the work accomplished under the presidency of Sister Kapp, Sister Holland and Sister Maurine Turley was foundational for all that has followed for Latter-day Saint young women. “In that short period, the young women of the Church took on an identity and a destiny — and the significance of that will always be attributed to the Ardeth Kapp era.”

In dedicating the campground, Elder Holland thanked the Lord for “the beautiful campground and the devoted workers who care for it” for the “benefit of the marvelous young women and others who bless this Church by their faithful membership in it.”

It is fitting, he said, the name Ardeth Greene Kapp will be the first young women will see as “they come to this dedicated space and the last that they will see as they tearfully bid it goodbye. She whose name will now be associated with this pavilion will — with a radiant, contagious and ever-enthusiastic smile — remind entire generations of campers that they should stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places.”

Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon called it fitting to name the pavilion — which will be a place of gathering for generations of young women — after Sister Kapp, who is a gatherer. “She has gathered the multitudes and gathered the one,” she said.

President Cordon said just a few years ago after being called as general Young Women president, she visited Sister Kapp. “She opened her door and gathered, gathered me in and gave me great words of counsel. In my heart I will never forget that as I left there I knew the Savior better.”

Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022.
Sister Ardeth G. Kapp, former Young Women general president in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks during the Ardeth G. Kapp Pavilion dedication service at the Heber Valley Camp in Heber, Utah, on Monday, June 20, 2022. | Credit: Mengshin Lin, Deseret News
Newsletters
Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox
The three things you need to know everyday
Highlights from the last week to keep you informed