Songs That Shape a Meaningful Young Women Camp
Music can turn a Young Women camp schedule into a shared spiritual experience. A familiar hymn during a morning devotional, a thoughtful EFY recording after a service project, or an energetic closing song can help campers feel connected to one another and to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The best camp music is easy to sing, meaningful without being complicated, and flexible enough for different settings. This collection of the top 10 LDS songs for Young Women camp includes hymns, children’s songs, and youth favorites that can support testimony building, friendship, worship, and personal reflection.
Because the original store is no longer operating, its LDS music archive remains useful as a record of the albums, sheet music, hymn arrangements, and youth recordings once gathered in one focused catalog.
Songs for gathering and belonging
“As Sisters in Zion” is an obvious choice for a Young Women camp because its message centers on unity, service, and covenant friendship. It works especially well at the opening meeting, when leaders want to establish a spirit of cooperation rather than competition. The melody is familiar to many Latter-day Saints, allowing the group to sing with confidence.
“I Am a Child of God” offers a simpler, more personal beginning. Its direct message about divine identity can help campers feel valued and included, particularly if the group includes girls from different wards or age groups. Use it during introductions, a welcome devotional, or a moment when leaders are emphasizing that every participant has a place in the Lord’s work.
Songs for testimony and spiritual direction
“I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” invites young women to consider discipleship as an active decision. Its language about willingness and service can complement a discussion about patriarchal blessings, missionary preparation, leadership, or responding to promptings. A solo or small-group arrangement can make the song especially reflective.
“Lead, Kindly Light” is quieter and more contemplative. It acknowledges that people do not always see the entire path ahead, which makes it a strong choice for evening devotionals. Campers can listen to an arrangement, sing selected verses, or read the lyrics while considering how revelation has guided them through uncertainty.
“Where Can I Turn for Peace?” speaks directly to anxiety, loneliness, and the search for reassurance. It may be appropriate after a testimony meeting, a lesson about prayer, or a private reflection activity. Its restrained tone helps create emotional space without making the program feel overly formal.
Songs for hope, courage, and action
“The Lord Is My Light” brings a brighter energy while retaining a clear spiritual focus. It can help open a morning session or follow a message about courage. The song’s imagery of light and confidence also pairs naturally with lantern activities, sunrise devotionals, and camp themes centered on following Christ.
“We’ll Bring the World His Truth” is lively and forward-looking. Although it is often associated with younger singers, its message about sharing the gospel can work well with older Young Women when presented as a commitment to live with faith and integrity. Add simple harmonies or percussion if the camp setting allows it.
“Press Forward, Saints” has a strong sense of movement and resilience. It is a useful closing song after a physically demanding day, a service project, or a testimony-building activity. The music reinforces the idea that discipleship includes persistence, patience, and steady progress rather than one dramatic moment.
A balanced set for different camp moments
The following comparison helps leaders match each selection with the right activity. Tempo, familiarity, and emotional intensity matter as much as lyrical content when building a camp playlist.
| Song | Mood | Best setting | Participation idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| As Sisters in Zion | Unified and service-minded | Opening gathering | Full-group singing |
| I Am a Child of God | Warm and reassuring | Welcome or identity lesson | Unison singing |
| I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go | Willing and reflective | Service or discipleship lesson | Solo or small group |
| Lead, Kindly Light | Peaceful and searching | Evening devotional | Instrumental or quiet singing |
| Where Can I Turn for Peace? | Comforting and reverent | Prayer or reflection | Congregational singing |
| The Lord Is My Light | Hopeful and confident | Morning worship | Full-group singing |
| We’ll Bring the World His Truth | Energetic and purposeful | Mission-focused activity | Youth-led arrangement |
| Press Forward, Saints | Steady and courageous | Closing or send-off | Group singing |
| A Child’s Prayer | Tender and prayerful | Personal testimony moment | Duet or paired voices |
| More Holiness Give Me | Sincere and devotional | Sacrament-style meeting | Hymn arrangement |
Songs for reflection and personal prayer
“A Child’s Prayer” can be particularly effective when camp includes a quiet spiritual activity. Its conversational structure makes it suitable for a duet, with one voice representing a child’s concern and another answering with reassurance. Leaders should present it with sensitivity, since the song can bring up deeply personal feelings about prayer, family, and trust in God.
“More Holiness Give Me” encourages gradual change rather than instant perfection. It fits a lesson about repentance, spiritual habits, or becoming more Christlike. Because the hymn has several meaningful verses, leaders can invite campers to choose one line that reflects a personal goal and write about it afterward.
For groups that include musicians, a piano-led arrangement can deepen these quieter moments. Leaders may find the sight-reading guide helpful when preparing a pianist, accompanist, or youth ensemble to learn hymn settings efficiently.
Ways to make the music memorable
A successful camp playlist does not require professional performers. Clear leadership, thoughtful pacing, and opportunities for participation matter more than technical polish. Rotate song leaders so campers hear different voices, and provide printed lyrics when a selection is less familiar.
Use recordings selectively. A polished youth recording can establish the mood before a devotional, while live singing creates a stronger sense of belonging. The former EFY catalog, including this EFY music collection, represents the kind of youth-centered material that can complement traditional hymn singing with contemporary arrangements and energetic performances.
Keep the daily schedule in mind. A lively song after breakfast may help the group gather, while a gentle hymn before bed can settle the atmosphere. Avoid filling every quiet moment with music; silence can give campers time to process a testimony, prayer, or personal impression.
A practical camp playlist
Leaders can create a compact rotation rather than attempting to use all ten songs in one meeting. Select two or three for each major spiritual purpose and repeat the most meaningful ones during the week. Familiarity often makes a song more powerful on the second or third hearing.
- Open the week with “I Am a Child of God” and “As Sisters in Zion” to establish identity and unity.
- Use “The Lord Is My Light” and “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” for morning energy and missionary themes.
- Reserve “Lead, Kindly Light,” “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” and “A Child’s Prayer” for quiet reflection.
- Close a service project or final testimony meeting with “Press Forward, Saints.”
- Give musicians “More Holiness Give Me” or “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” for a simple special arrangement.
Choose songs that support the spiritual purpose of each gathering, prepare the lyrics and accompaniment in advance, and invite the young women to help lead. With a thoughtful mix of hymns, youth music, and personal testimony, camp singing can become one of the week’s most lasting memories.