Camp Adventure Brings Young Men Closer to Nature and God

(For Non-Muslim Use Only)         

In September 2024, Young Men leaders of the Kuala Lumpur District of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Malaysia took 14 young men, aged 12 to 18, on a three-day adventure to the Taman Eko Rimba Komanwel campground in Rawang, Selangor. In organizing this trip, they followed counsel from their leaders at Church Headquarters. Steven J. Lund, General Young Men President of the Church, stated, “Spiritual experiences cannot be forced, but camps can help create settings away from the distractions of life where it may be easier for young men to feel the spirit, increase their faith in Christ and make commitments to follow Him.”

To begin their activities, the young men were divided into three groups and were asked to create a flag that symbolized the core values of their team. One group illustrated a jaguar which is known as a symbol of power in many Latin-American cultures and is seen as the protector of the rainforest. A second group drew a shield that contained the symbols of a sword, torch, heart and water, that represented competition, courage, teamwork and creativity respectively. The third group followed the example of Captain Moroni, a leader of the Nephite nation in the Book of Mormon, to model their flag. Just as he created a flag that he called the “Title of Liberty” to motivate his troops, the young men followed suit and crafted their own version using the same words as Moroni: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12).

The first day was spent on a nature/river walk where they learned to appreciate God’s creations. The next day a scriptural treasure hunt was held where words in the scriptures provided clues for the hunt. On their last night, they enjoyed an evening of lighting paper lanterns, in celebration of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, which is devoted to giving thanks and symbolizes unity and family harmony.

Other lessons the young men learned included building fires, cooking, first aid, physical exercise and fishing. While they were away from their camp for an extended period of time, a mischievous monkey scattered their garbage, and a very strong rainstorm flooded several of their tents. These experiences taught them the importance of being prepared and how to handle life’s unexpected challenges.

Several young men of the Petaling Jaya branch of the Church expressed their appreciation for having been part of the camp. Along with learning important life lessons and being reminded of the importance of serving a mission, they all agreed that spending time in nature brought them closer to God.

In 1875, Brigham Young, the second president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tasked Junius F. Wells to create an organization for the young men of the church. Wells and other leaders stressed “moral improvement and helping one another combat social vices and idleness through learning gospel truth and joining in social activities” as key focuses of the organization.