Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints member served in areas of northern Colorado and Wyoming
By Joanne Clark
Contributing Writer
Camryn Kemp, 21, of Ballard recently returned home from an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission in the north–central part of the state.
Throughout her mission, she served in five areas: Longmont, Johnstown, Fort Collins, and Longmont/Lyons/Estes Park, all in Colorado, and Casper, Wyoming.
Camryn is the daughter of Dr. Daryl Kemp and his wife, Tiffany, and has two sisters. The Kemp family has lived in Ballard for 30 years. Camryn attended Ballard School through the fifth grade, was subsequently homeschooled, and then graduated from Heartland Charter School in 2022.
When asked why she decided to serve a mission, Camryn replied, “Before my mission, I had a belief in God and in Jesus Christ. I saw that it made those around me happy, and I knew it could make me happy too. I had experiences before my mission that helped me see that Christ could change my life.
“I chose to serve because I wanted others to know that God is real and that He loves them. I wanted others to know that they are not alone.”
Besides teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people in the areas she served, Camryn actively shared the love of Christ by doing various kinds of service.
She and other missionaries like her were involved at a food bank for the community, clearing out the building and organizing food storage; cleaning up and preparing for an outdoor camp where a pioneer reenactment was to take place; doing yard work for a community resident; helping to set up and running activities for an event to honor first responders; clearing and cleaning out pastures for incoming horses at a horse boarding ranch; and, when called upon, going to hospitals and praying with families whose loved ones were in critical care units with life-threatening health conditions to offer comfort.
Camryn said she loved interacting with many different people in many different circumstances, stating that “Missionary work is the best work!”
“During my mission, I met my best friend, Jesus Christ,” she said. “He changed my entire life. He has changed my life and changed my world. I love Him.”
Camryn is presently working, trying to continue serving in the community, and preparing to go to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, this fall.
