"Knowing and remembering who we are and whose we are becomes a guiding force, affecting our attitude and our conduct," Ardeth G. Kapp said Sunday afternoon.

Sister Kapp was released Saturday afternoon as Young Women general president.She expressed gratitude for her counselors and Young Women board members, saying: "We rejoice in the opportunities that have come through our callings.

"As we have inquired of the Lord in earnest prayer and sought Him diligently, we have felt His spirit and witnessed His guiding hand. I bear testimony of the wisdom, inspiration, and guidance of our priesthood leaders directing this great work."

Sister Kapp recounted that when she was called as Young Women president in 1984, President Gordon B. Hinckley of the First Presidency said it was a time when the Young Women of the Church would become a mighty force for righteousness.

"We are witnessing this around the world," she remarked. "Behind these righteous young women are loving parents and faithful leaders who sense the sacred trust to teach, to love, to hold a hand, and, when appropriate, hold the line."

Just as Tevya in "Fiddler on the Roof" spoke to his daughters about knowing who they were and what God expects of them, "it is important for all of us to know who we are and what God expects of us," Sister Kapp continued.

She said, "We draw close to our Father in Heaven through sacred ordinances and covenants available only through His restored Church. Each of us, young and older, through the ordinance of baptism has covenanted to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, to love, to care and to serve our brothers and sisters wherever they may be.

"It is our faith in the importance of making covenants with God and coming to understand our immense possibilities that the temple, the House of the Lord, becomes the focus for all that really matters. In the temple we participate in ordinances and covenants that span the distance between heaven and earth. They prepare us to one day return to God's presence and enjoy the blessings of eternal families and eternal life.

"I have heard young women around the world repeat in many languages their commitment: `We will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, to receive the ordinances of the temple, and to enjoy the blessings of exaltation.' Those blessings can be available to all of us - to all our Father's children. When our faith is centered in Jesus Christ, our Savior, we begin to understand our identity and our tender relationship to Him. . . .

"It is through the ordinances and covenants available in the temple that our Father in Heaven has provided the way for us to return to Him rejoicing. To these eternal truths I bear my testimony."