On this blog my wonderful mom will post letters from my mission in Indiana. If you would like to read them, they will be here :) And you can even follow by email, if you want. Purdy cool.

Monday, February 3, 2014

What a Great Blessing!

What a great blessing it is to be a missionary.

We met with an older lady last night. She's an active member, who I hadn't met before yesterday because she's been out of commission because of some back problems. I didn't expect a lot from the lesson. We meet with members to teach the gospel, and to help facilitate their receiving the blessings of doing missionary work. Most older people talk about how they only know church people these days, and they've done their work.

We asked her what "the gospel of Jesus Christ" meant to her. Most people will say things about Christ's teachings. She said, "I think it comes down to faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, and then enduring to the end" She's the only one who just knew that. (Not that we're quizzing members when we ask that sort of question, 'cause we're not.) She told us how exciting it was when she first learned about the restored gospel when she was 20, "And it's been exciting ever since." 

She talked about how it really hit her when Elder Gifford Nelson mention in general conference that Elder Perry had said that the hastening of the work is on the same plane as the restoration of the priesthood and the first vision. She mentioned how we can watch it happen or be a part of it, and she said, "I want to be a part of it!" And she is--she's done a lot of good with those around her, and shares the gospel with those she meets at the store and wherever else she goes. What a great example.

And that's how I'd like to be. I hope that my mission changes me enough so that I can retain always the clarity that I have now. I hope that I can keep this pattern of doing things against my natural tendency for the sake of righteousness. I hope I begin to make the best choices in exchange for the good choices I do make.

I read Elder Nelson's talk about choices from last general conference this morning. I really appreciated his comments that we developed certain spiritual gifts before we came to earth, and we can choose which spiritual gifts to develop here, too. He talks more about developing self-mastery. I've been thinking a lot about that, and how I wish I'd developed that sooner, but I'm grateful to be able to work on it now. I hop out of bed without pushing the snooze button now. I go out and talk to strangers now. I manage (or try to manage) my eating habits now. I'm actively striving to do what Heavenly Father wants me to do now.

I've been studying a lot about faith. I always hated when people talked about how belief is power, 'cause it's not. But faith is a principle of power, because if we truly believe something, our actions align accordingly. If I believe keeping the commandments will make me happier than I could be otherwise, why don't I keep them better? Christ was all powerful because He had perfect faith in Heavenly Father's guidance for Him, and aligned His behavior accordingly. God would have us be intelligent, responsible, hard-working, honest individuals because the most satisfying form of happiness (in my mind) comes from becoming something great. And He's given us the guidance to become such, through the commandments. And Christ provided the Atonement to enable us to overcome those things that prevent us from keeping the commandments. How cool is that?!
Well that's my sermon for the week :P

And R (from Bloomington) is getting baptized on Saturday! And I probably will be able to go! I'm purdy excited for that :) Here in Franklin, we've got some tough people to work with, but things are still going well. We've got a sweet 9-year old girl getting baptized later this month, and some other things in the works. February should be a good month. Unless we get 20 inches of snow this week, like some sources are predicting O_o

Much love,
Sister Bowen
And here's a picture of the Indianapolis temple, as of Friday :)

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