Monday, December 29, 2014

Thanks Mom

So. . .If you look back to the Monday, November 10, 2014 blog letter, I informed you all that this photo in the background was not a gun! Well, my Mother, was still not convinced, she somehow still thinks that this is a gun!?!? I don't know how, but she does. . .

So I found a nifty little link on www.lds.org so I thought you might like to see this.

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormon-temples-currently-under-construction

It is sweet. Spent a good amount of time looking at it.

I then read Elder Holland's talk from Conference:

Then I got curious as to what scene was being displayed in the photo. . .so I looked for it . . . couldn't find it so I put my favorite one I saw. . .

But then it wouldn't load due to internet problems. . .

I got to talk to my family on Christmas day! That was nice. Very nice. I enjoyed talking to them and letting them know about my adventures in Africa. It has been quite an adventure! It is crazy to think how fast it has gone and how little time is left for me to be in this wonderful place. Like basically the whole phone call was how I was coming home. So after the call I started thinking of the song "I'm coming home." That will be mentioned in a later post on a later day. Stay tuned for that. 

New Town is a good area. All of last week we went Christmas caroling and got to spend a few good hours with the members caroling at certain venues and what not. One of those venues was the Maamobi Police Station. We sang to the people in the holding cell. . .that was interesting. . .singing to them was nice. The Bishop afterwards addressed the "inmates" and told them basically to repent. . .go figure. . .

Well, I think that is all the time I have for now. The internet has been really slow today. I would like to thank all of those who sent me letters and packages this Christmas season. They were well welcomed and much loved. Thank you to all for your prayers in my behalf. I cannot wait to hear from you all soon. 

Love,

Elder Ty M. Bowden

Monday, December 22, 2014

It's Official and Merry Christmas

Well everyone, it is official!  I am leaving on March 31, 2015.  That is a Tuesday and I will arrive home on April 1, 2015.  I do not know all the details, but in 100 days, Elder Ty M. Bowden is coming home.  That is my Christmas present to you.

And so another week passes by.  I am a missionary in the New Town Ward.  It is a difficult change.  To be honest, I didn't think is would be, but I am home sick for Dansoman Ward.  I want to go back there so much.  It was a great area and the members there were so friendly.  Now I just have to get familiar with these members and get them to become my friend.  So my new ward is pretty interesting.  It is a very big ward, however, my area is very small.  The APs and the other missionaries have bigger areas, but they live farther from the area and the chapel, which isn't even in the ward boundaries.  It is so bizarre.  If you were to draw a rectangle, with the long side going up, and then in the very bottom left corner of the rectangle, you draw a dot that is where the chapel is.  Far from all of the areas.  The Bishop is a nice guy - very young and funny.  A lot of members don't live in our ward boundaries, but in other wards because this chapel is closer to them than the other chapel.  So that is my new ward.

As it is the Christmas season, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas.  It isn't about the gifts or the tinsel or any other wordly things.  It is about what one man gave us so that we could live forever.  We can give back at this time.  Let us give freely as he gave freely so that no one will have to suffer as he suffered.  Let's share the joyful message of Christmas at this time.  Merry Christmas to you all!

Ok, well, I am going to go.  There is nothing really else to talk about seeing that I am calling my family for the last time!  Then in 3 months, I will be home!

Love,

Elder Ty M. Bowden

Monday, December 15, 2014

Mini Transfers

     Well everyone. . . I have some bad news. . .Because of Christmas, there are some missionaries that leave early to go home before Christmas, even though the transfer is AFTER the Holidays. . .So they leave tomorrow, which means that some of the missionaries are without companions. . .so they need new companions. . .and well. . .I am one of those who will be replacing a missionary. . .so yes. . .I am leaving Dansoman area 8 days before Christmas. . .President let me know Saturday morning that way I could let members and investigators know. . .I cried. . .members cried. . . When the Bishop announced it in sacrament meeting (it was the ward business), all of the members were in shock. Of course Saturday night I couldn't sleep at all so I am extremely tired. . .so tired that I slept in today. Thats why I am on late.

     So now I have to pack everything up, and move to a whole new area. My new area is called New Town, I know a little about the place, MUSLIMS. It is Korle Bu all over again. It might be my last area. . .on the bright side, the APs and Office Elders are in my district, so anytime mail comes they are in the next apartment from me, even the APs are in my ward, and Elder Clark (my MTC) is in the ward so I am excited to be with him. My new companion is from Uganda.  He just finished training so he is a greenie. Yay.

     Today we also went back to the West Hills Mall, that big mall that makes you feel like you are in America every time you go. It is nice, I didn't get anything big though, because I am being transferred I didn't want to have to pack more junk than the junk I already had. Packing is not my favorite! You would think with three and a half months this would be someones last transfer. . .but you never know.

     We got to go to the Temple this last week. It was super good. Its been seven months since I last got to go to the Temple. The next time I will go is the Tuesday before I go home, then, I get to go as often as I want. I am excited about that. While we were there, we had a Christmas Conference, and President Hill arranged for all the missionaries to watch "Meet The Mormons" Wow! Shout out to that movie. If you haven't seen that movie, you have better go and buy your tickets right now. It is a movie worthy of going and seeing. President Hill also gave all the missionaries a Mission Pin and a Christmas Tie. Sweet.

     Ok, well I am going to go. I am super tired. BYE BYE!!!!

Love,

Elder Bowden

PS...
So before I leave, I have added a talk by someone we all know. . .Listen it is super good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlP9X5Pig-8

Monday, December 8, 2014

Cold Water. . .No Hot Tubs

     Greetings From Ghana again! How are all of you today? This week was alright. Just another normal week in the neighborhood. One of the missionaries in the apartment has been super sick this past week and we are grateful that finally he has finally started to recover small. He had a fever all last week (NOT EBOLA) and was just super tired and what not. He had been in the bush for six months where there are no mosquitoes, and now he is back in Accra where the mosquitoes are everywhere. So I believe it is Malaria. He has taken some medicine and now the fever is gone and he is doing well.

     Jerry and Nathaniel were confirmed yesterday in Church so now they are full on members of the Church and they are already getting so involved in every aspect of it. I am so excited for them to continue to progress. Next step is to get them to the temple. That shouldn't take too long and I am so excited for them. We meet with them on Tuesdays and Fridays and on Friday when they came they brought a friend who now is coming to Church and is starting to meet with the Sisters (stays in the sisters area) and Jerry and Nathaniel will help them teach these new comers. AWESOME!!!!! Golden Recent Converts bringing Golden Investigators to the Church! So excited.

     Speaking of the Temple, on Wednesday we will be going to the Temple! FINALLY!!!! It is about time, I have been going crazy waiting to know when we would actually get to go. Now on Wednesday I will get to go and oh boy, so excited. Also on Wednesday is our Christmas Conference so we will get together as a zone with another zone and party!!!

     Saturday night Kaneshie Stake had a music festival. It was crazy. It was held where the stage in the stake center is at and it was amazing! Another church came and also performed and there was some great singing and dancing. . .oh boy the dancing. Thank goodness my father wasn't there or he might of gone outside and jumped off a mountain. President Hill looked like he wanted to do so (he was there). It was the funniest thing ever. So many members were dancing and going crazy. When Dansoman ward got up to sing (me and my companion were in the choir) we (the choir) had toffie (kinda like candy) that we threw into the audience and that just made people go crazy! It was such a fun time of dancing and singing and just pure excitement.

     My Mom, my wonderful mother, told me in her e-mail, that their stake had to do a baptism in a hot tub because the water in the font was too cold. I cried. . .really I did, those poor poor people
. . .no working water heater to heat up the water for their baptism, so they had to do it via hot tub. . .hot tub? ? ?    I. . . .I Elder Bowden, here in Ghana, would like to make a comment on this. I would like to comment that for the past 20 months. . .I Elder Bowden, have done my baptisms, in:
                                1.The Rain
                                2. Only two feet of water in the tank.
                                3.In dirty water. it was brown.
                                4.When you only have two pairs of baptismal clothing, and you have five people  being baptized. That's a fun one.

     So I just want to mention that all of these are in cold water. Ice cold water. Never warm, always dirty. So enjoy your water heaters and hot tub baptisms. PEACE OUT BOY SCOUT.

     I love all of you so much and am so grateful for all of the prayers in my behalf. I cannot wait to hear from you next week.
Love,

Elder Bowden

Monday, December 1, 2014

From Zero to This

Well Friends and Family, another week has passed by and well, we had a nice week. I am truly grateful for all of the prayers and support that you have been giving to me these past few weeks. It hasn't been easy, Dansoman is not a easy area, especially to baptize in. However, thanks to all of the prayers being sent our way, we have had a blessed two Sundays filled with plenty of Baptisms. Last week as I mentioned we had one baptism. To continue that yesterday Jerry and Nathaniel entered into the waters of baptism and are now entering into the gate of eternal life.

So because of some issues we had to take Jerry and Nathaniel to visit President Hill during the week, and that is done at the Area Office at Accra, also where the Temple is located at. The experience that they had was amazing. As we were walking around the Temple Grounds waiting for President Hill to arrive (he showed up very late), they just were in awe at what they saw, asking questions and so forth, they even wanted to enter into the Temple. Sadly we had to explain that it would take some time before they could. We have already talked about the Temple with them so they understand the importance of it, now they just want to enter.  While walking they stopped, I asked if everything was okay, and they said they just wanted to feel the breeze while waiting for President Hill. That 'feel the breeze' was them just taking in the Spirit, it was so strong on all of us that we were in awe. We didn't want to leave after President Hill had arrived and did what needed to be done.

Last Sunday my Bishop asked me to assign two of the missionaries to give talks in Sacrament. Okay I thought. So I assigned one of my Sisters and myself to give talks on (you guessed it), Missionary Work. I had prepared a normal talk written it down and what not, then Sunday comes. Sitting on the stand, Sacrament meeting starts, everything is normal, then during the Ward Business, the worst thing possible happens. . . a shinny tan Toyota 4 X 4 shows up, and you'd never guess who it is. . . President Hill. OH BOY!!!!! I just gulped, already scared, now I am terrified. Bishop of course invites him to sit on the stand, next to me, and then announces (after the Sacrament) that President Hill would be the concluding speaker. So the Sister speaks and gives a really good talk. Then, my turn. . .I walk up to the pulpit, set my talk to the side, and just started to speak. I don't remember what I said, but it wasn't in my talk I can tell you that! Then surprisingly President Hill gets up and speaks, and it as if he was continuing where I left off in my talk. It was wonderful!

Then after the church service, we had the Baptism. President Hill stayed for that, I conducted the program. It was a really good time. It was super special for all of them. They all enjoyed it so so so very much. I am super happy for Jerry and Nathaniel. They have been prepared for this day, and now, they got one of the greatest things that God could ever give. Eternal Life.

Well folks. That is it for this week. Can you believe that it is December. That is so crazy.  AWESOME!!!! OKAY. . .

BYE BYE BYU BYU BYE BYE!!!!


LOVE


Elder Ty M. Bowden

Last Week

Greetings from Ghana. Well what a week. You know that this is transfer week and we have some news. For me, little old me, I am staying in Dansoman to be with Elder Langi! I am so excited to be with him for another transfer, he is such a cool guy and that will be a lot of fun. Sadly Elder McCullough is being transferred to another zone to be the new Zone Leader, congrats to him, his companion has been heck for him these past few weeks. All 8 to be honest. It isn't easy. Me and Elder McCullough's companion have not gotten along and also my companion doesn't like him, and now we will be with him in the apartment for another six weeks, I don't know if I can handle that.
     We did have a baptism on Sunday. It was super nice, a Sister named Tina, she was so ready to receive the gospel and it has taken us several months to baptize her. She is super happy and I am super happy for her. She has two kids that I can see becoming members when they reach the age of eight, one is five and one is two. So a few years down the road. The Sister Missionary that is going home had two baptisms as well, so that made three. Plus other missionaries from the zone made for a great Sunday Afternoon.
     Well, since it is transfer time, that includes missionaries going home. Including. . .Sadly. . .Elder and Sister Wall. I am truly sad that the Walls are leaving. I havn't ever said much about the Walls here on this blog, but they are our Office Couple. They spend all day in the Office at the mission home making sure everything temporal is taken care of while everyone else takes care of the spiritual things. Super cool and super nice. I have loved them so much, they made this new mission so much fun. I guess it will not be the "NEW" mission anymore since the first office couple is going home and we have a new office couple. Bless the Walls for what they've done for us as missionaries.
     Since one of my Sisters has finished her mission we will also get a new sister missionary in my district. She is just going on a bedroom transfer since she is in the same apartment as the sisters in Elder McCulloughs district. They share an apartment just like me and Elder McCullough share an apartment.
     Well, I guess that is all for the week. I hope you all have a good one. I know that I did. I can not wait to hear from you and I love and miss all of you.
Love

Elder Bowden

Monday, November 17, 2014

Greetings From Ghana

     Hello everyone! It is me Elder Bowden, once again bringing you another wonderful episode of: "Heat, Sweat, and Baptisms". All part of your pay-per-read. The price is $0.000000, so don't worry, its free to read!  LOL.

     I want to start by talking about what I did this morning. Once a month we get a chance to go to a store in the mission area called Shoprite. It is I believe a South African Company, but it is just like a small Target. So today was the day that we got to go. Here is the crazy thing. In the same area Ghana has been building a new mall. It is supposedly the 3rd largest in all of Africa. Biggest in all of West Africa. Well Shoprite moved into this new mall and WOW! That is all I can say, it was like walking into a mall back home. Seriously I thought I was back home the way this new mall looks. It is outstanding. You do not feel like you are in Africa when you enter. Almost all the stores are foreign, although there are a few that are definitely African. It was such an amazing experience to enter. Below is a article about the new mall.
http://graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/32978-west-hills-mall-opens-for-business.html
   
     This week was hot, and when I say hot I mean HOT!!!! Light off almost every other night. It is killing us. I do not know why Ghana is doing this to their people, but it is horrible. Right now it is light off in our area. Thankfully the cafe' we are at has a back up generator. I don't wanna go home because if I do it will only be to light off. That is not fun. I wish the Church would invest in some generators for us that way we wouldn't have to suffer. . .oh well, sometimes we must be patient in all things. Including light off.

     Church yesterday was really good. We had five investigators who came! Jerry and Nathaniel were there, although they are always late. Another that will be baptized with them next week Sunday is Tina. She is super excited for her baptism. We took her to the Ghana Accra Temple on Thursday and she got to walk around and meet President Hill.  It was truly a wonderful experience. I was so happy to take her. I am very excited for Jerry and Nathaniel because I see them as leaders in the future. Both are so amazing and so wonderful that words cannot describe how happy I am for them.

     I love this ward. This ward is truly an amazing ward. Transfers are next week Wednesday and I do not want to leave here. I love all the members, I know the members of this ward more then any other ward. They are so supportive of us right now. We gave them an idea to do Christmas Caroling this December, and they seem to be on board. I am happy because we really are trying to make the end of the year a wet one (baptisms). We have six investigators with baptismal dates for that month and two came to Church yesterday. I am so happy. Scared because I don't wanna leave: "nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done."

     The Sisters are doing well. One goes home on Monday! 18 months of hard work are finally finished. It was great to serve with this sister and it will be sad when she goes. She came after me, and she will go before me. . .not fair. . .oh well, she has done her job, and has been training a new missionary for the past 8 weeks. Now we look forward to a new sister joining us next week. I am excited to work with her IF I get to stay and work with them. That is my hope.

     Well, I guess I better be going. Thanks for all of your love and support. I hope all of you have a nice day. I am praying for all of you and hope you are praying for me.

Love

Elder Bowden

Monday, November 10, 2014

This is NOT a GUN!!!!

     So some of you (my Mother) are wondering what the heck happened to the look of the blog, and some of you (my Mother) think that the picture in the Background is me holding a gun. . .IF you are fooled. . .please don't be, it is NOT a gun, but a phone. A Nokia 105 to be exact. So don't worry, and if you are, don't be, I beg, guns are illegal here in Ghana (unless you are a cop).
This is the phone.
Its the black one.
Not the blue one.

     This week was very good. We found some very serious investigators who want to know more about the gospel. I am excited because we have 8 people with baptismal dates and four of them came to church on Sunday. That is super good, and as we are looking to December we have already extended four of those dates to December. If our plans work out, we SHOULD have four people baptized this month, on the 23rd. Which is also stake conference Sunday.
     The Sisters are good as always. One goes home at the End of this transfer, which is on the 26th of November. So we should be getting a new sister into our District, which is sad, but you have to do that because of the loss of one. SO hopefully the new sister we get will be just as good as the last one. Someone that can work hard, be almost as awesome as myself, and of course, work hard. I hope so. LOL.
     No Ebola in Ghana. . .
     So, That is all I have for you this week. Sorry it is short. Kinda like my mom. But hey, that is life. Thank you for all of your love and support. I hope you all have a splendid week.
BYE BYE!!!!!

Love,

Elder Bowden
   

Monday, November 3, 2014

Fresh Look

     Another week has been finished. Crazy how yesterday was General Conference for us here in Ghana. It was nice. One problem is the fact that trying to sit through 4 straight hours of men and women giving talks is not the funnest thing to do. After the first two hours, a lot of members got up and left. Not surprising, that is how the past three conferences have all been. After two hours, a lot of members are hungry and want to go pound Fufu. Yesterday we were heading home after to eat ourselves and a member calls us saying to come and have Fufu. Okay! No Problem. We already get Fufu on Saturdays, so why not get some more. 
     I mentioned last week about us receiving two referrals from a member in a different ward. Well, these two referrals are what you call, "Golden Investigators". They are Jerry and Nathaniel. They are cousins and are looking for the truth. They came to General Conference yesterday and just loved it. Every minute of it! They saw the "Big Picture" of conference and how it is the word of God to us today and we need to follow the council. I was shocked but they had pages (note the word "pages") of notes taken from what they had learned. I was shocked. They got more out of two sessions of conference then most members get in five. We have planned their baptism for the 23rd of this month. I really am looking forward to their baptism. 
     The area is doing well. We are staying as busy as we possibly can. We are enjoying and having a lot of fun. I enjoy the Sister Missionaries a lot. Yesterday I was at a multi district FM, and one of the missionaries in another district was wondering if I was enjoying being with the Sisters, and was shocked when I told him I was. It is sad because there are a lot of rumors about how the Sisters are horrible and what not. I am trying to get rid of those rumors. Maybe other Sisters are horrible, but not my Sisters. They are awesome. 
     NO EBOLA IN GHANA!!!!!
     Halloween was normal, just like any other day in Ghana. Of course Ghanians do not like sweet things. Candy is not the best thing for them. They prefer spicy things. Me I prefer sweet things. So if you desire to send me some sweets. . .feel free. LOL. 
     As you can see the blog has gotten a new face lift. I hope you like it. I have put the photo in the background in the photos page. So you can go and check it out. 


Have a great week. I love all of you!!!


Elder Bowden

Monday, October 27, 2014

Short Note

Well Hello everyone. How was your week? I don't know why I ask because none of you will reply.  LOL!  Either way. . . I hear Ebola has made it's way to New York City, that's great (note sarcasm). I just find it hard to believe that it is in America but not in Ghana. I don't know but missionaries have been evacuated from Liberia and Sierra Leone. So would they take missionaries out of places in America if it gets worse? Who knows. Lets hope not.
     This week was an alright week. We had a lot of members come and help us this week which was sweet. We had more member lessons this week then just normal lessons. This was only the second time in my mission that I've had that happen. It is a cool thing to experience. That is one thing we hope to be able to continue to be working on.
     We also were blessed to receive two referrals that are amazing! We taught them on Friday and then they came to church on Sunday and want to be baptized, so on the 23rd that is their planned baptismal dates. That was just two out of the six baptismal dates we have. So we are pretty happy about that. Hopefully we will have two baptized this Sunday, then more in the weeks to come.  I am pretty happy about that. It was sweet to have that many at church.
     Sisters are still doing well. One of the companionships is really soaring right now in their area. Minus the fact that one got clipped by a car. No big deal. She is fine, just elbow got a bit bruised. That is Ghana for ya, the drivers here are really scary and don't pay attention like they do back home. She got hit but still went out to work. That is amazing of her.
     To continue the Rasta story from last week. We've only seen him once from that time, still drunk as ever. But not as drunk. The end.
     I don't know what else to talk about today. Ghana is great, it is hot, so ya. Ghana be great!
Love ya!

Elder Bowden
   
   

Monday, October 20, 2014

NINETEEN MONTH MARK!!!!!

     Hello Everyone! How is everything going? I hope everything is going well because things here in Ghana are good. Another week is gone, can you believe that? With this week we'll hit another milestone. NINETEEN MONTH MARK!!!!! That's right boys and girls. On Wednesday I will be officially 19 months on mission. That is as record for the longest I've ever been away from home. Sadly not a world record, now that I think about it, what is the world record for the longest someone has been away from home, if there even is a record for that? Who knows, most unlikely it isn't me. . .Sadly. . .It should be!
     We had a really good week. Not just another normal week, but a great week. We saw a lot of people and had a lot of contacts. This week was probably one of the best weeks we've had in this area, if not the best. We are just doing our best. The Zone Leaders were wondering what we did differently. . . and well I told them we didn't change anything about our week, just that people actually showed up and wanted to learn and we were able to have a lot of success.
     In November we are hoping to have a few baptisms. Sadly the last few months have been dry, and it is sad, but nevertheless we are hoping to make November a very wet one and progressing to December to make a few others. They want us to plan ahead this time for December. I was like what?! It isn't even November and you want us to plan for December? I probably won't even be here in December (referring to how transfers are on 26th of November) They just want us to make sure we are teaching people and extending baptismal dates. The thing I am thinking is if you are planning for someone they only need to come three times before they are baptized.  That still doesn't reach December. . .oh well. . .we shall see in the future about it.
     The Sisters are doing very well. The one companionship is doing very well with teaching people and finding and getting new investigators. They had a baptism on Sunday which was just amazing. I was happy for them. They have worked super hard for it and totally deserve it. The other sisters have opened up a new area and so they are just at the moment trying to find people to extend commitments to. I bet that in the upcoming weeks they will be doing super well. Just have to keep finding.
     One story to close. Here in Ghana there are people called Rastafari. If you have no idea what that is, just go and Google it. I don't want to explain all of that here. However I have become friends with one in this area since I came here. He is a cool guy who likes to help out in the area. However, he likes to get drunk and high. So me and my companion on Saturday are walking and we see him just drunk as a sailor walking around and he is falling and tripping and almost fell into a gutter, so we grab him and take him to his house.  The whole time crying how he has problems and so forth. It was super sad because you can tell he is addicted to these things and it just makes me really sad. While we were helping him get home people shout at him Rasta go die or you go kill yo self Rasta. It is sad because people don't care about him.
     So that was my week. It was an adventure to say the least. I hope all of you had a good week and lets hope for another great week this week!

Love

Elder Ty M. Bowden

Monday, October 13, 2014

WHAT!?!?!

     It is crazy to see the things that happen as missionaries. I just put WHAT because one of the Elders always says that in the apartment when something crazy happens. I am just enjoying. You know, a mission is not an easy thing. Especially when your companion has the same attitude as you do, you just want to kill him sometimes. It's not like it is the "same" if you were going to put us into a group, we would be in the same group. I think that we get on each others nerves some times, but we seem to do just fine.
     The weeks are not easy. Especially when there is nobody to teach. I don't like that excuse. In fact I hate it. Oh nobody to teach. Truth there are plenty of people that we could be teaching but they seem to always be busy. Which is horrible. We contact a guy going to work, ask him when he is free, he tells us he works from 8 am to 7pm every day, and when he gets home his is quote "too tired" to learn with us. Nevertheless we did receive some  referrals from some people on Sunday that we will have to follow up on.
     Some of you might be wondering how the new bishop is doing. He is doing very well, in fact we are going to have Family Home Evening with him and his family tonight. That will be a lot of fun. . . Play some games and do some fun activities. I am pretty excited to do that. I love family home evenings.
     The sisters are doing very well. They had the best numbers I've ever seen the sisters have. I was so shocked I was like "WHAT!?!?!?!" Both of them had outstanding weeks. I was so happy for them that I just wanted to scream. I was just sitting at my desk and when I got their numbers via text messages, I about jump out of my seat over excitement. So THANK YOU for any prayers for the sisters because they were answered.
     This week we will continue to work hard and hopefully get more people to teach. I love teaching and can not wait to teach more people this week. I just have to find them first. LOL. Pray that we do. I love all of you and am so grateful for all of your support.

With Love

Elder Bowden

Monday, October 6, 2014

The New

     Well, I can't believe it, but Ebola is in America but not in Ghana. I don't know how that happened but it did. So all you people enjoy America while I am safe in Ghana. That is really strange. How the heck did it get to America before getting to Ghana?!?!?! Alma 37:11. . .

Moving on:
   
     This week was the start of a new eight week transfer. YAY!!!! So you probably have questions about my new companion. Well. . .as I said last week in my e-mail he is from Tonga. Yes he is from Tonga, and is basically my twin brother, only louder, and a little more annoying. LOL (is that even possible). Elder Langi is a great guy and super friendly. In Tonga they only speak Tongan, very little English, so when he first came to Ghana he knew no English (he doesn't like English at all) , and now knows quite a lot of English. It is very slow, but he has improved so much over the five months he has been here.

     The sisters are doing well, the two that were in my District last transfer are both now training, and the two new sisters speak very little English. It is mostly broken English that is a form of pigeon. So as they work I encourage them to pray for the gift of tongues. That I feel will help them the most. They all seem super nice and excited to work.

     Funny story...yesterday in church, my bishop and his two counselors were released!!! AND . . .WAIT FOR IT!!!! WE got a NEW Bishop and two NEW counselors!!!! Ya the Stake President whitewashed the Dansoman Bishopric!!! CRAZY!!! Reminds me when my dad released the entire Bishopric a few years ago. Crazy!!! So, anyways, what happened since it was fast and testimony meeting, the Stake President asked the old Bishopric and the NEW Bishopric to bear their testimonies. Also one thing about missionaries when they get transferred, they bear their testimonies that Sunday they come. SO the New and Old Bishopric and three missionaries bore their testimonies. That took all day. The former bishops wife got up and bore her testimony. In the Dansoman ward is a former mission president of the Carlebar Nigeria Mission so he too bore his testimony and then that was the end of the time. Funny. Sorry members!!! Next month! LOL

     Today the Office Couple (Elder and Sister Wall) came to our apartment to bring us a few supplies and to make sure our apartment was in top shape. It is sad because they leave to go home at the end of next month. 18 months finished. WOW!! They came after me, and now they are leaving before me. . .not fair. . .thankfully we have received word that a new Office Couple will come and replace the Walls. Finally! The first couple called apparently said no. Bless this couple that is coming for answering the call to come (not where they wanted to go, but to where the Lord wanted them to go). God bless them.
     Ok, well, I better get going. See ya next week!!!! LOVE YA ALL!!!!!

ELDER BOWDEN

Monday, September 29, 2014

The Week of Zero

     Well, Hello, and welcome again to another week of missionary work. You know people say that missionary work is not easy. I would agree with them. It is not, nor will it be an easy task. The Savior sent the 12 and 70 out two by two and in the days following the Crucifixion, there were only roughly 150 members. That is scary considering that during the three years that Christ was on the earth he was followed by thousands. Now were down to 150. Either the Apostles had a lot of less actives to work with or a lot of dropped investigators who didn't make their baptismal dates. Either way, they had some work to do. Now, we as servants of the Lord continue that work under the direction of the modern day Prophets and Apostles, with Jesus Christ directing them. Today it is the same, lots of members, and a lot of less actives. We work. We find them, we teach them, we baptize them, then help them endure to the end. That is not an easy task. But we are doing it small small.

     This week sadly was a rough one. Really just a full on, hit a brick wall at full speed and got our butts kicked. Its like, I don't know how to explain it, we go out, we walk, and walk, and walk, and somehow walk some more, but never seem to find people to teach or at least this past week. We had zero new investigators. That is way short of the mission goal of ten a week.  Oh well, try again this week. Hopefully this week is better.

     So this is kinda weird, but transfers are this week. It is weird because it has only been 4 weeks since the last one. The reason is that President Hill is going to a Mission President Seminar and that falls on the week of transfers. So we had to push it up to this week. This new transfer will last 8 weeks. I will have a new companion during this time. He is from Tonga. Here is the funny part about my new companion. Tonga in Twi, means something bad. I don't need to tell you what it means, but just know that it is bad, not like a swearword, but it just . . .well. . . Thus, we begin a new transfer. Another time to work and to get things done. Hopefully.

     As I mentioned last week we had a zone activity. We played basketball. The end. Sports. . .we are all very rusty at it. Missing lay ups and what not. But as the day dragged on in the Ghana Sun, we got better. Small. It was a fun activity. Others played soccer. So it was a good day.

     Ok well, I am going to go. Because I have to do college applications. BYE BYE!!!!

Love,
Elder Bowden

Monday, September 22, 2014

THE FINAL LEG

     Well everyone. . . what can I say to express how I feel. We've reached another mile stone today in the amazing journey of my life. We have reached eighteen months in Ghana. Three-fourths of the way done and only got six more to go before I am hugging my mommy at the St. George Airport. Wow! That is crazy to think about and hard to believe and yet it is exciting at the same time. Just gotta keep working hard for these last six. Final sprint!
     Well, Dansoman is an okay place. The area has a lot of members in it so we find ourselves visiting members often. I like that because I feel like I didn't visit as many members as I could of in my last area, so I am trying to repent and get to know the members in my area better. That is good because some days you are working hard in your area and there is absolutely no one to see. You are walking in circles day in and day out and you get frustrated, so you go and visit a member who talks to you, is interested in what you have to say, and then tells you they have a friend they want you to go and teach. Cool.
     Even one member, yes the one that feeds us Fufu, is so kind. She has helped us a lot and the missionaries will forever be in her debt.
     So some of you probably want to know about my companion Elder Mmbulika. Some of you just want to know how to say his name! Well, to say his name is very easy. In fact, all you do is drop the two Ms on his name and say bul leak a! It is like eureka, but bulika! YA. . . Well to talk about Elder Mmbulika, where he is from and how long he has been a member, is a very interesting story. His parents have been members for a very long time. Longer then he has been alive. He is 20 years old. His parents moved from the city where the church was in Kenya and moved to a town where the church was not present from like when he was 1 to when he was 15 years old. So he was baptized when he was 15 years old.
     This week was very long you could say. I felt like we walked in circles the whole time and were not able to do as much as we had planned to do. Door to door isn't working and we are just looking for people who are outside. The problem is that during the day everyone is either at work or at school and they are all to busy to let us share the gospel with them.
     Oh well, that's Ghana for you. Right! Well, I hope all of you have a great day and I will see ya next week.

Love

Elder Bowden

Monday, September 15, 2014

Greetings from Ghana!!!!!

Well hello and welcome again to another episode of "The Journeys of a Small Boy named Bowden". In todays episode we have:

My Moms birthday
Ebola
Zone Conference
My Companions Birthday
Fufu
Sisters Update
Ghana Update

     So let us begin by first wishing my wonderful mother a happy birthday. For the record, she is NOT 30! I know she looks it but is far from it. Don't let her shortness fool any of you into thinking she is a college student. She is the mother of a 20 year old.
     Moving on into todays news. . .Ebola is on the rise, everywhere except Ghana. To quote President Hill "still no Ebola in Ghana: zero, zilch, nothing, nada." So that is good news. We don't need to worry about it because the Church will not allow us to stay in Ghana if it was going to endanger us.
     Now onto the wonderful zone conference. It was a nice experience. We traveled out to the Temple/Area Office to have our conference. We didn't get to go inside the Temple (we will be doing that in November) but the main reason we went was to get our new non-citizen id cards. We were also interviewed by the Mission President. He is sweet and doing really well as is his wife. We talked a lot about our personality vs. character. How we should be more worried about our character and not so much our personality. That was something that touched me a lot and am going to follow the council given to us to work more on our character and be defined as someone who has good character and not so much on our personality. Looking forward to November's Zone Conference when we get to go to the Temple.
     On Saturday it was my companions Birthday! He turned 20! Yay!!!! Happy Birthday Elder Mmbulika!!!!! He didn't want anyone to really know about it so we didn't tell anyone until after it had passed. I don't know why, but that's what he wanted. We did enjoy Fufu on his birthday, so that was nice.
     Fufu, so I forgot if I told you about the member who has said that she will make the missionaries Fufu every Saturday. If not, there is a member in our ward who makes the missionaries Fufu every Saturday. It is super good and I love Fufu so much! If we could make Fufu in America I would make it for all of you when I got home, but we don't have cassava or plantain. Sorry. I am for sure going to miss having Fufu. That is my favorite meal in Ghana.
     THE SISTERS!!!! I think it is safe to say that I have the best Sister Missionaries in the Mission. They are nothing like I was told. They are hard workers and are doing very well. One of the two companionship's is planning on having two baptisms this next week. That is awesome! So proud of them. I am excited to be here to help encourage them onto greatness!!!!
    Ghana is good. I am enjoying the mission. Sadly rainy season is about to end which dry season will be rolling around. I am uncertain on how this will effect the missionary work, but we will work no matter what happens. Ghana be great!!!!!
    Alright, thanks for listening. See ya next week.


LOVE!!!!!!
ELDER BOWDEN!!!!!!!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Dansoman Ward

Hello and greetings again from Ghana!  Once again we have reached another Fast Sunday.  We will talk more about the Fast Sunday in a minute, but just know that only 6 more Fast Sundays and I am fasting in St. George.  YAY!!!

Life is good.  Ghana is still free of Ebola.  As you know transfers were last week and I was transferred to Dansoman One.  Now I am going to explain this in detail and very slowly so be patient.  Here's whats happening:

     1.  I am in Dansoman Ward/Mission District
     2.  I live in Mamponse Ward boundaries/Mamponse District
     3.  There are four Elders in my apartment
     4.  2 Elders are in Mamponse Ward, 2 are in Dansoman Ward
     5.  I am DL of Dansoman District
     6.  The other senior companion in the apartment is the DL for Mamponse District
     7.  In the two Districts there are 8 sister missionaries, 4 in my District and 4 in the other district
     8.  ALL 8 sisters live in the same apartment
     9.  Thus, two Districts, two different apartments

OK so hopefully that helps settle any confusion.  So Dansoman area is an alright area.  On paper it is very small and when you get into it....it is, but it is dense so there are plenty of people, for now.  However, I fear this area will run out of people fast.  We only have two serious people we are teaching and one is being baptized at the end of the month.  We will have to contact and hopefully find new people and plan on baptizing in the month of October.

This transfer is only a 4 week transfer, meaning that come October 1 there is another transfer.  After that the next transfer is 8 weeks.  Holy cow that is crazy!  It is because of the Mission President Seminar that is coming up in 6 weeks.  President Hill will not be around to do transfers so they just pushed it up a week or so.  At the end of those four weeks, we will be getting 30 new missionaries!  Holy Cow!! That is a lot.

We have zone conference this Wednesday and we will be going to the area office at the temple grounds.  I am super excited to go and see the temple.  In November we will actually get to go inside.  For now its just a conference.  Dansoman ward is super nice.  Sadly I have only 30 seconds so I cannot talk about it today.  Next week!

Love ya!!!!
Elder Bowden

Monday, September 1, 2014

Transfers

Well everyone. . .sadly another six weeks have passed, and another transfer has come. Sadly, I am leaving Mataheko Ward and am moving to a neighboring ward called Dansoman. I do not know how to say my companions name, but he is from Kenya, so that should be an adventure. That's all I am going to say about transfers.
Last week in Mataheko was really good. I got to go on an exchange with Elder Anderson (my zone leader and former companion) and that was a ton of fun. In fact it was our most successful day of the week. We had nine lessons and eleven contacts that day. It was a fun day.
So you may want to know about the ping pong rematch with the guy from Ethopia. we did play, i did lose, but it wasn't as bad this time. 21-19. I think that was a big improvement from our last encounter. LOL. Yup.
The last thing I want to talk about before I leave is that we had a BAPTISM THIS WEEK!!!! YAY!!!! One of our investigators that has been coming for a while was finally baptized. Her name is Abigail. She is awesome. For the past 3 weeks we've just been reading the Book of Mormon with her to help her understand and get in the habit of reading it with her. Finally, YESTERDAY, she was Baptized! Elder Tullis was the one to baptize her, because one of his investigators was also baptized on Sunday. As a Mataheko District we baptized 2 people this month. YAY!!!!!
Alright, well I am gonna go. Sorry this is short but I honestly don't feel like saying much this week. A little bummed about transfers and what not. Thank you for all of your love and support, and please continue to pray for me. I will need it.

Love,

Elder Bowden

Monday, August 25, 2014

BECAUSE I'M HAPPY

     Hello once again people! How has your week been! Mine has been very good for the most part. Ebola is not in Ghana yet. That is good and we continue to pray that it doesn't. Also we pray for the people and Doctors who are facing this horrible problem. Sadly the missionary work has stopped in those countries (except Nigeria) and it doesn't look like it will pick up in the next three plus months. I am deeply saddened by this news.
     Well...it is yet another milestone in our journey, Seventeen Months on Mission! YES!!! This past week I have hit the big ONE SEVEN!!!! It is a good thing, but then it means that I only have seven months left in this wonderful country of Ghana. Just another day, nothing special, just went out and worked super hard. It was fun. Here in Mataheko we are having a lot of fun together. I love the area, and at the end of this transfer (which is on September 3rd) I will have been here for four and a half months. That will tie for the longest I've been in an area (tied with Amasaman). Just in case you have forgotten what areas I have served in or the companions I have had, I will make a small list here:

1st: Kpone One: (Ghana Accra Mission, three months)
Elder Tribe (USA)
2nd: Tantra Hills Two: (Ghana Accra/Accra West Mission, eight weeks)
Elder Anderson (USA)
3rd: Tantra Hills One: (Ghana Accra West Mission, six weeks)
Elder Smith (USA)
4th: Amasaman One: (Ghana Accra West Mission, four and a half months)
Elder Kiwanuka (Uganda)
Elder Reeves (USA)
5th: Korle Bu Two: (Ghana Accra West Mission, three months)
Elder Serassio (USA)
Elder Heaton (USA)
6th: Mataheko Two: (Ghana Accra West Mission, four and a half months)
Elder Metivier (USA)
Elder Shangase (South Africa)


     There you have it!  A complete record of the last seventeen months of my life where I have been in these places with these people. Not too bad, nothing to complain about, super fun and adventurous. I plan on making the next seven just as fun and successful as the first seventeen. It can only get better from here. I am super happy to be a missionary and look forward to hearing from all of you soon.
     Elder Shangase and the crew are all well. Hopefully as a District next week we will each be having a baptism, which would be super cool. To reap the fruit of our labors would be super awesome, please be praying that that will happen.
     Some of you are probably wondering if I got to have a rematch against the Missionary from Ethiopia. Sadly no we didn't get to face because on Saturday we didn't clean the chapel. Instead we went to a wedding for one of the MTC instructors. That was super awesome. You don't know a wedding until you've been to a Ghanaian wedding. Super fun, and well...you have to be there. One thing about Ghanians is they do not like to kiss in public or at all for what I've observed and heard. At one wedding I went to when the person doing the wedding said you may kiss the bride, he kissed her on the cheek. This wedding was so different. It was at a Chapel then they will go to the temple to be sealed for eternity. And when the bishop said you may now kiss the bride. . . let me tell you they kissed and the crowd went crazy! You would think Ghana just scored the winning goal of the world cup that's how crazy it was! The reception was also crazy! Dancing, drinks, cake (it had nuts so none for me), but it was a party. The missionaries were there because well, she is a MTC instructor so she asked that all the missionaries in the Kaneshie Zone come and sing for her wedding. So we sang hymn 52, that was interesting. All showed up early so that we could practice. And after one hour of practice, we nailed it. Fun Saturday.
     Well, that was my week. It was an alright week. I hope that all of you have an awesome week too! Love ya!

Love,

Elder Bowden

P.S. I am leaving a music video for all you who want to be happy to listen to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6Sxv-sUYtM

BECAUSE I'M HAPPY!!!!!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Greetings Again!

Hi everyone! Great to hear from you all once again. I am grateful to still be alive for one thing. I have another update on Ebola from President Hill

Ebola Update,

There are still no reported cases of Ebola in Ghana. Despite rumors including some in the social media, various medical groups have said there are absolutely no cases in Ghana. Yesterday, here is what the the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) said: "With deep disappointment and utter shock we have learned of a statement making rounds in certain social media circles alleging an outbreak of Ebola and attempts by political leaders to cover up several cases and people dying.

The PSGH wishes to state categorically and emphatically that no such assertion was made at the annual General Meeting (AGM) in Koforidua or any other meeting.

The purported claims on the tape are totally false, mischievous, and most regrettable."

No Ebola in Ghana. 

While the situation seems contained in Liberia and Sierra Leone--no better, no worse---there continues to be problems there. There are several new Ebola cases reported each day in both countries. Remember, there are millions of people in both countries and while the few new cases each day are sad and heartbreaking, they are only a few cases. I will keep you posted on any new developments as necessary. For now, we pray for people in those countries, want the best for them, and hope they get the situation under control soon.

Again, no cases in Ghana: zero, nada, zilch, none. 


Ok so don't worry. We are fine (for now).

So this week was very nice. I am very tired to say the least and need some sleep. We were able to make a lot of progress as we had three investigators come to church yesterday. Hopefully one of those will be ready for her baptism on the 31st of the month.

I have a funny story I want to share. On Saturdays we clean the chapel. Well, it turns out that the Kaneshie Stake Center has a ping pong table. One of the Kaneshie Missionaries has a sweet net as well. So we got playing after we cleaned the chapel and I was smoking everyone. Just winning, until a missionary from Ethiopia showed up. No one would play him because they were all saying how good he is. And if you know me, a little cocky, I challenged him. . . .and got destroyed. :( LOL. We will face again this weekend. But ya. It hurt.

Other then that the week was good. Had some fun, got to work with a member a lot this week. It helped with translation because none of us can speak Twi. So the members do help. I am super grateful to them and their help in the work. So go help the missionaries.

I know that this is true.

I am a little busy downloading every single Elder Holland talk I can find on BYU.edu right now, so forgive me but I am going to end here. I love Holland!!!! BYE!!!!

Love

Elder Bowden




Monday, August 11, 2014

Ebola Update

Greetings once again from Ghana! I hope all is going well for all of you that are free from Ebola. Here in West Africa we are doing somehow. . .

From President Hill:

"We continue to monitor the Ebola outbreak which is continuing in Liberia, Sierra Leone,and Guinea. Unfortunately, the number of cases continues to rise (1779) as well as the death toll (961). The government in those countries are taking various actions including travel restrictions in order to prevent the spread of the disease. It appears a traveler who went to Lagos and later died had Ebola and may have infected 11 others in Nigeria. In Ghana, 21 people have been tested for Ebola based on various but they were all negative and there are no confirmed cases in Ghana at all at this date. I hope this will help reassure your parents as well as help you to know that you can serve without worry or concern about this disease."

However, this was on another website:

http://www.ghanacelebrities.com/2014/08/09/shocking-ghana-records-first-case-ebola/

http://www.thehealthsite.com/news/latest-ebola-news-ghana-on-read-alert/

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=320525

This is all I know. . . I trust President Hill and know that the Church would not keep us here if it was going to effect us in Anyway. So we will just be super careful and hope and pray that all works out.

So Just got back on from light off. I lost some time. So this is about all I can post in the next 2 minutes I have on. I know that Heavenly Father will protect his missionaries and members no matter where they are in the world. We have to replace Fear with Faith. Trusting that God is in control and not us. As long as we are all obedient and are willing to follow his commandments. . . we will all be protected. Please Keep praying for the Doctors and Medical staffs battling this outbreak, pray for them and the people around it, that they will be protected. Also pray for the missionaries that they will be protected.

I love you all, and I will update you next week on this issue.

Love

Elder Bowden

Monday, August 4, 2014

Ebola and the Book of Mormon

So you are probably wondering what is happening with the Ebola outbreak. I have copied the letter that my Mission President has sent to us. That way you can know as much as I do. It reads:

Elders and Sisters,

Some of you may have heard that the Church has released an announcement that all missionaries assigned to Sierra Leone and Liberia are being reassigned to other missions due to the Ebola outbreak there. No missionaries there have contracted this virus. Missionaries are safe and have been screened for any health concerns. We understand that missionary reassignments from these two missions will take place throughout this upcoming coming week. It is unclear at this time missionaries who may be reassigned to our mission but we expect to get more information about this early in the week.

As you know, the safety and health of each of you is uppermost to Sister Hill and me. Since no Ebola cases have been reported in Ghana, there is no cause for concern here. We continue to monitor the situation in Liberia and Sierra Leone and will update you as any new facts occur that may be relevant.

It is always wise to practice good hygiene and follow healthy habits to maintain our own personal health. So, we would encourage you to do the following which should be considered as standard practices in our Mission:

1. Take Doxy every day. It is an antibiotic and will help with combating other diseases and infections in addition to malaria.
2. Wash your hands 5 times or more each day with antibacterial soap for which the mission will reimburse your apartment leader.
3. Wash kitchen and bathroom surfaces each week with bleach or a similar disinfectant. Wash your sheets with bleach each month.
4. Use bed nets each night and spray them with promethium every few months.
5. Do not eat roadside beef or bushmeat. Do not eat any meat your may not recognize even in members or investigators homes.
6. Use your Seychelle bottles and apartment water filters and drink 4-5 liters of water each day.

Following these standard practices means that we will enjoy each day more and be able to serve the Lord more effectively each day.

President and Sister Hill

Ok so moving on. This week was very good. We've found a lot of success this past week in our work. I am happy that my mom and dad were the only ones to do it this week. Still sitting at two. . .we can improve. This week I would like to share what I learned from PMG. Before I get into it, we need to read something:

 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me yeblessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfectremembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having theimage of God engraven upon your countenances?
 I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?
 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot besaved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.
 And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?
 Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?
 Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?
 I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.
 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the songof redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.
 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped ofenvy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.
 And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?
 Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!
 Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!
 Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.
 Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
 For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn.
 O ye workers of iniquity; ye that are puffed up in the vain things of the world, ye that have professed to have known the ways of righteousness nevertheless have gone astray, as sheephaving no shepherd, notwithstanding a shepherd hath called after you and is still calling after you, but ye will not hearken unto his voice!
 Behold, I say unto you, that the good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ; and if ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd, to the name by which ye are called, behold, ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd.
 And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a childof the devil.
 For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil.
 Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him.
 And whosoever doeth this must receive his wages of him; therefore, for his wages he receiveth death, as to things pertaining unto righteousness, being dead unto all good works.

Some of you know where this is from, others do not. I want to ask all of you some questions:
     1. Where is this coming from? The Devil or God?
     2. Would the Devil really want you to search your soul and ask yourselves such questions?
I don't think so. So if it isn't from the Devil, it must be from God, through one of His Prophets named Alma the Younger in the Book of Mormon. Now some people out there feel that the Book of Mormon is of the Devil. However, judging from what we've all just read, I want you to truly ask yourselves if Satan would really want you to ask yourselves these kind of questions? 

Now like I've already mentioned, if it is not of the Devil, it has to be from God. Because the opposite of Evil is Good. But even then some people reject this book. They argue, saying all these crazy things, 'can't add to the bible', 'where are the gold plates', etc...pointless questions...really, faith is believing, the not seeing! NOT the other way around. Others hear rumors, lies, that sorta crap, but honestly, Christ himself said, "Judge not after the appearance, but Judge righteous judgement. John 7:24
  
Yea, it is a Blue Book and it has nice gold writing on it. BUT HAVE YOU READ IT? NO! I have seen people open it and still not believe it is true. All of them when I ask why not, I ask if they have prayed to know if it is true or not. All that I've asked have said no. They did not pray. They did not ponder. There is a reason in the introduction of the book it says that you need to not only read, but to ponder in their hearts the message it contains and then to ask God if it is true. THEN. . .THEN you will know if it is true or not. 

Why is this so important?  Joseph Smith Jr. said it perfectly, "The Book of Mormon is the Keystone of our Religion." Take away the Book of Mormon and everything else is false. However, if the Book of Mormon isn't taken away, then Joseph Smith and Co. stand. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true Church on the face of the earth. Why is that so hard to understand? Think it through. For those of you who have a 3rd grader in your home, ask them to write a 531 page book in less than 90 days. Ask them to write one Chapter of such a book.  Include in your story 54 chapters dealing with wars, 21 historical chapters, and 55 chapters on visions and prophecies. And, remember, when you begin to write on visions and prophecies, you must have your record agree meticulously with the Bible. You must write 71 chapters on doctrine and exhortation, and here, too, you must check every statement with the scriptures or you will be proven to be a fraud. You must write 21 chapters on the ministry of Christ, and everything you claim he said and did and every testimony you write in your book about Him must agree absolutely with the New Testament. 
I ask you, would you like to undertake such a task? I would suggest to you too that you must employ figures of speech, similes, metaphors, narrations, exposition, description, oratory, epic, lyric, logic, and parables. Undertake that, will you?
So now you understand where you must stand. Find out if it is true or not. I know that this book is true. I have read it several times, and I know with all my heart, that this book is true. 

I love all of you and can't wait to hear from you next week. 

Love,

Elder Bowden