News from the MTC

Sorry I didn't post last week. Things were pretty busy and crazy around here. Getting back into the routine of school after the Christmas break takes a little getting use to but we are back into our routine. Jack and Jenny are doing great and Dorothy is working hard.

I am posting the last two emil letters from Jason. He is still at the MTC and will be until at least 17 February 2009.

Letter form 8 January 2009

I am so happy to be here in the MTC. I got to write a thank you letter toa Mr. and Mrs. Stephen from here in Orem, Utah to thank them for their donationto the missionary Christmas fund, and that was so cool. It reminded me of myChristmas a bit, and to be honest (I love you guys), it was the best Christmasever. It was humble and just nice. I loved to hear from two apostles, and themission presidency was great at trying to accomidate so many missionaries.
(His snail mail letter talked about the Christmas Eve Devotional with Elder Bednar and a Christmas Morning Devotional with Elder Holland. He said: "It's really neat having to have heard from 2 apostles in the last 24 hours.")
Anyway, the studies this week have been really good. I have enjoyedeverything we've talked about. My teachers are so inspired of God, andit's wonderful getting to learn from them. As my companion and I study,trying to prepare for the lesson we give on Tuesday for evaluation, we learn somuch, mainly about how much we know and don't necessarily need to share. We only have 30 minutes and the gospel is so good, we tend to spend all 30 minson the Pre-Mortal existance. So yeah, cutting down information is hard, but yesterday, we got to teach a portion of the first lesson in Spanish to anothercompanionship from another district, and that was great. We actually spent lesstime talking (mainly due to language restrictions, haha) and had the opportunityto just listen to the investigator and fit his needs. It was pretty cool.
The more time I spend here in the MTC, the more I actually want to go anddo the work, but as it's said in Doctrine and Covenants: "Seek not todeclare my word, but first seek to obtain my word..." I understand this,but it's kind of hard. We get the opportunity every week to go to the"Referral Center" and make calls to people who have ordered materialto make sure they got it, and that is a wonderful experience to get to hearpeople's concerns about the gospel and about the Book of Mormon. We had onemissionary in our district actually teach the entire plan of salvation over thephone and then commit the man he talked to to read and pray about the Book ofMormon. It was awesome. Two other elders were in Chat talking to a man abouthis concerns with Joseph Smith being able to see God. They got his e-mail and are still talking to him. This is such a wonderful place.
Anyway, I just want you to know that the Church is true. Joseph Smith isthe prophet of this dispensation and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on theearth today, continuing to lead and guide people on the earth right now. I know that I am a son of God, He loves me, and through the Atonement of Jesus Christ Ican return to live with my Father some day. I look foreward, through theordinaces of the gospel and my own personal obedience, to seeing you all in theCelestial Kingdom one day. I pray that no one, after all is said and done, isin any other kingdom, for it is damnation. One can not progress anywhere exceptin the Father's presence, so to be away from Him is a dam on your progression. Stay fathful and follow the Spirit.
Love you all,
Elder Jason Bowen

Letter form 15 January 2009

Mom,
I got the letter, and all is well. The cookies were kind of dry when I got them though...lol. They're still good though, just gotta chew for a bit till they get nice and soft. Tell Dorothy thanks form me.
I had a wonderful week. Elder Jeffery R. Holland came and spoke to us Tuesday night and it was wonderful. He really knows how to give a pep talk. He made an anology of how our little brothers think that we're flying somewhere over Omaha, with a cape, and as we look out over South Dakota, we say "I sense evil...I will swoop down and call them to repentace." He had us ROLLING in the isles for about a half an hour...it was so funny.
But then he talked of us sticking to our missions and not complaining, which was really good. I always enjoy hearing him. He know what to say and when to say it.
Um....let me think. So much is happening, but it's kind of all the same. I don't want to sound repetitious, but the Spirit is so strong here and I'm recieveing so many revelations as my companion and I study. I have an investigator on the phone lines here that I'll be calling back on Saturday. Oh, yeah, you don't know of that yet. There's a place called the Referral Center (RC) where we can make phone calls to see if people have recieved media and how they liked it. (My district also does Chats) Anyway, I made a phone call to one lady named Donna, and when she answered, she was kind of mad because it was the third phone call she had gotten and was wondering why. She and I talked for a bit, and when I asked her how she liked the movie (Joy to the World) she said that it was a good movie and it brought her closer to Christ but it wouldn't convert her to Mormonism. We talked for a bit longer and she committed to reading Alma chapter 7. She also took her movie to her atheist son-in-law, but he didn't recieve it well. I'm going to try to continue to work with her, becuase she has a really strong testimony of Jesus Christ and I know that his restored gospel will really help her.
We're also getting ready to start teaching one of the teachers here like a real investigator. If he doesn't feel the Spirit, then he said he'd kick us out and we have to earn a right to come back and teach him more. I'm kind of scared, but really exited to see how well we do. Normally, we teach a teacher and get feedback, but he wont give it, we have to use the Spirit and figure it out for ourselves. Pray for me....lol.
Besides that I really don't have any strong feelings right now...I dunno, but this is an awesome place and I look foreward to the field. It's funny, I really want to go out and teach, but I thought of something this week: "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall [ye be] loosed." I changed it up a bit, but that's kind of how I feel. I have this huge testimony and I want to go out and let the Spirit convert those who He needs to convert through me, but I need to obtain the word here first and I know it. By the way, I know that the verse is a bit different, but I changed it to fit how I need it right now. And it's kind of funny.
So, I want you to know I love you all and pray for you always. I know that the church is true and that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I bear my testimony at least 10xs a day here, and at first it felt kind of odd, but now they're all sincere and I really know that what I'm saying is what the person hearing me needs. My purpose is to "bring people unto Christ" not just non-members, so I know that when I teach these members who are playing investigators, they need something too, which is why I know that as I bear my testimony to other missionaries, my testimony strengthens them as well. I love the Savior and I love this Church so much, and I know that it's true. The more I study, the more I come to love the gospel and all that it offers us. I love you all and keep up the good work in your areas of the vineyard.
Love,
Elder Jason Bowen