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What's in a name?

Hey everyone!! I will apologize in advance for no email on Monday. We had some financial stuff go on and since I am the Branch President, I am the one responsible for these things. #blessings Anyways, here's my week!!!

We had many great lessons this week and we are getting the work progressing very well. The first was with Loredana and while we love meeting with her, it's starting to get very redundant when she is not keeping her commitments and we are committing her to the same things every week. This week, we committed her to pray with the specific question of "Is the Book of Mormon true?". The unfortunate fact is that she prayed to end the lesson and she didn't ask the question or end in the name of Jesus Christ. So we were pretty sad and now we do not know how to help her progress, but we will keep trying cause there is hope that she will keep commitments. We also had a lesson with Darius and that was probably our highlight of our week. He came and we taught the Restoration and he was just eating up everything we were saying and absolutely loving it. He was excited to read the Book of Mormon and to pray and we are super excited to see what will happen with him. And just today, we had a lesson with a guy named Raul. He's a shy person, but very open and willing to listen. We taught him the Restoration as well and he was really sensitive to the Spirit and he told us he went into the meeting feeling bad, but he left feeling relieved and happy. What a amazing moment to hear the Spirit touch his soul like that. He then expressed a question about the after-life and that set us up for another lesson for next week on the Plan of Salvation. The work is progressing and I am excited to be apart of it. LOVE LIFE!!!!!!!!

So quick story about my day yesterday. We had to do some auditing training since I am the Branch President and am in charge of it. So we spent the entire day doing so and it was extremely long and intense. I have no clue what I am supposed to do, but I am going to try hard to figure it all out!! Blessings I tell you. I will know more about church finances than the average 19 year old missionary from Iowa (unless, that is your thing. Then I'm 2nd best haha).

So this was conference week!!! First, we had Zone Conference in Oradea and that was a super awesome!!! There was a focus on the Book of Mormon and Spirit in conversion and how to utilize both with those we teach. I learned a lot and there is many things I will take with me into my own missionary work.

Second, it was GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!! Oh my. I could go on and on and on about this conference. The Spirit was so strong and I invite all of you to watch, read, and listen to these talks again because there is so much to learn from the talks spoken. But one that stuck out more than others is the question "what's in a name?". Many people spoke about the importance of the name of Jesus Christ. When we are baptized, we promise to take upon His name and follow His commandments and to always remember Him. In turn, God promises us His Spirit to be with us in all times and in all places. That is why it is super important to follow Christ and His teachings with exact obedience. And then the Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, gave an amazing talk on the name of the church. Sorry everyone, I am not a Mormon. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This church of which I am a member is Christ's church, not of Mormon or of anyone else (see 3 Nephi 27:7-9 for some great verses on the name of Christ's church). I know that this church is true and God has called a prophet in the latter days. He has called a prophet now, Russel M. Nelson, and he leads and guides His people today. I am proud to be a member of Christ's true and restored church!! I love you all and I challenge you to study General Conference and the precious truths taught!! Have a great week!!! LOVES!

Va iubesc,
Elder Bowen

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