Elder and Sister Gowans' Missionary Blog

This morning we left at 0615 to go to Aiken, SC to pickup 2 missionaries to take up to Newberry, SC for a mission conference with Elder Walker of the Seventy presiding. The conference began at 0930 with Elder Walker meeting personally with each missionary. There were enough missionaries to fill the chapel. So we all formed a line, one row at a time, and waited our turn to go up and shake hands, introduce ourselves and then return to our pew. Sister Holm, the mission president's wife spoke first. We learned from her that we should help people learn how to become clean. After sister Holm spoke then President Holm spoke. He encouraged us to listen to the Spirit while Elder Walker spoke and record three things that the Spirit would teach us. It was then Sister Walker's turn to speak. She counseled us to assist others through their trials. Elder Walker then spoke until noon when it was time to break for lunch.While Elder Walker was speaking he received a telephone call from Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. When he came back in he said hello to us from Elder Nelson. He first spoke about how we should always be happy and to take our sunshine with us where ever we go and to do everything we do with enthusiasm. He spoke much about things particular to missionaries and missionary work, which we will not get into in this format.

During lunch, we had a chance to visit; we met Elder Gowans from Vernon, UT. He is a fine young man and a fine piano player. He is my second cousin once removed. His grandpa and my dad are cousins. During the lunch break we all took photos of the different zones. Ours is posted.

After lunch we returned to the conference. President Holm spoke again. He advised us to contemplate the word we will learn to day and contemplate it. He spoke of how important it is to earn the trust of our Father in Heaven, to be clean to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. After he spoke then Elder Walker returned to the podium and spoke also about earning trust through continually making correct choices. He spoke about many more things, once again about things that I cannot write here.

After conference we returned the Aiken Elders to their apartment and then returned to Augusta. As soon as we got home we collected all the food for Institute and dashed off for the Post Chapel. We taught the attendees about how to avoid contention and temptation, how to build a spiritual wall around ourselves to keep it far away from us. We taught about the effects of trials, and the importance of record keeping.

It has been a long, but wonderful day!