Week 3 in LA

Hello friends and family,

This week was a great week. I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with our zone leaders. We went out taught a great lesson and even took someone to the Los Angeles Temple Visitor Center. We taught an amazing with one of our investigators, on Saturday. Right after we finished our lesson she watched the general women's conference and she loved it. We showed her this video that has all of our current apostles and prophet bearing their testimonies of Christ. It is such an amazing video and I would like all of you to watch it. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-06-022-general-conference-montage?lang=eng

It is such an amazing testimony builder to hear their testimonies. General conference is this week!! What a joy and privilege to hear from those 15 great men, and other church leaders. Elder Rawlings and me have made goals to work super hard these last couple of weeks in the the transfer, it being my first transfer and being Elder Rawlings last transfer. Our other investigator, we are going to ask him to be baptized. I would like to thank those who have emailed me, it is so nice to hear from you. The work I do can also be done by you guys and gals back home. Help out your local missionaries, give them referrals and go to lessons with them. When you do this, I promise that you will be blessed. Thanks for your love and support. Also feel free to email me. 

Love,

Elder Cox 

PICTURES!!!

LA Temple at night

Me in front of the Christ Statue 

Elder Rawlings and Me after making Tacos 

Banana Car?!?

Redondo Beach sign 

Pier Sign 

My Tablets Walpaper

Week 2 in LA

This week has been very good. We have two new solid investigators and they both are very interested in what we have to say, so stay tuned for that. The past 2 weeks I've had a cold and Saturday it was really bad. It got to the point where I had no energy and I had giant dark circles around my eyes. So the Zone Leaders ca,e over and did splits with us so I could sleep and my companion could still go out and go to a lesson with the sisters. While I was sleeping I was thinking about our investigator that we where going to teach later over face chat. So when my companion came back I got dressed and said, let's go to work. That lesson was the best lesson we have had yet. The spirit was strong and we where really instruments in the hands of the lord. 
Later that night the Zone Leaders came over and gave me a blessing to have strength to get through the six hours of church Elder Rawlings and I have on Sunday. He blessed me with strength and to help me adjust to the mission life better. Let me just say that if you put the Lord first he will truly bless you. Yesterday at church, it was like I was hardly sick, I had the cough still but, I had so much energy and I could focus in on the spirit. 
We have two new members that we are setting up times to go take them to the temple. It's so awesome to hear their testimonies and excited they are to go. I truly believe that the Lord knows our situations and he will bless us if we put him before yourself. I've seen it in my life and I know it can happen to all of you. 
Yesterday during dinner at a members home, I shared the spiritual thought, it was so amazing even though I was nervous because the members wife is the seminaries teacher, but it was so good. I read them moses chapter 1, the spirit was so strong that even the youngest child was paying attention. The church is True and I love it. 

I really love my area, all of the days this week we have been down visiting members that live in Hermosa beach and Manhattan Beach. It's like right on the beach, it's so pretty to look at as we walk down the street past it. We can't go on the beach and we follow it but it's supper nice and warm. But I am still blessed to be here.

PICTURES
This is my apartment in Redondo Beach, the shower is super short so it looks like the shower seen in elf when I take a shower. But it's still home. Also I took the bedroom one this morning and we washed our sheets and blankets so the beds weren't made, but they usually are made. 

Week 1 in LA

I made it to LA. I got my companion/trainer Elder Rawlings. He is on his last transfer so that's sad, but we are still going hard and giving it all. We are assigned over two wards, we live in Redondo Beach and we also have Manhattan beach area as well. We have some solid investigators and always looking for more. The members are supper nice and I'm excited to work with them. We have a car and it's super nice to drive around. I got some news for you all. Starting Wensday the LA mission is using Facebook and we are using our home accounts so, I will he deleting stuff to match the message. You can't message me on messenger, but email works. Also if You are home, please don't tag me in stuff. Thanks and sorry if that sounds rude but it's what we have to do. Back to the spiritual stuff, Church was like 6 hours but no learned so much and the spirit I feel daily is amazing. I love the work and all of you. Sorry I haven't been on the picture game this week so I only got a couple of pictures but I'll try harder this week. The food has been great and I'm really enjoying it here. With all my heart I love this gospel and I hope to help others get that same love. 

During one of the dinners I gave the spiritual thought on the parable of the prodigal son. I can't wait for the time when the Christ can wrap us up in his arms and say you did well my faithful servant. When I gave this thought the spirit was so strong in the room, it was so amazing. 

With Love,

Elder Cox 

PICTURES

1) Elder Vola and I. He is from West Valley as well

2) Pictures from the plane 

3) Elder Rawlings and me

4) The Prodigal Son Painting

Letter and pictures from the Mission President

6  September 2017

Matthew and Jillene Cox

4502 W Hercules Drive
West Valley City, UT 84120
USA

Dear Parents,

Elder Zachary Matthew Cox arrived safely to this mission 05 Sep 2017.  After prayerful consideration, Elder Rawlings was selected to be his companion.  We make every effort to assign only the very best missionaries to be trainers, as these first few months are critical in the life of a new missionary.  Enclosed are pictures of Elder Cox with his companion, as well as with Sister Haynie and myself.

During the course of his mission he will be transferred from place to place, therefore, we ask that all his mail be sent to:

Elder Zachary Matthew Cox
1591 East Temple Way
California Los Angeles Mission
Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

We are excited and grateful to have Elder Cox serve in the California Los Angeles Mission.  Our desire is to help him succeed and magnify his calling.  We will do everything possible to see that he remains healthy, actively engaged, challenged, and happy in his missionary labors.  Please be assured that his welfare and happiness are of primary concern to us.  The mission has an Instagram account, "clamgram2016" where you can find pictures and short comments about Mission events.

The enclosed information answers many of the questions frequently asked.  Should you have any questions or concerns during the course of Elder Cox mission, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely yours,

 

Robert M. Haynie

President

California Los Angeles Mission

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR MISSIONARY

The Mission Office address is:

California Los Angeles Mission

1591 East Temple Way

Los Angeles, CA  90024-5801

• Please address all mail to Elder or Sister with their first, middle initial and last name.
• Mail must be in the mission office by Wednesday to be distributed to missionaries each Friday after their District meetings.
• Missionaries may email family and friends on preparation day which is Monday for no more than a total of 90 minutes.
• The Mission Office phone number is (310) 474-2593 and the office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday.
• Should you need to contact the Mission President he can be reached on his cell phone at (310) 702-8044.  If there is a situation such as a death or divorce that is critical a missionary know, please call the President.  He prefers to deliver such news in person in order to support the missionary.
• Missionaries are not allowed to make or receive phone calls from family members or friends at any time.  They may call home on Christmas and Mother’s Day and talk with their family for no more than one hour.
• The Missionary Handbook states: Visits from family members, friends, and acquaintances are against Church policy. The impact of such visits may extend far beyond the visit itself, both before and after the visit and among other missionaries. It can often take some time for missionaries to refocus on their callings and their work.” We support this policy.
• Missionaries are not allowed to bring any electronic media or headphones on their missions.

The Mission has an Instagram account “clamgram16” where friends and family can find pictures and short comments about Mission events.  

Supporting Your Missionary

The first six weeks of a mission are often difficult because missionaries are living a new lifestyle and learning to be a missionary. Here are some suggestions to help in this transition:

• Instead of saying “I miss you,” encourage them to savor every moment and to stay focused on their work and serving Heavenly Father.
• Pray with them, for them and encourage them to rely on prayer.
• Try not to focus on what their friends are doing; instead ask questions about their investigators, the work and special experiences.
• Send them uplifting letters; include your favorite scripture, and avoid distracting them from the missionary experience with too many letters or packages.
• Most of all, love them, be proud of them and follow their lead.

Pictures:

1. Zach with his Mission President and his wife Brother and Sister Haynie 

2. Zach with his new companion and trainer Elder Rawlings (St. George, UT)

Last Day in the MTC

Last Day in the MTC

Hello ALL!

My heart is full as I leave this amazing group of saints to go to Los Angeles.  Today is our last day together, and I will really miss the ones not going to LA with me tomorrow morning. I have to leave the MTC at 3:50 in the morning. That's so early!!! Our flight leaves at like 8:30. We are having a mini P dah today so we can do laundry and pack. Yesterday was fast Sunday and probably the best Sunday I've had here. During dinner Me and some of my district are with President Martino and His wife. He is the MTC President and His wife is the relief society President. Elder Dowling and I taught Sunday School, we talked about humility. Sister Martino was present for that. I'm going to link a talk by President Dieter F. Uchdorf talking about humility. It's some powerful words form a great man. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2012-05-8210-humility-and-love?lang=eng We also said goodbye to one of the best teachers in the MTC Sister Johnson. (See pictures) Tonight we say goodbye to our other amazing teacher Borther Hilton. Packing is fun we have a bunch of food and we are going at it. Feel free to email me anytime on Monday if you want to hear from me personally. To end this email I want to share a scripture and my testimony. The scripture is found in Doctrine and Covenants 59: 23 "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." I'm greatest to be going to give people this gift as well as receive it myself. I love the Lord and my opportunity to serve him, I know that Jesus is the Christ. He suffered and died for me and for you. I've learned so much here spiritually and I'm excited to learn more. Thank you all for the constant support and the love and prayers. I feel it daily. I know Joseph Smith was and is a prophet and he restored this gospel for this work. I love you all and thanks for reading my emails, I try to keep them short and sweet for you. 

Love,

Elder Cox 

Pictures!!!

1. Me in front of the scripture on my plack 

2. District photo in our classroom

    Names in order in picture 4

Back row- Elders Clarkson, Johnston, Forbush, Walker, Williams, Dowling, Me

Middle row- Elders Argeta, Morgan and Burgon

Front Row- Sisters Jenks, Hirshi, Cox

3. My whole district and Sister Johnson (Sister Josnson is the middle left)

4. My whole district and Brother Hilton (Bro Hilton is in front of me)

Week 2 in the MTC

MTC Week 2

Hello everyone!! 

This week in the MTC was boring. Just kidding it was great. I got a package in the mail and it was a big box full of goodies. We have a 5 foot 4 Elder and so we took the box and made him a car and pushed him around the dorm in it. We drew on the box with Sharpe to make it look like a car. Everyone got a kick out of that. We have two new investigators this week, Parker and Colton. They both enjoyed the message we shared and we had fun. Last Tuesday Weatherford T. Clayton of the seventy came and talked to us about repentance nd it was a great talk. I also joined the MTC choir, and I'm lovi g every minute Iget to sing praises to my lord. The directior is funny and has plenty of stories to tell. My companion (Elder Dowilng) and I are getting along just fine, we are both so in tune with the spirit it's kinda scary. We both have the same thoughts in teaching and it is amazing. One of the elders on my floor was playing basketball and got elbowed in the nose. He ended up with a broken nose and a stage 3 concussion. This same elder was in a meeting with an investigators and said the sacrament prayer instead of a regular prayer. We laughed about that. I have the greatest teachers in the MTC, the are so amazing and can feel what the spirit needs for us to learn. On Saturday last week we had a lesson with brother Hilton one of my teachers. The spirit was so strong that none of us wanted to leave but we had to sadly.  We walked around the gain new building yesterday to a picture of Martha who is getting dinner ready for the savior rather than listening to his message. There is a ponder question  by the mural which is, Are my priorities aligned with the lords? As thinking with that question I thought that my priorities are aligned with the Lord being out here serving him with all my might, mind and strength. Me and my district are getting along extremely well, and we are startimg to become a family. Today I went to the temple and did a session with my district and it was amazing. I love the Lord and the chance I get to serve him. I love you all. 

Love,

   

Elder Cox 

Photos

1: Me and Elder Morgan at choir

2: Me and Elder Dowling on the roof garden

3&4: Elder Burgon and his box car 

Week 1 in the MTC

MTC Week 1

Hey everyone!! Week one in the MTC is in the bag. The first day was jam packed but great then I met my companion. My companion is Elder Dowling,  pictures at the bottom. Our district consists of 3 sisters and 11 elders. 5 elders are going to L.A. including me, one elder is going to New Zeland, One sister is going to Canada, and everyone else is going to Cleaveland, Ohio. They are all great and have wonderful spirits. Today we got to go to the temple as a district and it was amazing. We also have started to teach investigators!!! I never thought that I would be teaching investigators in the MTC. I feel emence love for both of them through constant prayer, and thinking about what they need to learn from the gospel. Don't believe what other missionaries tell you, the MTC food is amazing. I am so blessed to feel the spirit daily here. Sunday was the best day of the week. Just learning of the gospel and feeling the spirit in sacrament (even though it was held in a class) has been amazing. We have two of the best teachers in the MTC (so we have been told) Sister Jonshton and Brother Hilton. They both have a great knowledge of missionary work and I'm greatful for them. On sunday we had a Devotional which featured Kenneth Cope. He is an AMAZING singer and songwriter. Something that I found funny is that one of the sisters in our District is Sister Cox. People keep asking if we are related and I don't know that yet. Overall a great week and looking forward to the devotional tonight.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE, is what we yell before we go to bed. What a true statement. I love this gospel with all my heart, I love the chance I have to serve my father in heaven and get close to him. I love him with all my heart. In the MTC the kinda mission staement is Become as He Is. I am excited to do just that. The prophet is the true prophet of god, I sustane them daily. I love all of you and thanks for reading my email. 

Love, 

Elder Cox

1.Me in the new building where our class is.

2. Elder Dowling and me.

3. Elder Dowling and me in front of the Provo Temple. 

4. Our whole district at lunch.

5. Elder Dowling and me.

6. Elder Dowling, me, Elder Burgon, Elder Walker, Elder Clarkson, Elder Johnston, and Elder Ewell.