and a happy heart

Zone conference, Pioneer Day, Zone Service Project, a rainy day, and a happy heart. 

If I ever have any doubts, the spirit at Zone Conference eliminates those doubts and leaves me feeling a high that can only be found through this spiritual bubble. Don't get any wrong ideas, we don't pass illegal substances around at Zone Conference. The teachings are just always so powerful and I leave there wishing it could continue on all day. I wish you could all be there with us in that room on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, looking out over the Temple. 

But other wonderful things happened this week like PIONEER DAY. Half of the Sisters went to the Parade and then the other half went to This is the Place Memorial. I went to the parade. We saw President Uchtdorf in a fancy convertible, cheered on my favourite school in the whole world because they had a float, saw some poop emoji hats being passed out/resisted the temptation to buy one, enjoyed some time with my Sister friends and then continued on the work of the Lord that the Pioneers set such a wonderful example of. The song Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel has been in my head all week. I'll just share the lyrics with you so you can join in the spirit of the work, Pioneer and Missionary. :) 

1. 1. The world has need of willing men
   Who wear the worker’s seal.
   Come, help the good work move along;
   Put your shoulder to the wheel.
2. Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
   Do your duty with a heart full of song,
   We all have work; let no one shirk.
   Put your shoulder to the wheel.
3. 2. The Church has need of helping hands,
   And hearts that know and feel.
   The work to do is here for you;
   Put your shoulder to the wheel.
4. 3. Then don’t stand idly looking on;

   The fight with sin is real.

   It will be long but must go on;

   Put your shoulder to the wheel.
5. 4. Then work and watch and fight and pray
   With all your might and zeal.
   Push ev’ry worthy work along;
   Put your shoulder to the wheel

That night there was lightning in the Sky. I have a love for thunderstorms that trumps just about every other love I have. (people, family, God, Jesus are exceptions of course.) And it made me think of one of my favourite talks by Elder Holland from April 2015 General Conference. 

"That first Easter sequence of Atonement and Resurrection constitutes the most consequential moment, the most generous gift, the most excruciating pain, and the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of this world. Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could, like lightning in a summer storm, grasp us as we fall, hold us with His might, and through our obedience to His commandments, lift us to eternal life."

I know that no matter how far we fall or how far away from Heaven's view we might seem, the Lord is always near. Waiting for us to act. 

This time in my life is wonderful, to be able to have the opportunity to act and testify in His sacred and holy name. Everyday, not just Pioneer Day, is a great day to remember the Sacrifice of the Pioneers and their dedication to serving the Lord and their families. It's a great day to remember Jesus Christ and what He did for them and for you. 

Have a great one. 

Love always,

Sister Cox

Rainy Day with my comp. Love of rain is only one thing keeping me and my best friend tight

Sister Botcha from India and her fancy rain jacket poncho thing.

Parade feat Sister Silva, SIster Rubio (mexico, AZ, NY) and Sister Pohjosrine (Canada, she sounds like ND)

Sister Dornelas from Brasil and Sister Frenkel from Germany

more sister friends!

"Paint me like one of your french girls." feat. Brigham Young

Pulling weeds for 4 hours. My face is deceiving I actually loved it.

Sisters in the East 2 Zone "Love is the key, choose to be Happy!"

OLA

Oi tudo bem 

Hi how are you all? 

• This week was an oven here in Zion and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We've taken a LOT of tours this week and have met a lot of wonderful, cranky, tired, interesting and interested people this week. 
• I continue to teach, take tours and testify in my sleep and my companion started taking sleeping pills and I started praying every night that I won't sleep talk so that we can both get some better sleep at night..haha. 
• The Mormon Tabernacle Choir had their annual Pioneer concert in the Conference Center and Alex Boye was there performing as well. No, we didn't get to go. But we will be able to watch the Pioneer Day Parade next Monday! 
• Our wonderful investigator who lives here in Salt Lake, Garrett is on Date to be baptized in September and he is a wonderful example of so many of the people in this world searching for truth and acting upon it when they find it. He reminds me a lot of Kleiton, who Sister Gomes and I met here in Salt Lake my first months here.
• We are preparing a training for Zone Conference this week on studying effectively and holy goodness I am so glad I came on a mission because I have been able to improve my study habits a lot. This may sound lame outside of the mission bubble, but I don't care I'm positive it will help. For those in school or starting school soon, try opening your studies for classes with an opening prayer as well as in your own personal scripture study. Let me know if it changes anything. 

"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round." 1 Nephi 10:19

• This has become one of my favourite scriptures to share on our tour-lessons/lesson-tours. Everything here comes from God. It testifies of him. Art, genetics, fruit, babies, hot showers, knowledge. God is so consistently here and as we seek Him out, to find and really know Him and the Savior, He will show us little pieces of ourselves, the world, and their teachings through the power of the Holy Ghost. Skittle by skittle.

Speaking of mystery I think a lot of you humans that I know have passed by sneaky or even not so sneaky through Temple Square without me bumping into you and I have to say I am grateful because it would be too sad to see you and say goodbye so quickly again. But I LOVE YOU ALL AND WILL SEE YOU SOON. Thank you for all of your prayers and words that help lift me up every week.

Bon Dia 

Love,

Sister Cox

I'm so sorry I never post pictures of anyone I meet other than myself & Sisters here, but I just don't really take pictures with people I meet. 1. The moment is more important to me than the picture. and 2. Most people coming around probably would be comfortable having their picturing flying around a bunch of emails. Privacy is a neat thing. :) 

But here are a few pics of a few things that have happened with the Sisters this week:

Took mission pictures in the Tabernacle. Stay posted for the official picture later on

Sister Kitchen from Massachusetts, her heart is even bigger than her eyes

A game we played during our zone activity, only a certain amount of body parts could be touching the ground. 

 Sister Semenova and I on overnight exchanges at our very best. :)

District Activity! We went to different Temple grounds and had a picnic and just bonded over fresh air and french fries.

Land that I love

My favourite holiday has come and gone. And another week of sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Joseph Smith said, 

"I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination [as for a Mormon]; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. 

It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race.”

Joseph Smith also said, "A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." What a beautiful thing. Because God prepared this country and the hearts of the people, a place of religious freedom  --A country founded on Godly morals, we were able to receive the fullness of Jesus Christ's gospel. We have been blessed to live in a place where we can worship freely, live according to the morals we believe in, and we have the freedom to share these truths with all who will listen. This talk is wonderful I read it yesterday. a wonderful way to begin my 4th of July. I reccomend 10/10. https://www.lds.org/liahona/2015/05/sunday-afternoon-session/preserving-agency-protecting-religious-freedom.p1?lang=eng

I also loved sharing the story of Moroni and the title of Liberty with people who we spoke with yesterday. 

Alma 48: 11"And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery." 

46:12 "and it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it--In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children--and he fastened it upon the end of a pole."

Former missionaries may recognize her from the training videos we watch in the first 12 weeks, The District. Sisters in my own district met her.

I had the opportunity to see my own family yesterday. It was wonderful to be with them all at the place where my own family began, where my parents were married. It felt so good to be able to share in the spirit together with the peace and knowledge that through challenges and heartache and the opposition of life, we can always be together. A truth that I get to share with other families and more of the human race. Thanks again family for coming. I love you all! 

Sister Smith (New Zealand) trying to convince her to come to BYU so I can have her around always, Sister Stahle from Finland. At MLC.

This week summed up: There were many other wonderful miracles and contacts and tours this week that have left my heart feeling stuffed full and happy. We had missionary leadership council. I have a hardworking, beautiful inside and out companion. I had the opportunity to take my Dad's coworkers on a tour. I have been having exchanges with the sisters in my district. I got to see my beautiful, crazy family. I am where God wants me and I am proud to be an American but more importantly I am proud to be a child of God. He loves you all! Press forward with faith! 

Left to right Sister Ashton(Canada), Sister MacFarlane (AK), Sister Tuttle(CA), Sister Peireira(Brasil), Sister Sigaran(El Salvador), Smith and Stahle (above mentioned) @ MLC

To see fotos with family ask the Cox family members.

I love you all more than you know and am grateful the impact you have had in my life, Grande ou pouco. 

Sister Cox