2023 Blog – California Los Angeles Mission

March 2023 Departures

After the new missionary training meeting was over, the departing missionaries met at the mission home for lunch and games to celebrate their successful missions.

In the late afternoon they walked to the temple with President and Sister Egbert to do their last baptisms on their mission. When they returned to the mission home they had their last supper, tri-tip steak, baked potatoes, grilled pineapple, Caesar salad, bread, and of course, Texas sheet cake and homemade ice cream! The evening ended on a spiritual note with a testimony meeting.

Words of Wisdom from Departing Missionaries

The moments that I have been completely obedient and have tried to give my all to God, are the moments I have felt the most joy. The feelings the Spirit brings us has helped me in every moment of my mission. I would have liked to see the importance of this from the beginning! Follow the guidance of the Spirit when finding people, talking with them, being with your companions, when teaching, etc. We have been called as representatives of Jesus Christ, and we can teach as He taught. We do this by consecrating ourselves to Him and being obedient. Because of it, we will be able to greatly enjoy the influence of the Holy Spirit and transmit it to the people around us.

Sister Albancando Robles

Enjoy being new at something. It's okay to not know what to do all the time, and it's okay to mess up. The Lord calls us, the weak and simple, to participate in the work. He knows we don't know what to do or how to do it; He's the one that called us! If we weren't weak and simple the Lord wouldn't be able to use us. Be patient, have faith, and never stop trying. Put your trust in the Lord and He will direct your path and use you as an instrument in His hands. Pay attention when President Egbert says, "When the weak and simple work with the King of Kings, the results are always majestic," because he means it. You're doing God's work! Don't give up and work hard!

Elder Cooper

Something I wish I knew at the very start of my mission that would've set everything to a different perspective if I knew it sooner is, it is never our glory in the things we do and have, but ALWAYS the Lord's. Meaning, it's not our area, or our zone or district, or our own efforts that cause us to see mighty miracles, but it is all the Lord's doing because we are CHOOSING to do HIS WILL! Put Him first in ALL THINGS and watch the little and big blessings come into in your life and those you teach and work with because you have chosen to do ONLY God's will.

Elder Cravens

My best advice is to give up. Give up your pride, give up your old habits, give up everything. You're already giving up your normal life for one and a half to two years, you might as well do it with your whole heart and soul. There will be time after your mission to make friends, time to goof off, time to go to the beach, time to find your spouse, time to relax, time to research Kolob, time to just hang out, time to watch "The Chosen," time to do every good thing you want to do, but right now is the only time you'll ever have as a full-time missionary, and you don't get it back when it's gone. So spend every moment of every day trying to dedicate yourself to God and His children here in Los Angeles. LOVE your area, LOVE your ward/branch, LOVE your companion, LOVE your mission. Choose to love all of it because you love God.

Sister Erickson

If there is something that I wish I knew earlier on in my mission, it is that "Preach My Gospel" is your best friend when it comes to missionary work. It gives guiding principles of how to do the things you need to do. It is modern-day scripture for our missionary purpose. Read it every day, focusing on the needs of your friends and area.

Elder Garcia

The biggest piece of wisdom I can share is that you are here for a reason. Whether this is your original mission, or you are reassigned, you have a purpose here. God called you with all your hopes, dreams, flaws, and fears to be in this place at this time. Be yourself! Be yourself the missionary, more than just your missionary self. Be the you that the Lord wants you to be! To paraphrase the opening words of a famous novel; “Your mission will be the best of times, it will be the worst of times.” Remarkably, your service will be both incredibly great and incredibly hard and that is okay! Whether it’s a time of growth or a time of rest, it will be worth it. Seize this opportunity! Give what you can every day, and what you can will be different today than it was yesterday, and it will be different tomorrow. When times get tough and mistakes are made, pick yourself up, learn from it, and give it another shot. Trust in the Lord and His plan for you and remember that there are legions of angels cheering you on. “Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Courage, Elders and Sisters; and on, on to the victory!” (D&C 128:22)

Sister Kent

At the start of my mission I wish I realized how meaningful Jesus Christ's Atonement is for me, right now. Do all you can to know the Savior and His infinite and eternal sacrifice that makes grace available for even the weakest of us.

Sister Kim

One thing I wish I had earlier on my mission was a testimony of the Book of Mormon! When I received my confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, it literally changed me and my mission! President Russell M. Nelson said, "I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life." Now I know the Book of Mormon is true, and you can too!! Ofazz!!

Elder Latavao

There are so many things I would love to share with you all, but the main thing I can think of is lose yourself in the work. The mission is an amazing time to learn and grow, but most of all, it is a time to focus on blessing others. One thing I wish I knew was just to forget about me and all my weaknesses and focus on blessing the people you are teaching and serving around. I know that the Lord will help you as you forget about yourself and go to work.

Elder Nelson

1. Humility and vulnerability are the best ways to adjust to the mission. Be yourself, be willing, and be open! 2. commit to yourself and to the Lord that you are in this for the long haul! "Winning," in a mission sense, isn't about doing things perfectly, it's about doing things intentionally. 3. Faith is an attitude, and attitude is everything. If you feel bad about yourself, your companion, your area, your teaching pool, your teaching skills... DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. All fear, doubt, and selfishness come from Satan, and by holding onto those feelings, you are depriving yourself of the grace of the Savior. Don't wait.

Sister Rasmussen

Looking back on my mission, I wish I enjoyed the time I had as a trainee. I wish I enjoyed the process of learning, growing, and improving. I wish I enjoyed not being expected to "know everything." I wish I could've seen my potential and how much the Lord was going to mold and change me! Comparison is the thief of joy! Don't compare yourself to your trainer or any of the other missionaries around you. They might have strengths and talents you don't have, and you have strengths and talents they don't have. The Lord has called YOU! He has entrusted you with His precious children! He has given you all the talents and abilities you need to be used as a powerful tool in His hands. Stay humble, obedient, and diligent. The Lord will see and consecrate every effort you put in. Leave it all on the field and you will succeed! The joy you feel about your missionary labors is dependent on you.

Sister Saxey

One thing that I wish I knew as a beginning missionary is that it's ok not to be perfect. We aren't going to do everything right. We all make mistakes. That's okay! I thought I had to be a perfect missionary, but throughout time I quickly realized that I am never going to be that "perfect" missionary I had in my mind. With my Savior's help I was able to become the missionary that my Heavenly Father wants me to become. Heavenly Father called me and my imperfections to Los Angeles because someone out there needed me. Heavenly Father called you here to Los Angeles. Be you and do your reasonable best! Don't try to be the "perfect" missionary, be your imperfect self!

Sister Shaffer

President Hinkley said, "In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured!" Don't be hard on yourself and think you need to be this perfect missionary. Go out, have fun, and live your life helping others come closer to Christ! Have confidence in God that He'll help you along the way. This is YOUR mission, and no one can take this experience from you but yourself. God wants you happy in this life, so let that happen and LIVE IT! YOU'VE GOT THIS! 🙂

Sister Tupou

Something I wish I knew before my mission is that there is no such thing as a perfect missionary. I've learned that we are going to make many mistakes, and we are imperfect. We are full of weaknesses, but as we yoke ourselves to Christ, He can make our weaknesses our strengths. The Lord works through the weak and simple and can make us instruments in His hands to do His work. There is no growth in your comfort zone, so be open to new challenges. This is His work, and He knows what's is best for you!

Elder Toli

1. Make Jesus Christ your best friend. Learn more and spend time with Him! 2. Enjoy each moment! There is always something good about each day! Missions are hard and there are days when you feel like giving up, but always remember why you decided to serve and also think about why you decided to stay. 3. The Lord's work never stops, so we get to determine how much we want to be a part of it. (The best feeling is hitting your head on your pillow after a long and hard working day!) 4. Always strive to be obedient; obedience brings blessings. Give all that you can to the Lord and He will help you be the missionary that you want to be, but most importantly, the missionary He knows you can become. 5. Show your light! Strive to be diligent, hard-working, and be yourself! "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." You've got this.

Sister Elizarraraz

One of the most important things that I could say to anyone coming into the mission field is be CONFIDENT!! You have been called by God through a living prophet to be here in this mission. Have faith in the Lord and confidence in your capability to share the gospel, and the Lord will carry you through all your trials. Make sure to do everything you can to be worthy of the Holy Ghost so that people will recognize you as a representative of Jesus Christ, but also have fun and enjoy the work. You’re only going to be here for twenty-four to eighteen months. Enjoy this part of your life, and lose yourself in the work.

Elder Wynn

March 2023 Transfer Day

March 2023 Arrivals

Our first group of arrivals flew in from the Provo MTC, Sister Batteen, Sister Day, Elder Dewsnup, Elder Eka, Sister Fujii, Sister Gutierrez, Elder Kavapalu, Elder Nelson, Elder Roundy, and Elder Taala.

After welcoming our first group of missionaries from the Provo MTC, President and Sister Egbert were off to the international terminal to welcome three more missionaries.

Our second arrival group included Sister Harris, Sister Parmenter, and Elder Yeates from the Mexico City MTC.

After arriving at the mission home, the new arrivals enjoyed a delicious lasagna dinner topped off with Texas sheet cake and Sister Egbert’s homemade ice cream. Then they were off to the Visitors’ Center for a tour, pictures, and interviews with President Egbert and the mission nurses.

The following morning they had a St. Patrick’s Day pancake breakfast at the mission home. Breakfast was followed by training at the Ohio Street chapel.

After breakfast, our new missionaries received their first orientation meeting. They were trained by President and Sister Egbert and the assistants.

The trainers also received training before meeting their new companions.

After the training meeting for the trainers, the new missionaries joined them for a discussion on dress standards for missionaries.

The missionaries were then introduced to their first companions and trainers in the California Los Angeles Mission.

February 2023 Zone Conferences

January 2023 Departures

A fond farewell to Elder Brundige, Elder Doxey, Elder Garrett, Elder Greenfield, Elder Velasco, Elder Parrales Paredes, Sister Allen, Sister Allred, Sister Borland, Sister Salazar, and Sister Shippen. We will miss you, but wish you well on your new adventures in life.

The Last Supper

Our departing missionaries had a great last day at the mission home. Lunch, games, and a farewell dinner, then off to the temple to do baptisms.

Words of Wisdom from Departing Missionaries

As I look back on my mission experience, I would say the most important thing I have learned was to learn the commandments and Gospel of Jesus Christ and live it. To understand the scriptures is one thing, to live the teachings is another. It requires discipline, but that comes with being a disciple. As you live the commandments, the character of Christ will become woven into your character, helping you to become the missionary the Lord wants you to become. One of my favorite Scriptures is Mosiah 4:9, "Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." He knows you, He wants you to be successful in this great work. Learn of Him and live his teachings and He WILL bless you in your mission as well as in your life in general.

Elder Doxey

What I wish I knew before I was a missionary was a greater knowledge of the Book of Mormon, and the desire to prioritize it in teaching. Study it, pray about it, and apply it everyday in every aspect of missionary work! The Book of Mormon plus the Spirit is the most powerful tool in conversion, the keystone of religion, and contains the fulness of doctrine required for our salvation. I've seen the Book of Mormon help people understand Jesus Christ as their personal Savior grow immensely. I know that when we teach with the Book of Mormon and the Bible and help our friends understand the restored truths in the Book of Mormon, they can become more deeply converted! ,,

Elder Greenfield

One of the things that I have come to learn and appreciate on my mission is the power of living in the moment! As missionaries we have a pretty chaotic life. We are always running around and helping others. If there is one word of advice I can give to anyone, but especially new missionaries, it is Live in and Love the Moment! You will never have experiences like this again! So enjoy it, laugh about it, and be present! Missions can be hard at times, but if it wasn't for the hard times, you wouldn't learn as much. Take everything as it comes and always remember that it is all worth it in the end! Be able to say at the end of your mission that you lived and did the best you could! There are two types of missionaries at the end of their missions. The ones that enjoyed their mission, and the ones that endured their mission. Only you get to decide which one you are!

Sister Salazar

Something that I would've liked to know at the beginning of my mission is the importance of the Holy Ghost in this wonderful work. Knowing that without Him we can't do much, regardless of the skills we have when speaking the language or teaching. If we do not have the Holy Ghost, we are nothing! We must always strive to be worthy of having the Spirit with us and be able to let ourselves be carried away by it's impressions, testify with power, and reach the hearts of those we teach! I would also have liked to know the importance of the Sacrament and the reverence with which we must partake of it. I've seen a great difference when I do it totally focused on Jesus Christ. Remembering our covenants and renewing them weekly will help us to have the constant company of the Holy Ghost, and that is what we want in this wonderful work! Love y'all .

Elder Parrales Paredes

You can love every minute of your mission, so do it. It is tough. There are hard times. There are days when it doesn't feel worth it, and there are moments when it breaks your heart and it hurts. But in those moments, when your heart is aching for the people you love and the people you are serving and trying to save, that is the closest you will ever be to your Savior, Jesus Christ. Because you are doing a little bit of what He did. So turn to Him in those moments, and you can love even those moments. There is so much joy to be found.

Sister Borland

Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny. It all starts with your thoughts. Let love for God and love for your fellow brothers and sisters be the motivating force behind all you do. Without charity we are nothing. It is the greatest of all gifts, and it is available to all. Allow Christ to work through you to bless others. Allow Christ to work through others to bless you. Seek only to bless and lift in thought, word, and deed.

Elder Brundige

Obedience. Consecration. Diligence. Urgency. These are all things I wish I had a better understanding of and a greater love for at the beginning of my mission. It is a common misconception that being exactly obedient or urgent; giving yourself up to the Lord through diligence and consecration instead of casualness, results in being a "robotic missionary" that doesn't feel joy or have fun, and doesn't develop real relationships with the people they serve around. I can testify and promise you with my whole soul that that isn't true. The most joy I have felt on my mission has been as I have consecrated myself and strived to be more obedient; to not waste time and to give my all in everything that I do. We are here to feel the joy of the Gospel and to share that joy with others—not just to have fun. You will have the rest of your life to have fun and focus on yourself, but as you allow yourself to be 100% committed to the Lord and love being obedient, urgent, consecrated, and diligent in the limited amount of time you have, you will be more in tune with the Spirit, see more miracles, and feel more joy than you could possibly imagine. This work will humble you in many ways, but as you put your trust in the Lord and allow him to carry you, it will become clear that this is truly His work, not yours, and that God is still, and will always be, a God of miracles as we learn to seek and expect them.

Sister Shippen

I would like to share three things that will greatly help you on your mission. 1. Work with Members- the best way to move the work forward is by working with members. 2. Learn the doctrinal sequence- knowing this will help you to teach smoothly and simply. 3. Have fun- you're going to have some hard days but I promise you that there are more good days than bad, so be happy and enjoy the journey.

Elder Garrett

Don't wait to become the missionary that you want to be. Boldly inviting your friends to change or developing other Christ-like characteristics won't just happen one day. If you want to one day be a missionary who follows every prompting, you have to just start following promptings today! However, don't try to do it alone. Involve the Savior, Jesus Christ in the process. When you involve Him, He doesn't just make all the difference, He IS the difference. I know He lives and loves you! He understands your particular circumstances, and He will never leave your side.

Sister Allen

As a missionary it can be so easy to get caught up in wanting to be the missionary you'll be at the end of your mission, before you reach that point. It's so easy to want to control your progress. But you don't need to control it, because it's already in God's hands. Don't stress about becoming who you should be at the end right now. It takes time, persistence, and patience. Turn everything over to the Lord and trust in His timing. All you can do is your best. When you let it go and just focus on taking those little steps, you'll be able to look back and realize just how much He has changed you. And you'll know that His hand has been guiding you all along, and you have grown so much since the day you stepped off the plane. To sum all this up; Let go, and let God prevail.

Sister Allred

JANUARY 2023 ARRIVALS

Our first group came in at 4:00 from Mexico City, Sister Sanders, lSister Estrada, Elder Moeller, and Elder Silva.

The arrival group from the Provo MTC included Elder BAbcock, Elder Beck, Elder Bonilla, Sister Eastman, Elder Erickson, Elder Facundo, Sister Flores, Sister Freeman, Sister Houser, Sister Lewis, Sister Toiaivao, Sister Watson, Elder Wirfs, Sister Wood, and Sister Zamora.

Dinner At the Mission Home

The missionaries were driven to the mission home where they had an amazing chicken carbonara dinner topped off with Texas sheet cake and Sister Egbert’s famous homemade ice cream.

After dinner the missionaries walked over to the Temple Visitors’ Center and were introduced to the mission nurses. They had an interview with a nurse, with President Egbert, and a tour of the Visitors’ Center.

Training Morning

After a good night’s sleep, the missionaries were treated to a Valentine pancake breakfast at the mission home.

After breakfast the missionaries walked over to the chapel on Ohio Street and had their first Missionary Training Meeting with President and Sister Egbert and the assistants.