The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

- Austin Texas Area -

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JESUS CHRIST
of Latter-day Saints

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Today is day one for the Texas Austin Mission

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by Kelly J. Larson, Media Specialist, Austin Area Coordinating Council

AUSTIN, Texas — Just after 10 p.m. last night, President and Sister Fox arrived at their new home for the next three years where they will preside over the Texas Austin Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Meeting their new mission president and his wife, elders and sisters gather outside in the shade with the Foxes on July 1 in Austin, Texas.

Scott J. Fox and Britton Manzer Fox drove south for seven hours from their home in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and after being called by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency eight months ago, they are finally beginning their journey to oversee about 140 young missionaries who are serving for 18 to 24 months. One hundred of them came from the Texas San Antonio Mission and 40 from the Texas Fort Worth Mission. 

Just to confirm that it really happened, President Fox double checked online to see if the mission actually did officially begin. He told a zone of “beautiful, beautiful missionaries” who were gathered together at the Rutherford Lane chapel today to meet them, “Just after midnight, the Texas Austin Mission ‘turned on,’” he said. 

That small gathering was the third zone meeting of the day, as the Foxes made their rounds to meet and greet all the missionaries, with four zones to go still. He invited each to stand and introduce themselves and gave them a small list of tasks to do until he meets with them individually next week. 

Sister Allison Smalley and Sister Maddison Caldwell join their zone on July 1, 2020, to meet their new mission president and his wife, in the newly created Texas Austin Mission.

Sister Fox shared some photos of who they love and what they enjoy doing together, including their three daughters, sports, travel and how well connected they are to Oklahoma State University. The last point she made was that she loves each of them and said they felt that devotion to them instantly. 

Sister Britton Fox gives an introduction about her family to missionaries they are meeting at the Rutherford Lane chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In response to some of their questions, here are a few bits of wisdom that President Fox shared with the zone. 

  • Life is difficult. When you are partaking of The Book of Mormon every day for at least a moment, it will be a balm to your soul.
  • Pause. Allow the spirit to speak to you.
  • Generally, people are good. We all have the spirit of Christ.
  • When you write a note of gratitude, it brings the spirit.
Social distanced among companionships, the Foxes pose for a zone photo following an introduction meeting with elders and sisters in the mission.

President and Sister Fox expressed how grateful they are to be here and are anxious to kick off the new Texas Austin Mission, where several missionaries have been reassigned from foreign missions and more will be arriving here temporarily.