#### lxc launch ubuntu-daily:zesty z1

root@z1:~# date
Mon Mar 13 17:33:40 UTC 2017
root@z1:~# tzconfig 
WARNING: the tzconfig command is deprecated, please use:
 dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
root@z1:~# sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
## now i interactively selected US/Aleutian...
## this is what setting cloud-config's timezone does
Current default time zone: 'US/Aleutian'
Local time is now:      Mon Mar 13 08:34:10 HDT 2017.
Universal Time is now:  Mon Mar 13 17:34:10 UTC 2017.

root@z1:~# date
Mon Mar 13 08:34:13 HDT 2017
root@z1:~# date --date="Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:47:00 -0400"
Wed Nov  2 19:47:00 HDT 2016
root@z1:~# date -R --date="Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:47:00 -0400"
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 19:47:00 -0900
root@z1:~# sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata

## Now I configure it like *your system* and show what you were seeing.
Current default time zone: 'US/Mountain'
Local time is now:      Mon Mar 13 11:35:07 MDT 2017.
Universal Time is now:  Mon Mar 13 17:35:07 UTC 2017.

root@z1:~# date -R --date="Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:47:00 -0400"
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 22:47:00 -0600
root@z1:~# date --date="Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:47:00 -0400"
Wed Nov  2 22:47:00 MDT 2016