The Life and Teachings of Elder Quentin LaMar Cook

The Biography of Elder Quentin LaMar Cook

            The first thing that stuck out to me about Elder Cook was that he and his older brother, Joe, took the time to sit and talk about the importance of serving a mission, and from this experience, Elder Cook gained his testimony of many important aspects of the Church. The second thing which stuck out to me was that Elder Cook and Elder Holland were missionary companions. What an experience that must have been! The third thing that stuck out to me about Elder Cook was that he flew to Utah to be his son’s driving companion on his drive home from his first semester of college. I cannot imagine the memories that were created during that time spent together driving home. I know from personal experience that when I would drive out to Los Angeles with my dad when he was needed to testify during a court case, I learned a lot about my dad, as well as a lot about what he knew. Most recently I drove out to the courthouse in West Los Angeles for a court case which my dad was needed to testify in, but in the end, the defendant took a plea bargain when he found out my dad was there to testify. Although some might think that it was a waste of gas and time for both my dad and I, for me it was a chance to have lunch with my dad and learn things about the different serial code markings on some of the bridges the passed over the freeways. This is a memory that I will cherish forever because I got to spend time with my dad, just as I am sure that Elder Cook and his son will always cherish the memories they made during that trip home.

The Testimony of Elder Quentin LaMar Cook

            The first thing that stuck out to me about Elder Cook’s testimony was that he chose to bear his testimony on missionary work. This is something that is very near and dear to my heart. Being that my father is a convert, I know the importance of missionary work. If it had not been for a friendship which last to this day and a series of events that led to my dad seeking advice from his friend and co-worker, Gary, my dad may not have been baptized when he was. June 3^rd, 1973 was the day my dad was baptized, and because of this, I have been sealed to my parents for eternity. It is remarkable when you think that Gary brought him into the church had served a mission in Germany for two years without baptizing a single person. Yet despite this, Gary continued to go to church after his mission was over, which allowed him to be in the right place that Sunday morning when my dad needed advice. When my older brother came home from his mission, I remember my dad telling Gary that all of the people who my brother taught and baptized, who were converted to the Gospel, would be considered Gary converts as well because it was Gary who made it possible for my dad to become a member by being there for him when he needed Gary’s advice and by inviting him to come to church with him, and later introducing him to the missionaries. Missionary work is so important, but often people become so focus on missionary work and converting the living, that they forget that missionary work also extends to our ancestors who have passed on, but for whom we are still able to do their work for in the temple. The Prophet Joseph Smith, while in the Kirkland Temple, was told to call Elder Kimball on a mission to the British Isles. While the Prophet Joseph Smith was in the Kirkland Temple, during the dedication, the Prophet Elijah committed the keys of his dispensation for the sealing of families to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Temple work and missionary work go hand in hand because without the living, the dead cannot be redeemed. In essence, missionary work among those who are alive is just hat, missionary work, but missionary work among the dead is in actuality, temple work.

Recent Teachings

Elder Quentin LaMar Cook, Roots and Branches, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session

Key Doctrine and Principles:

·         Temple Work

·         Family History

Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:

·         “On October 11, 1840, in Nauvoo, Vilate Kimball wrote a letter to her husband, Elder Heber C. Kimball, who with other members of the Twelve was serving a mission in Great Britain. The October general conference had been held a few days before. I quote from parts of Vilate’s personal letter: ‘We had the largest and most interesting conference that ever has been since the Church was organized. … President [Joseph] Smith has opened a new and glorious subject. … That is, being baptized for the dead. Paul speaks of it, in First Corinthians 15th chapter 29th verse. Joseph has received a more full explanation of it by revelation. He says it is the privilege of [members of] this Church to be baptized for all their kinsfolk that have died before this gospel came forth. … By so doing, we act as agents for them, and give them the privilege of coming forth in the First Resurrection. He says they will have the gospel preached to them in prison.’ Vilate added: ‘I want to be baptized for my mother. … Is not this a glorious doctrine?’ The essential doctrine of uniting families came forth line upon line and precept upon precept. Vicarious ordinances are at the heart of welding together eternal families, connecting roots to branches. The doctrine of the family in relation to family history and temple work is clear. The Lord in initial revelatory instructions referred to ‘baptism for your dead.’ Our doctrinal obligation is to our own ancestors. This is because the celestial organization of heaven is based on families. The First Presidency has encouraged members, especially youth and young single adults, to emphasize family history work and ordinances for their own family names or the names of ancestors of their ward and stake members. We need to be connected to both our roots and branches. The thought of being associated in the eternal realm is indeed glorious.”

o    I love this quote not only because of the letter Sister Kimball wrote to her husband, but also because of the the fact that Elder Cook talks about the roots and branches. There is a song titled “Roots before Branches” and I really love it, even though it isn’t a church song. The song talks about the need to have roots before you can have branches, and this is so true. How can we possibly expect to gain a better understanding of what our future might look like if we don’t take the time to understand what our ancestors went through to provide us with all that we have today? The other reason I loved this quote was because of the letter Sister Kimball wrote to her husband. As I watched Elder Cook’s testimony, and then went on to find my favorite quotes from this talk, I had to include this quote because of the fact that both mention Elder Heber C. Kimball.

·         “Less than a year after President Thomas S. Monson was called as an Apostle, he dedicated the Los Angeles Temple Genealogical Library. He spoke of deceased ancestors ‘waiting [for] the day when you and I will do the research which is necessary to clear the way, … [and] likewise go into the house of God and perform that work … that they … cannot perform.’ When then-Elder Monson delivered those dedicatory remarks on June 20, 1964, there were only 12 operating temples. During the period President Monson has served in the senior councils of the Church, 130 of our 142 operating temples have had their initial dedication. It is nothing short of miraculous to see the hastening of the work of salvation in our day. Twenty-eight more temples have been announced and are in various stages of completion. Eighty-five percent of the Church members now live within 200 miles (320 km) of a temple.”

o    I remember distinctly having to wake up early in the morning to go to temple baptisms at the Los Angeles Temple before the Redlands Temple was built. I also distinctly remember getting a bloody nose on each of those mornings, with the exception of the morning where I woke up to my pillow covered in blood from a bloody nose. What do these bloody noses have to do with this quote? I always and still firmly believe that those bloody noses where Satan trying to prevent me from going to the temple to do the work there which I always did. I cannot imagine what it would be like to not live so close to a temple. The closest experience I have ever had to this was when I was at a youth crisis center in Saint George, Utah during my senior year of high school and every time I would eat a meal, I could look out and see the Saint George Temple, but I could never actually go there. It was very depressing to be so close to a temple, and yet not be able to go inside, not because I wasn’t worthy, but because I was allowed to leave the youth crisis center.

Past Teachings

Elder Quentin LaMar Cook, The Songs They Could Not Sing, Ensign and General Conference (through the LDS Gospel Library App), November 2011(General Conference October, Sunday Afternoon Session)

Key Doctrine and Principles:

·         Adversity

·         Faith

Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:

·         “When Alma was a young man, he had a friend named Fred who was less active in the Church. They had numerous discussions about serving a mission, and eventually Alma Sonne convinced Fred to prepare and serve. They were both called to the British Mission. At the conclusion of their missions, Elder Sonne, the mission secretary, made the travel arrangements for their return to the United States. He booked passage on the Titanic for himself, Fred, and four other missionaries who had also completed their missions. When it came time to travel, for some reason Fred was delayed. Elder Sonne canceled all six bookings to sail on the new luxury liner on its maiden voyage and booked passage on a ship that sailed the next day. The four missionaries, who were excited about traveling on the Titanic, expressed their disappointment. Elder Sonne’s answer paraphrased the account of Joseph and his brothers in Egypt recorded in Genesis: ‘How can we return to our families and the lad be not with us?’ He explained to his companions that they all came to England together and they all should return home together. Elder Sonne subsequently learned of the Titanic’s sinking and gratefully said to his friend Fred, ‘You saved my life.’ Fred replied, ‘No, by getting me on this mission, you saved my life.’ All of the missionaries thanked the Lord for preserving them.”

o    I loved this quote Elder Sonne had thought that his friend Fred had been the one to save his life, but for Fred, it was Elder Sonne who had saved his by convincing him to go on a mission. I am a firm believer in that Fred would have eventually gone on a mission because no one can force or convince us to do something that we don’t already want to do. However, I also believe that it was Elder Sonne who helped him understand that it was imperative that he serve his mission when he did. Through the help of the Spirit, Elder Sonne made it possible for Fred to understand the importance of serving a mission when he did. Because Fred served his mission when he did, he was delayed, leading Elder Sonne to cancel the passage for the four missionaries, and thus leading to them all safely returning home. For me, life is a series of events, each one being impacted and influenced by all the events preceding it. Our first cry is a direct result of our birth. Every event after that is a direct result of the sum of all the events prior to it.

·         “My beloved mission president, Elder Marion D. Hanks (who passed away in August), asked us as missionaries to memorize a statement to resist mortal challenges: ‘There is no chance, no fate, no destiny that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.’”

o    I loved this quote. I love it so much I plan to have it included in a graphic design I am working on which contains vines, music notes, butterflies, and other things which tend to describe and interest me. The statement of “the firm resolve of a determined soul” reminds me of just how strong willed I am. I have learned to be strong willed and immovable because of the experiences that I have had in my life, but also because of the great church leaders I have also had in my life.