Thursday, October 8, 2015

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 3rd, 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.

The Life and Teachings of Elder David Todd Christofferson



The Biography of Elder David Todd Christofferson
            The first thing that stuck out to me about Elder Christofferson’s life was his reaction to being called as an apostle. I think for all of the apostles it “seemed impossible” at the time of their call, but just as Elder Christofferson said, “we all rely on the Lord.” The second thing that stuck out to me about Elder Christofferson was that Elder Scott was his mission president. I can only image what those mission reunions must be like. The next thing the stuck out to me was that Elder Christofferson clerked for the judge in charge of the Watergate hearings. I find it amazing that this judge would state that Elder Christofferson was the only person he could talk to, and that he was too valuable to let him go. What a compliment!

The Testimony of Elder David Todd Christofferson
            The one thing that really stuck out to me about Elder Christofferson’s was that he testified that you don’t have to go to the sacred grove to receive a witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel. One thing I remember from when I was taking the mission prep class a few years ago was that the mission prep teacher said that it was important for us to get our investigators to the sacred grove. He followed this by saying that we don’t need to physically get our investigators to the sacred grove, but that we needed to get them there spiritually. The spiritual witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel is what is needed to provide investigators with knowledge and conviction to enter the waters of baptism.

Recent Teachings

Elder David Todd Christofferson, The Resurrection of Jesus Christ, April 2014 General Conference, Sunday Afternoon Session
Key Doctrine and Principles:
·         Atonement
·         Death
·         Justice
·         Resurrection
Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:
·         “By His Atonement and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome all aspects of the Fall. Physical death will be temporary, and even spiritual death has an end, in that all come back into the presence of God, at least temporarily, to be judged. We can have ultimate trust and confidence in His power to overcome all else and grant us everlasting life.”
o    I loved this quote because I find comfort in know that if I am doing what right, I have nothing to fear. However because of all the things I have gone through with my family, especially my brother, I sometimes find it difficult to forgive him for what he has done and said to me. It is at times like these that I remember something a very wise missionary once said to me. This missionary said that when someone asks us for forgiveness and we deny them that forgiveness, we are in essence looking our Savior in the eye and telling him that the Atonement was good enough, that the Atonement covers everything, but this one injustice. This missionary went on to explain that we are doing the same thing when this person, who may hurt us in some way, doesn’t ask us for our forgiveness, but we still deny them our forgiveness and hold a grudge against them, regardless of whether or not the realize they have done something to hurt us.
·         “Having satisfied the demands of justice, Christ now steps into the place of justice; or we might say He is justice, just as He is love. Likewise, besides being a ‘perfect, just God,’ He is a perfect, merciful God. Thus, the Savior makes all things right. No injustice in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores life again. No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate justice and mercy.”
o    I loved this quote because it goes along perfectly with how my relationship with my brother is. He and I don’t get along anymore. We used to be very close when we were little, but over the years things have changed. I have changed and so has he, but those changes are what have pushed us apart to the point that he refuses to acknowledge my very existence, and he has stated at one time that it would have been better if my parents had just aborted me. Although I put on a tough face and say that it doesn’t bother me, it really does. Through Christ I have been able to come to terms with the fact that my brother may never acknowledge my existence, but I take comfort in knowing that Christ will make all things right.

Past Teachings

Elder David Todd Christofferson, The Redemption of the Dead and the Testimony of Jesus, Ensign and General Conference (through the LDS Gospel Library App), November 2000 (General Conference October 2000, Saturday Morning Session)
Key Doctrine and Principles:
·         Family History
·         Temple Work
·         Redemption
·         Agency
·         Atonement
·         Testimony
Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:
·         “God gave man his agency from the beginning.”
o    I love this quote because it plainly states that from the foundations of the world, we have been given our agency to choose. Nothing and no one can take that away from us. Even God, with all His power and glory, cannot and will not take away our agency. He wants us to be able to make the choice of whether or not we want to follow Him. He will never force that upon us.
·         “Our anxiety to redeem the dead, and the time and resources we put behind that commitment, are, above all, an expression of our witness concerning Jesus Christ. It constitutes as powerful a statement as we can make concerning His divine character and mission. It testifies, first, of Christ’s Resurrection; second, of the infinite reach of His Atonement; third, that He is the sole source of salvation; fourth, that He has established the conditions for salvation; and, fifth, that He will come again.”
o    I loved this quote because next Wednesday, I will be going to the Redlands Temple to do baptisms for several of my family members. I have friends coming down from Utah this Saturday, and I have some of my friends from the YSA who are willing to help me with this temple trip that I have planned. The time and effort it takes to find these names can be very daunting, but with the help of the Lord, as well as the help of our ancestors, the work can progress much faster than we can comprehend. Our ancestors will guide us to the right names, the right places, and the right times so that we might be able to find them and perform those saving ordinances which they did not have the opportunity to perform for themselves in this life. The powers of Heaven will lift us up and direct us where to go.


The Life and Teachings of Elder Neil Linden Andersen



The Biography of Elder Neil Linden Andersen
            The first thing that jumped out at me about Elder Andersen was that his family moved eight times for Church assignments. I can’t even imagine moving once. I get stressed out just thinking about cleaning my room or rearranging my furniture! The next thing that jumped out at me about Elder Andersen was that he not only oversaw the development of The Testaments, the launch of Mormon.org, and the installation of the audiovisual systems in the Conference Center. Many years ago, my dad was called to be the audiovisual specialist for our stake and I remember going with him to the stake center before every General Conference to help him set everything up. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed helping my dad. The last thing that jumped out at me about Elder Andersen was that he speaks French, Spanish, Portuguese, as well as English. Being that I do a lot of singing, it is easy for me to sing in over ten different languages, but learning to speak a different language is a completely different story. I tried taking a Spanish class once, but because I had previously taken French in high school, it didn’t work out.

The Testimony of Elder Neil Linden Andersen
            As I watched Elder Andersen’s testimony, I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. I cannot imagine what the early Saints must have gone through. One of the things which came to mind as I watched Elder Andersen’s testimony was the book, Fire of the Covenant by Gerald Lund. When I was in eighth grade, I read this book for the first time. At the time I couldn’t understand why those Saints would so willingly go through all of these trials. During the next four years, there were many times when I wanted to read it again, but I couldn’t because I had borrowed it from my aunt and uncle. However, during my senior year of high school, after begging my parents to get it for me, I was able to read this book for the second time. During the course of my reading, I came across a last name that was very familiar to me. When I asked my teacher if he was related to the girl in the book, he told me that he was. Although this girl died on the plains, her family came over later, making her one of my teacher’s great-aunts. The sacrifices which I read about in that book had me in tears at many times. When I finished reading this book, I began to read The Work and the Glory series. When I finished those books, I had finally understood why they so willingly endured those trials and made all of those sacrifices. As Elder Andersen quoted that in their trials they became acquainted with God.

Recent Teachings

Elder Neil Linden Andersen, Spiritual Whirlwinds, April 2014 General Conference, Saturday Morning Session
Key Doctrine and Principles:
·         Adversity
·         Atonement
·         Courage
·         Marriage
·         Obedience
Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:
·         “Not all the whirlwinds in life are of your own making. Some come because of the wrong choices of others, and some come just because this is mortality.”
o    As it stands, right now the reason I love this quote the most is because it has to do with my circumstances. I know that some of them are because of mistakes I have made. But I take a great deal of comfort in knowing that a lot of my trials are because they are a part of mortality. One of the trials which I am going through right now is that I am a little depressed that my best friend, Richard won’t be able to come down this next week with some of my other friends. I miss him very much and I have found myself on the verge of tears because he isn’t able to come down. Still I am praying for a miracle that he might be able to come down. I know this miracle will only be possible if I have faith in Him, and that I don’t lose hope. I know that if the Lord wants Richard to come down to visit this next week, He will provide him with a way to make that happen. However, I also know that if the Lord doesn’t want Richard to come visit this next week, there is a reason for it, and I must not only accept that reason, but also not allow my hope and faith in Him to be shaken or diminished.
·         “Challenges will come to you, but as you trust in God, they will strengthen your faith.”
o    The reason I loved this quote is because it goes along perfectly with my reasoning for why I love the previous quote. It is a challenge for me to only get to see my best friend once a year and it is one that really tests my emotions and my faith. Still by trusting in the Lord is the only way I can make it through such challenges. With God nothing is impossible, but I must put my faith, hope and trust in Him.
·         “Find your grandfathers and grandmothers and your distant cousins who have gone before you. Take their names to the temple with you. As you learn about your ancestors, you will see patterns of life, of marriage, of children; patterns of righteousness; and occasionally patterns that you will want to avoid.”
o    I love this quote because as of yesterday, I’ve gone into full on family history mode. As it stands, I have over 100 names that I am preparing to take to the temple this next Wednesday. However, the reason I love this quote even more is because as I was searching for family names earlier today, I came across something in the family records that really struck a chord in me. My third great-grandfather, Samuel Mallisee had three children that I knew of from the family history list that we have from my dad’s side of the family. However, while I was searching for a birth date for his wife, Margaret Little, I came across his son, which isn’t listed anywhere in the family history that I have for his three other children, one of whom is just mentioned as being a twin to one of the girl that my second great-grandfather’s brother married. I felt I had found a long lost family member who might have unknowingly been overlooked for generations.

Past Teachings

Elder Neil Linden Andersen, Children, Ensign and General Conference (through the LDS Gospel Library App), November 2011 (General Conference October 2011, Saturday Afternoon Session)
Key Doctrine and Principles:
·         Children
·         Faith
·         Family
·         Marriage
·         Parenthood
·         Priorities
Favorite Quotes and Why They Matter to Me:
·         “When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith.”
o    I have always wanted to have a big family. In my Patriarchal Blessing it states that I will have sons and daughters. It also tells me that I will be sealed in the temple to a very special young man who is being prepared for me. However it also tells me to be patient in those things because they will happen in the Lord’s time and way.
·         “The bearing of children is a sensitive subject that can be very painful for righteous women who do not have the opportunity to marry and have a family. To you noble women, our Heavenly Father knows your prayers and desires. How grateful we are for your remarkable influence, including reaching out with loving arms to children who need your faith and strength.”
o    The main reason I love this quote so much is because one of my biggest trials that I am currently facing is that I want to have a family. Sometimes I wonder why I am 26 years old and still single, but it’s at times like these that I have to remember that I need to be patient, even when I feel like I’m going to go crazy from always having to be patient. Also one of the most difficult things about this is that I know for s fact that there are guys that want to ask me out, but because they know my best friend is a guy, they feel intimidated or like I would flat out say no. This is so difficult for me because I would never turn down a date unless I was already dating someone. Many of my guy friends when they learn that I’m not actually in a relationship with my best friend, they tell me they wish they had known about it sooner because they just started dating this or that girl.