BORN:
8 September 1940
PLACE
OF BIRTH: Logan, Utah, United States
ELDER QUENTIN L COOK
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Key Doctrines:
Elder Cook emphasizes basics like scripture study, prayer and family home evening. He states, “A dividing line between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf or off-key is the active study of the scriptures. . . . Spencer W. Kimball, emphasized: . . . “I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball (2006), 67)."
He counsels about persistence in these things: “Family scripture study and family home evenings are not always perfect. Regardless of the challenges you face, do not become discouraged. . . . Mothers and fathers praying with children may be more important than any other example.” [1]
I learned:
Elder Cook is a great-great grandson of LDS Church apostle Heber C. Kimball and great-grandson of David Patten Kimball.
From 1960 to 1962, Cook served as an LDS Church missionary in England, where he and Jeffrey R. Holland served as companions, with Marion D. Hanks as mission president. Elder Cook worked for 27 years as a corporate attorney in the San Francisco Bay area. Later in his career he served as president and chief executive officer of California Healthcare System (CHS) for three years and then as vice chairman of Sutter Health System. Cook also volunteered for 14 years as city attorney.
Quentin was a very compassionate boy. Fire drill captain Joe Cook, a stalwart sixth-grade student leader, was determined to post a good time on fire drill day at an elementary school in Logan, Utah. He was pleased when, at the ringing of the alarm, students rapidly evacuated the building. Then, just as a record-breaking time seemed likely, Joe heard the announcement: “Someone is still in the building. The building is not clear.” As the clock ticked on, Joe finally saw his first-grade brother, Quentin, walk out of the building. He had gone back to get shoes for a friend that had ran out without them into the snow.
Elder Cook is credited with contributing significantly to the “Preach My Gospel" book, yet he takes no credit for himself. This missionary handbook has become a key gospel essential, and Elder Cook often teaches the principles from it. All people are sons and daughters of God and are loved by Him. It is our duty to help each other learn about Heavenly Father and find our way to him. He teaches "... Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all spirits blessed by birth will ultimately be resurrected, spirit and body reunited, and inherit kingdoms of glory that are superior to our existence here on earth."[2]
Quentin was a very compassionate boy. Fire drill captain Joe Cook, a stalwart sixth-grade student leader, was determined to post a good time on fire drill day at an elementary school in Logan, Utah. He was pleased when, at the ringing of the alarm, students rapidly evacuated the building. Then, just as a record-breaking time seemed likely, Joe heard the announcement: “Someone is still in the building. The building is not clear.” As the clock ticked on, Joe finally saw his first-grade brother, Quentin, walk out of the building. He had gone back to get shoes for a friend that had ran out without them into the snow.
Elder Cook is credited with contributing significantly to the “Preach My Gospel" book, yet he takes no credit for himself. This missionary handbook has become a key gospel essential, and Elder Cook often teaches the principles from it. All people are sons and daughters of God and are loved by Him. It is our duty to help each other learn about Heavenly Father and find our way to him. He teaches "... Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all spirits blessed by birth will ultimately be resurrected, spirit and body reunited, and inherit kingdoms of glory that are superior to our existence here on earth."[2]
He teaches:
Elder Cook speaks of having faith, what conversion means, and attitude during adversity. He often reminds us that challenges and hard times are opportunities for reflection and growth. We can be happy and personally at peace in spite of external turmoil. He notes, "We are to be positive and of good cheer. We emphasize our faith, not our fears. We rejoice in the Lord’s assurance that He will stand by us and give us guidance and direction (Doctrine and Covenants 68:6).” He helps us realized that having personal peace is not the same as the world being in a state of universal peace.
“Events often occur that rob us of peace and heighten our sense of vulnerability. . . . Such events remind us how quickly our feelings of peace and safety can be destroyed. . . . [There is a] . . . doctrinal difference between universal or world peace and personal peace. (. . . Peace is also a ‘state of existence that comes to man only upon the terms and conditions set by God’ (Howard W. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1966, 14–17).”
“Peace has indeed been taken from the earth.[3] Lucifer has not yet been bound and exercises power in this dominion. [4] . . . Emma Lou Thayne’s beloved hymn asks the appropriate questions: “Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole? (“Where Can I Turn for Peace?” Hymns, no. 129). The answer is the Savior, who is the source and author of peace. He is the “Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).” [5]
[1] Elder QUENTIN L COOK of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “In Tune With the Music of Faith,” 182nd Annual General Conference, Saturday afternoon, 31March 2012
[2] Elder QUENTIN L COOK of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Our Father's Plan - Big Enough For All His Children," April 2009, 179th Annual General Conference, Blog Post: Gifts
[3] President Woodruff declared this in 1894 and again in 1896. See "The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff," ed. G. Homer Durham (1946), 251–52; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79–82.
[4] See Joseph Fielding Smith, The Predicted Judgments, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year (Mar. 21, 1967), 5–6. However, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated, “We can have inner peace even though peace has been taken from the earth … [and] ‘all things [are] in commotion’” (“Behold, the Enemy Is Combined,” Ensign, May 1993, 79).
[5] Elder QUENTIN L COOK, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness” 183rd Annual General Conference, 6 April 2013
[1] Elder QUENTIN L COOK of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “In Tune With the Music of Faith,” 182nd Annual General Conference, Saturday afternoon, 31March 2012
[2] Elder QUENTIN L COOK of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Our Father's Plan - Big Enough For All His Children," April 2009, 179th Annual General Conference, Blog Post: Gifts
[3] President Woodruff declared this in 1894 and again in 1896. See "The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff," ed. G. Homer Durham (1946), 251–52; see also Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 79–82.
[4] See Joseph Fielding Smith, The Predicted Judgments, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year (Mar. 21, 1967), 5–6. However, as Elder Neal A. Maxwell stated, “We can have inner peace even though peace has been taken from the earth … [and] ‘all things [are] in commotion’” (“Behold, the Enemy Is Combined,” Ensign, May 1993, 79).
[5] Elder QUENTIN L COOK, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Personal Peace: The Reward of Righteousness” 183rd Annual General Conference, 6 April 2013
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