SAN FRANCISCO
As they celebrated the 80th anniversary of the San Francisco California Stake, members were delighted with the participation of one of their former stake presidents, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Elder Cook and his wife, Mary, spoke at a fireside on Aug. 1, one of several celebratory events of the anniversary year. Members fondly remember Elder Cook from when he served as stake president from 1985-90.
Prior to the fireside a special dinner for 100 was hosted in his honor; attending were 13 stake presidents from surrounding stakes, members of the San Francisco Interfaith Council and other dignitaries.
A fireside the previous night featured historians Richard and Claudia Bushman as speakers. Temple Square organist Bonnie Goodliffe, Sister Bushman's sister, was the guest organist.
An art exhibit was held featuring early Church history artifacts, rare books, paintings and a display of the ship Brooklyn memorabilia. A highlight was the "Mormon Collection" on loan from the Bancroft Library at University of California, Berkley, which included a first edition Book of Mormon and Book of Commandments and other valuable journals and books.
The final day of celebration began in the City of San Francisco on Saturday, Aug. 2, with guided walking tours of Church history sites and the tall ships at the Hyde Street Pier. Sam Brannan, played by actor/member Jerry Gardner, attired in authentic period attire, mingled with members. He entertained all by telling stories of the arduous six-month voyage of the Brooklyn from New York to Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), Calif., and the following years of building and establishing the Church and the city. He later joined 400 stake members on a bay cruise, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge.
