Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of April 2022 general conference. He outlined how true conversion includes sharing the gospel. The following is a summary of what he said.
Notable quotes from Elder Cook
“Over a lifetime of service and spiritual experiences, I have come to understand that true conversion is the result of the conscious acceptance of the will of God, and we can be guided in our actions by the Holy Ghost.”
“Your testimony will be strengthened when you know in your heart through your prayers that the Prophet Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lord’s hands.”
“The Lord asks each one of us to share His gospel in word and deed. Our personal conversion includes the responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.”
Summary of Elder Cook’s talk
A personal conversion includes the responsibility to share the gospel of
Jesus Christ with the world. Conversion comes by understanding and accepting the will of God.
A testimony will be strengthened with the knowledge that Joseph Smith was an instrument in the Lord’s hands. The Doctrine and Covenants provides the keys, ordinances and covenants necessary for salvation. But many are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.
Many today believe there should be no consequence for sin. Revealed doctrine establishes that personal repentance is necessary to partake of the Savior’s Atonement and inherit the celestial kingdom.
The Lord instructed the fullness of the gospel to be preached into the ends of the world. “This should be a ‘laserlike focus’ to everyone who has been blessed with a conversion to the will of God.” This includes all Latter-day Saints, especially full-time missionaries.
For the Savior’s mandate to share the gospel to become a part of someone, they need to become converted to the will of God, love their neighbors and invite all to come and see. The blessings of sharing the gospel include bringing others to Christ, increasing one’s conversion to the will of God and letting God prevail.
About Elder Cook
- Elder Quentin L. Cook was sustained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Oct. 6, 2007.
- He married Mary Gaddie on Nov. 30, 1962, and they are the parents of three children.
- While Elder Cook was in high school, his brother was pondering whether to serve a mission. They both decided to search for the answer through prayer and received a positive answer that shaped Elder Cook’s testimony for the rest of his life.
Elder Cook in the news
- Speaking at the 2022 New York Latter-day Saint Professional Association dinner on March 3, Elder Cook addressed New York and New Jersey religious, government and opinion leaders and also honored former United States Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman.
- Elder Cook met with religious leaders in New York City in March, talking about the importance of religious freedom and continuing relationships with his friends of many faiths.
- In a devotional broadcast to young adults in the Europe, Europe East, Africa and Middle East areas on Jan. 9, Elder Cook outlined five principles to follow as they place faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Cook’s recent social posts
- On Jan. 16, National Religious Freedom Day in the United States, Elder Cook posted about how religious accountability benefits secular society, and the need for all faiths to be part of a coalition of faiths ”that succor, act as a sanctuary, and promulgate religious freedom across the world.”
- Elder Cook shared a song titled “Peace in Christ” written for youth. “This hymn reflects in a beautiful fashion the aspiration for peace and appropriately emphasizes that peace is anchored in the life and mission of Jesus Christ,” he said on Feb. 3.
- In a March 5 social media post, Elder Cook shared a video from his recent meetings with faith leaders in New York City and extended an invitation for all religions to “work together to defend faith and religious freedom in a manner that protects people of diverse faith as well as those of no faith.”
