Quentin L. Cook

This Easter Sunday coincides with the magnificent vision of the Savior that occurred in the Kirtland Temple on Easter Sunday of 1836—190 years ago. The role of Elijah in restoring the priesthood keys of the sealing power is crucial in our journey of returning to our Father as a covenant people. The sealing ordinances are effective after this life and in the eternities—to seal husbands and wives, parents and children. I promise to you on this Easter day that as you adhere to His ordinances, covenants, and commandments, you will grow closer in your relationship with our Savior as well as your appreciation and gratitude for the sealing keys that have been restored in this dispensation. I testify of the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection and rejoice with you on this special Easter Sunday for all that He has accomplished that we might have eternal life. #GeneralConference

The Savior’s charge to His disciples to love one another—and the dramatic and powerful way He taught this principle at the Last Supper—is one of the most poignant and beautiful episodes from the last days of His mortal life. He was not teaching a simple class in ethical behavior. This was the Son of God pleading with His Apostles and all disciples who would come after them to remember and follow this most central of His teachings. In the face of the eternity-shaping Atonement He was about to undertake, such a commandment requires our obedience. We manifest our love for God when we keep His commandments and serve His children. We don’t fully comprehend the Atonement, but we can spend our lives trying to be more loving and kind, regardless of the adversity we face. #GreaterLove

I have been blessed with exceptional women in my life, and I am eternally grateful for their influence on me. I feel a great responsibility to say thank you for who you are and what you do.

In a world where so much information is available, it is increasingly important to be certain that what we accept as truth is grounded in eternal principles. The Lord’s scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, will be even more important in our day than they were for prior generations. I recently shared at a BYU devotional that we need to slow down enough to listen to the Spirit and allow Him to direct us. We must all learn to use technology as a servant, not a master. The future of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and our very civilization depend on members and individuals who have deep faith, moral courage, and the ability to navigate an increasingly complex world. The Lord will continue to provide prophets who will guide and focus us on the most important principles. The Lord’s prophets will help this generation move forward and confidently accomplish His purposes. Please do not be discouraged as we all face these unique challenges. You will be blessed. Let us never forget that it was not easy for the Savior in the volatile world, during his mortal sojourn—especially in his final hours as he accomplished the Atonement. I am grateful for our Savior’s ultimate sacrifice in our behalf. I am also grateful for living prophets who can provide us with the guidance we need in our day. President Dallin H. Oaks will provide that spiritually powerful legacy.

What a pleasure it was to meet with His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana. We discussed our shared Christian beliefs and desire to serve all of God’s children. Ghana is a beautiful land rich in devotion to God and service to one another. I was impressed by President Mahama’s vision for a hopeful future in Ghana. In our commitment to follow the Savior’s example, the @Ch_JesusChrist hopes to contribute to his vision by blessing lives through various humanitarian efforts. I am grateful for this relationship rooted in love of God and His children and look forward to future collaboration.

How grateful I am for eternal relationships made possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. Today—and every day—I give thanks to know that my wonderful wife Mary and I can be together forever.

What a marvelous sight these missionaries were in the Provo Missionary Training Center today! Being with them reminded me of my first Christmas away from home as a missionary in Swindon, England in 1960. Swindon had been opened for missionary work about 90 days earlier. We were renting a room for Sunday meetings. We were blessed to have a few converts—the beginnings of a branch. On Christmas Eve my companion, Noel Luke, and I decided to greet people in their homes and leave a brief Christmas message and blessing. It was a beautiful night, and the cloud-filled sky had a bright moon shining through, creating a heavenly feeling. Suddenly everyone in the neighborhood had their televisions tuned to a beloved comedian and singer, Harry Secombe, who rendered “Bless This House” in a manner which brought tears to our eyes. His song reverberated and bounced back from the clouds. We had this overwhelming feeling that we were truly emissaries of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ trying to “bless” our Heavenly Father’s children. Let us give thanks for our wonderful missionaries this time of year as they serve to bless God’s children—and may each of us be valiant in our testimonies of the Savior at all times and in all things. Merry Christmas!

Like the angels who shared the news of Jesus Christ’s birth to the shepherds, we too can “bring good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) unto all people at Christmastime and always. What valuable lessons might we each learn from the angels on the first Christmas? • Their message was a message of faith—not fear. • Their intention was to share glad tidings. • Their words were filled with great joy. • They hoped their message would reach all people. • They praised God. • They spoke of peace and goodwill. When you interact with others—whether in person or online—will you consider the lessons that each of us can learn from the angelic tidings in Luke 2? The world needs glad tidings right now more than ever.

During my young adult years, some were critical of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Likewise, others were critical of the idea of following Jesus Christ and exercising faith in Him. Those same arguments are being trumpeted across the internet today. There has been and always will be opposition in all things. Nevertheless, those who pray, study scriptures, live the commandments, and worship and follow the Savior will see these arguments in their true light. Their faith will grow, and their lives will be blessed. The best approach for both gaining and maintaining a testimony is to immerse yourselves in the Book of Mormon, so you can experience the ongoing witness of the Spirit. 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—and that the Savior leads His church through living prophets today.

The Lord is hastening His work. Faith in Jesus Christ is increasing in our day. The Lord needs you.

No blessing will be withheld from those who are righteous, make and keep sacred covenants with God, and maintain their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our sacred duty is to accept and welcome new and returning members. As the Lord hastens His work, we should love, nurture, and serve those who accept His gospel. We can help build a Zion people where we are “of one heart and one mind, and [dwell] in righteousness…” To be one with the Lord, we must be one before the Lord. All members, regardless of baptism date, share a responsibility to welcome others. My counsel to the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to wrap our arms around these precious elect people who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ. #GeneralConference #HearHim

This picture is from the day that Mary and I were married—nearly 63 years ago. It is the greatest blessing of my life to be with Mary. She has blessed our family with direction from the Lord during each stage of our lives together. When a man and woman are sealed in the temple, they obtain and receive together priesthood blessings and power to direct the affairs of their family. Women and men have unique roles as outlined in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” but their stewardships are equal in value and importance. They have equal power to receive revelation for their family. When they work together in love and righteousness, their decisions are heaven blessed.

President Russell M. Nelson’s direction and guidance has always been so profound because he is always doing what the Lord is giving him the guidance and direction to do. Whether it is announcing new temples, building relationships with others, or moving missionary work forward, when he gets guidance from the Lord, he will act as quickly as he can to bring it to the Saints and bless their lives. I am grateful for his example to me. #PresidentNelson101

The restored gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed the lives of members and friends of the Church for one century in South America, and we anticipate a marvelous future for the next 100 years and beyond.

We express our utmost gratitude for the recognition of the centennial of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in beautiful Argentina.

I’m standing in the park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Elder Melvin J. Ballard dedicated all of South America for the preaching of the gospel. President M. Russell Ballard loved this spot where his grandfather had, in such a beautiful way, extended the dedication for all of South America from this spot in Argentina.