Elder Cook Quorum of the 12 visits

It was so nice to have Elder Cook and his wife visit the CCM on Friday March 18th.  He met with the missionaries and spoke from 6:30 to 8:00.  It was interesting that he stood and said he did not have any specific remarks but that he would speak what the spirit prompted him to do so.  He reiterated that while President Monson makes the official calls to serve as a missionary it is members of the quorum of the 12 that make the specific assignment of where the missionary will serve.  He said there is a definite feeling that comes to the member of the 12 that you should serve in one area over another.  Sometimes it is a matter of a specific president you should serve under or there may be certain people there you will be with.  It is not a random assignment but a specific assignment from the spirit.

He pointed out that being an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ requires being warm, loving and gracious.  We must smile and be a servant that builds with faith.  A missionary is the messenger. When people see a missionary they will see the representative of Jesus Christ.

He said that in 2002 President Hinckley instructed Elder Ballard to give the talk in general conference about raising the bar for missionaries.  President Hinckley said we must have a righteous missionary force and that has not changed.  Elder Ballard admonished the young men to rise up, measure up and be fully prepared to serve the Lord. Serving a mission is not a rite of passage. 

During the question and answer time Hermana Pussey asked a question about making our prayers fervent, heartfelt and offered with real intent as mentioned in Preach My Gospel.  She asked how that applied to the investigators the missionaries are teaching.  Elder Cook pointed that worthy prayers are required for our investigators but that the investigator still has agency to reject the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  He also said that answers to prayers come most meaningfully when pray is not about ourselves but about others.  Even if we do everything perfect people can reject you.
The elect will hear and not harden their heart.

Going into the devotional with Elder Cook I had written a question I wanted answered similar to what I do in general conference.  I wrote down, "Will my family be looked after while I am gone?"
As Elder cooked closed his remarks he said he would like to offer upon us an apostolic blessing.  He said if you are asking yourself if you should really be here or if you should be home helping your family know this, this mission is not about you, but it will be a blessing to your family.  He said we will be blessed for serving, but our families will be blessed also.