Before Elder and Sister Cook left their mission serving here at BYU-Hawaii, students and faculty had an opportunity to hear Elder David Cook one last time before they moved to London where they have been called to serve as the first councilor and assistant matron in the London Temple.
Elder Cook is the oldest of four boys. When his father died at the age of 10, Elder Cook took the role of the oldest brother very seriously. He and Sister Cook were married and sealed in the London, England Temple. He has previously served as a bishop, stake president, and country and area director in church education, and institute director prior to his mission here in Laie. Sister Cook said, “He loves his country and appreciates the love you have for your countries.”
“The image of the light in the eyes of the students on this campus is what I will take away with me,” said Elder Cook.
Elder Cook related the idea that “blessings are given to us by obedience to an associated law” to Newton’s Third Law of Motion and a Newton’s cradle.
“Remember Newton’s law, for every action (one metal ball released) there is an equal and opposite reaction (one metal ball at the other end is activated). Remember Heavenly Father’s law, to obtain any blessing (one metal ball activated) we must obey the associated law or commandment (one metal ball released). Thus – if we choose to pay tithing, we get the blessing that is only associated with paying tithing, and so on as we choose to live the Word of Wisdom, keeping the Sabbath Day holy and so on. So when you express our gratitude in our testimonies for ALL the blessings you are receiving, that is because you are keeping the associated commandment or law,” explained Elder Cook.
He continued, “How about 3 being released, when there are only 2 left? That is a little more challenging isn’t it? Will the principle now break down? Let’s see. The law would say 3 metal balls lifted and released would mean 3 would be activated. And so it is! So for 4. The same must be true. The law is consistent.”
He also mentioned that if we take no effort then nothing will happen.
Elder Cook quoted Elder Robert D. Hales when he said, “We teach that agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and “to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon. (2 Nephi 2:26) Agency is to act with accountability and responsibility for our actions.”
He also quoted President Joseph Fielding Smith when he taught about the rights we have to do or not do evil. “I have heard people say, and members of the Church too, ’I have a right to do as I please.’ My answer is: No, you do not. You haven’t any right at all to do just as you please. There is only one right that you have, and that is to do just what I read to you: keep the commandments of Jesus Christ” (Conference April 1967).
To close, Elder Cook said, “And finally a word to those who wear a CTR ring as a reminder of the significance of making correct daily decisions. CTR stands for Choose The Right. Perhaps you could now add an additional thought to the letter R and the word Right. Your agency does not give you the RIGHT to choose or to do evil.”
To watch the recording of Elder Cook's talk, click here.
To view a full transcript of Elder Cook's talk, click here.
Photo by Monique Saenz.