Elder Cook Tells Saints in Zambia 4 Things the Savior ‘Wants Us to Do’

 
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By Ryan Jensen, Church News

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

Making the most out of a one-day stop in Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka, Elder Quentin L. Cook met on Wednesday, February 22, with members of the Church and missionaries serving in the country. Elder Cook encouraged them to do things the Savior would want them to do.

“Do not despair. Love and care for those that are near and dear to you, and let the Lord’s work go forward,” the member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said.

Elder Cook’s wife, Sister Mary Cook, joined her husband, along with Elder Denelson Silva, Second Counselor in the Africa South Area Presidency and his wife, Sister Regina Silva, and Elder Clement M. Matswagothata, an Area Seventy.

Elder Cook’s message centered largely on “four things we need to do today.”

“What are the four things today that our Savior wants us to do?” he asked.

1. “One, we need to live Christian, Christlike lives.”
2. “Second, we need to care for those in need.”
3. “Third, we need to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone. We need to love, share and invite.”
4. “Fourth is to do our family history and see that they are sealed together.”

 
These four topics are each covered in the Church’s general handbook that is available to all on the Church’s website.

Elder Cook said that choosing to do those things the Lord asks of His followers requires the proper use of agency.

“You can’t grow and develop without agency,” he said.

Sister Cook encouraged the Saints to use their agency to “let your light shine before this people.”

 
Elder Silva, who previously served as a mission president in the nearby Angola Luanda Mission from 2016-2019, talked about using agency to put trust in God and keep His commandments. By trusting and being obedient to Him, “they will have a happy and blessed state” as described by King Benjamin in Mosiah 2:41.

“God never fails on His promises,” Elder Silva said. “God does not want to give us the leftovers. He wants to give us all — all that He has.”

Sister Silva bore her testimony in English — her second language. While she could have used a translator, she wanted to share her feelings personally and testified of the Savior.

“I know that He lives and loves all of us,” she said.

Elder Matswagothata bore his testimony of Joseph Smith as the first prophet of the Restoration. He testified that the prophetic power bestowed on Joseph Smith has continued from prophet to prophet to President Russell M. Nelson today. They follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and instruction from the Lord, he said.

“It is my prayer… that we will then go and do the things the Spirit has whispered to us,” Elder Matswagothata said.

Elder Cook concluded by leaving a blessing on the people of Zambia.

 
“I invoke a blessing upon you and upon this country and upon the missionaries and upon the local leaders and you members and any visitors that we have here,” he said.

Elder Cook promised peace would come at an individual level by honoring covenants and repenting regularly.

“The reward of righteousness is peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. We will not have peace in this world. We will have individual peace the Lord can provide us even with the tumultuous times and the difficulties we face.”
 

Zambia’s Growth

Nearly 600 individuals filled the chapel for a devotional that was also broadcast throughout the country to those who couldn’t attend in person.

 
When the meeting concluded, the Saints poured out of the chapel to say goodbye to Elder Cook as he and the other Church leaders departed. Many of those who attended stayed to talk with each other and joyously share what they had felt in the meeting for nearly two hours after Elder Cook left.

Zambia shares its border with eight other African nations — the highest number on the continent. This year, the country’s population will likely break the 20-million mark. Comparatively, the Church has a small and growing footprint of more than 5,000 members.

Regardless of the size of the Church, Elder Cook said its members should rejoice in their shared testimony and purpose.

“No matter where we live, we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are of one heart and one mind.”

In his final testimony, Elder Cook shared his love for the Lord.

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