Elder Quentin L. Cook on nurturing deep and lasting conversion at home

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"The Church’s traditional curriculum has emphasized the Sunday Church experience. We know that when we have better teaching and more spiritually prepared class members, we have a better Sunday Church experience. We are blessed that often the Spirit increases and strengthens conversion in the Church setting.

"The new home-centered and Church-supported curriculum needs to influence more powerfully family religious observance and behavior and personal religious observance and behavior. We know the spiritual impact and the deep and lasting conversion that can be achieved in the home setting. Years ago, a study established that for young men and women the influence of the Holy Ghost most often accompanies individual scripture study and prayer in the home. Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"In the home-centered, Church-supported portion of this adjustment, there is flexibility for each individual and family to determine prayerfully how and when it will be implemented."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Deep and Lasting Conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," General Conference October 2018
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President Nelson spoke briefly at the beginning of general conference, introducing what would become an important theme and focus:

"For many years, Church leaders have been working on an integrated curriculum to strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship."
- Russell M. Nelson, "Opening Remarks," General Conference October 2018, emphasis added

Elder Cook had the assignment to then expand and explain the new focus. After introducing the concept of the adjusted Sunday meeting block and the various manuals and resources that will be provided to support it both in meetings and at home, he expanded on the vision of what these changes are intended to accomplish:

While resources including manuals and guidelines are provided for individuals and families, so much will depend on our individual willingness to seek inspiration as we begin to implement these programs in a few months. Elder Cook explained that "there is flexibility for each individual and family to determine prayerfully how and when it will be implemented." But the vision of the changes is to enable each of us to find "a deep and lasting conversion" as disciples of Jesus Christ.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)