Media Advisory:

Visiting Apostle Expresses Love And Concern To People Of Christchurch

18 January 2012

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — More than 500 people listened as Elder Quentin L. Cook, an Apostle from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, expressed his love and concern for the people of quake-ravaged Christchurch at a special meeting this week.

Among those in attendance were Hon Amy Adams, Associate Minister of Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Hon Lianne Dalziel, Labour Spokesperson for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, four other Members of Parliament, members of the Christchurch Interfaith Council, and other community leaders They shared a common concern for the recovery of Christchurch and were undeterred by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that struck 20 minutes into the meeting.

Elder Cook's message that Christchurch will recover and be “magnificent” was well received and left a feeling of reassurance and hope. He encouraged people to not only focus on rebuilding the city, but also to strengthen and look after families.

“Parents, love and look after your children,” he said. “Couples, love and look after each other.”

The Apostle has a special empathy for Christchurch having been a stake president (church leader) in San Francisco at the time of that city’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake in 1989 that resulted in multiple deaths. His own personal experience supporting that community through their natural disaster motivated the leader to visit Christchurch as part of his tour of the Pacific.

Elder Cook is being accompanied on his Pacific visit by his wife, Sister Mary Cook, and other Church leaders and their wives. President Tad R. Callister, a member of the Church’s Presidency of the Seventy, Bishop Keith B. McMullin, a member of the Church’s Presiding Bishopric, and members of the Pacific Area Presidency, Elder James J. Hamula and Elder Kevin W. Pearson are travelling with Elder Cook.

Elder Cook will also visit Auckland and Melbourne before flying home to the United States next week.
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