Elder Quentin L. Cook
The Message
Elder Cook taught that integrity means living according to what we believe and the commitments we have made to God, ourselves, and others. Virtue and integrity are not restrictions that keep us from happiness; they are part of the path that leads to lasting happiness and the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
He also reminded us that integrity does not mean being perfect. When we recognize that our actions have not matched our beliefs, we can honestly acknowledge it, repent, and begin again.
Start the Conversation
Read the summary of the message and the Try This at Home ideas with your family. Then say: “Let’s choose one way we can better live what we believe this week.”
Try This at Home
Act Well Your Part
President McKay was deeply influenced by the words “Whate’er thou art, act well thy part.” Have each person choose one role they have choose a parent, child, sibling, student, friend, neighbor, Church member and name one small way they could “act well” that part this week.
Keep One Small Promise
Choose one commitment you’ve already made and pay particular attention to keeping it. It could be something promised to God, another person, or yourself.
Match the Private and Public You
Integrity means being the same person even when nobody is watching. Ask: “Is there something good I do when people are watching that I could choose to do when nobody knows?”
Clean Up One Mistake
Integrity includes admitting when we’ve been wrong. If you’ve made a mistake, consider one simple way to make it right—apologize, tell the truth, replace something, correct an error, or repent and begin again.
Make Your Words Build
Elder Cook warned against using technology to bully, damage reputations, or put others in a bad light. Before posting, texting, or talking about someone this week, ask: “Will this build someone up or tear someone down?”
Find It in the Scriptures
Read Doctrine and Covenants 121:45, which Elder Cook quoted: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” Ask: What kinds of things help good thoughts stay in our minds? What tends to crowd them out?
Choose Your Own
Choose another part of Elder Cook’s message your family would like to live together this week.
Close One Small Gap
Think of something you sincerely believe is important. Then ask: “Does the way I’m living match what I say I believe?” Don’t search your entire life for inconsistencies. Find one small gap. Then choose one action that would make your behavior match your belief a little more closely. If you believe kindness matters, speak kindly once when it’s difficult. If you believe prayer matters, say the prayer you’ve been postponing. If you believe honesty matters, correct one small untruth. If you’ve made a mistake, acknowledge it and begin again.
Integrity grows one matched choice at a time.
Check Back In
At the end of the week, talk as a family about what you noticed. Was there a place where your actions didn’t quite match what you believed? What happened when you tried to close that gap? Did keeping a commitment affect how you felt about yourself? Did anyone need to admit a mistake and begin again? Did doing the right thing bring greater peace or happiness? Did your experience help you understand Elder Cook’s teaching that integrity, virtue, and happiness are connected?
No grading. No guilt. Just notice what happened.
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