Sister Mary N. Cook, first counselor in the General Young Women Presidency and Sister Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency instructed and inspired members, young and old, for nine days all across the Asia Area during the month of November, 2012. The visits of Sister Cook and Sister Reeves to Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand included leader and member meetings, young single adult family home evenings, focus groups, member visits, young women devotionals, a Stake Conference, ward worship services and missionary luncheons, some of which were webcasted over the internet for extended audiences within Asia.
Accompanying Sister Reeves and Sister Cook were their husbands, Melvyn K. Reeves, and Elder Richard E. Cook, a former member of the Seventy, along with Elder Kent D. Watson of the Seventy and President of the Asia Area, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Seventy and first counselor in the Asia Area Presidency, Elder Larry Y. Wilson of the Seventy and second counselor in the Asia Area Presidency, and their wives, Connie Watson, Susan Gong and Lynda Wilson.
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This visit was particularly meaningful for many of the Asian members as they reunited with Elder and Sister Cook who lived in Hong Kong when Elder Cook served in the Asia Area Presidency.
The trip coincided with the announcement of the revised curriculum, “Come, Follow Me,” which Young Men, Young Women, and youth Sunday School classes will begin using in January 2013. The new curriculum is designed to help teachers teach more like the Savior and help youth become more fully converted to the gospel.
At one point, Sister Cook held up a sparkling crystal and explained that it represented the audience. “This is who you are, young women,” she explained, “This is what happens when you lay hold upon that which is good. The light can come through and shine.”
Sister Reeves promised the youth, “If you will stay clean in your life, you can stand with confidence before anyone!” Inspired by her words, 12-year-old Tang Kak Kei, commented after the meeting, “I know that I need to read the Book of Mormon every day. Learning to repent and live righteously is what The Strength of Youth has taught me so the Light of Christ and true happiness can radiate through me.”