Fire site visited by Elder Cook

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — At the request of the LDS Church's First Presidency, Elder

Quentin L. Cook — the newest member of church's Quorum of the Twelve — visited

areas of wildfire-blackened San Diego County on Saturday to offer words of

thanks to volunteers and Guardsmen, and words of hope to those who homes have

been devastated by the flames.

He is in the area to preside over the Irvine California Stake conference.

Elder Cook began his tour by visiting the Escondido California South Stake

Center, where a unit of the California National Guard is being housed while

helping police the fire-ravaged communities. About 50 soldiers gathered in

formation in the parking lot to greet Elder Cook, who thanked them for their

service. Their commander, Lt. Col. Kurt A. Schlichter, in turn thanked Elder

Cook for the church's hospitality.

Elder Cook also greeted and thanked missionaries and members of The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are providing service during the disaster

and recovery efforts.

He met members of the Escondido Stake whose homes had been destroyed by the

fire and, at the Poway California Stake Center, delivered a message of hope to

about half of the 18 member families there who had lost their homes to the fire.

During a tour of the community, he also stopped to thank church volunteers who

were wearing bright-yellow "Helping Hands" T-shirts.