Skip to content

Carl B. Cook

AUTHOR PROFILE

Carl B. Cook

Carl B. Cook is described in biographical records as a Latter-day Saint general authority. The selections gathered here touch on attitude, leadership. This profile brings the attributed quotations together with their available source information.

FEATURED QUOTE
“At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor. “The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson. “I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!) “ But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”
— Carl B. Cook

Biography at a glance

  • Profile: Latter-day Saint general authority
  • Quotes in this collection: 1

Life and work

The available biographical record identifies Carl B. Cook through the role above. This collection includes one quotation credited to Carl B. Cook. Each quotation page preserves its own citation, when supplied, so readers can follow the passage back to its stated context.

Reading the quotations

The selections gathered here touch on attitude, leadership. These topic links make it easier to compare these words with other voices in the LDS Flow library. Citations are shown on the individual quotation pages where the source collection provided them.

Explore related topics

Sources and further reading

Quotes by Carl B. Cook

1 quote

“At the end of a particularly tiring day toward the end of my first week as a General Authority, my briefcase was overloaded and my mind was preoccupied with the question “How can I possibly do this?” I left the office of the Seventy and entered the elevator of the Church Administration Building. As the elevator descended, my head was down and I stared blankly at the floor. “The door opened and someone entered, but I didn’t look up. As the door closed, I heard someone ask, “What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson. “I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!) “ But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up.”

"It Is Better to Look Up," Conference October 2011

— Carl B. Cook

© Copyright 2026, All Rights Reserved