Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. We must also stand shoulder to shoulder with other believers to preserve and strengthen the freedom to advocate and practice our religious beliefs, whatever they are. Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. It was taught when a lawyer asked the Savior, Which is the great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36). Elder Oaks is a graduate of Brigham Young University (1954) and of The University of Chicago Law School (1957). March | 2023 | ANONYMOUS BISHOP I believe that the scriptural command to judge not refers most clearly to this final judgment, as in the Book of Mormon declaration that man shall not . 11819]. . He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. October 1985, Sunday morning session. President Dallin H. Oaks was sustained and set apart as first counselor in the First Presidency and president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, January 14, 2018. . It really is the answer. He talked about "good, better and best " choices. My Savior knows what happened. Persuaded by this philosophy, many of the rising generationyouth and young adultsare caught up in self-serving pleasures, pagan painting and piercing of body parts, foul language, revealing attire, pornography, dishonesty, and degrading sexual indulgence. And we must all oppose violence and thievery. Truth and Tolerance - Dallin H. Oaks - BYU Speeches 320.). Iassure you that my message is true. He knows the truth. In this circumstance, all of usand especially you of the rising generationhave a duty to stand up and speak up to affirm that God exists and that there are absolute truths His commandments establish. The article begins with heart-wrenching words and with true statements of eternal principles. In modern revelation the Lord has declared, I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men (D&C 64:10). [JD19:78]. Once an accepted part of American life, religion is now suspect in the minds of many. And furthermore, what about the value of our work in the world? The effect of one mortals attempting to pass final judgment on another mortal is analogous to the effect on athletes and observers if we could proclaim the outcome of an athletic contest with certainty while it was still underway. Those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. While there are many things we must make judgments about, the sins of another or the state of our own souls in comparison to others seems not to be among them. The Church Handbook of Instructions 32.0 states: What is tolerance, when does it apply, and when does it not apply? Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. Letter to Dallin H. Oaks, 14 May 1998. Profanity, cohabitation, and Sabbath breakingexcellent examples to illustrate how Latter-day Saints might balance their competing duties to truth and tolerance in their own lives in these difficult circumstances. Our Master, whom we seek to serve, is, as the scriptures say, a God of love (2 Corinthians 13:11). Please now consider the following sections of the Church Handbook of Instructions. by Giuseppe Martinengo | Sep 11, 2019 | All Talks | 0 comments. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice. N. T. Wright on the New Testament in Its World, Ann Madsen Reflects on Isaiah, Jehovah, and the Temple. According to survey data of two decades ago, 79 percent of American adults [believed] that there are clear guidelines about whats good and evil that apply to everyone regardless of the situation.4In contrast, a more recent poll of college seniors suggests that three-quarters of [them] believe that the difference between right and wrong is relative.5. Dallin H. Oaks Talks and Quotes - FromtheDesk.org President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. . We must work harder to build mutual respect, an attitude of forbearance, with tolerance one for another regardless of the doctrines and philosophies which we may espouse.8, Note that President Hinckley spoke of mutual respect as well as tolerance. If someone wanted to prepare by re-reading the talks from October 2022 conference in order, he or she should start today, Feb. 27, to finish by Friday, March 30. . They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts. Today were diving into Helping the Poor and Distressed by Dallin H. Oaks.In case you want to follow along, here are the quotes were discussing today:Quote #1: Despite all that our Church does directly, most humanitarian service to the children of God worldwide is carried out by persons and organizations having no formal connection with our Church. Dallin H. Oaks. Are we our brothers keepers? . I love the words in Susan Evans McClouds familiar hymn: Who am I to judge another A gospel teacher does not focus on himself or herself. Second,when believers seek to promote their positions in the public square, their methods and their advocacy should always be tolerant of the opinions and positions of others who do not share their beliefs. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.15. Dallin H Oaks - Etsy Many good, religious-minded . Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. I am a survivor of childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ. Divine Love in the Father's Plan. And we must also acquire the discretion that God exercises in being able to look into futurity, and to ascertain and know the results of our acts away in the future, even in eternity, before we will be capable of judging. He will be just. A recentEnsignarticle by an anonymous victim of childhood sexual abuse illustrates the contrast between judging situations and judging persons. When I walk imperfectly? Thus, our Saviors teachings contain many commandments we cannot keep without making intermediate judgments of people: Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6); Beware of false prophets. You might say, That is a matter for senior Church authorities to handle. I describe these principles to you young adults because you are current members and future leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, and you will need to decide these kinds of questions sooner than you think. Perfect love casteth out fear. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful - Latter-day Saint Women Stand 272. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. His or her total concentration will be on the needs of the sheepthe good of the students. When she answered no, Jesus declared, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (v. 11). cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. Misery is the ultimate state of disharmony with God and his laws. We should refrain from anything that seems to be a final judgment of any personmanifesting our determination to leave final judgments to the Lord, who alone has the capacity to judge. 12. We are to beinthe world, but notofthe world. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. President Oaks address can be read on the Church Newsroom website. President Oaks quotes cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. 11:1011). I have chosen to speak about truth because teachers in schools, colleges, and universities are teaching and practicing relative morality. Surely Latter-day Saints do need to be more wise and skillful in explaining and pursuing our views and in exercising our influence when we have it. The Savior taught, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). [Mosiah 26:29, 32]. Another thoughtful LDS member wrote: In Mosiah 18:9 Alma tells us that when we are baptized we covenant to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in. . As described by an attorney supporting a Lutheran school in a case now before the United States Supreme Court, the big concern is the ability of people of all faiths to work out their relationship with God and one another without the government looking over their shoulder.10That is why we need understanding and supportincludingyourunderstanding and supportwhen we must contend for religious freedom. The answer is simple: keep Gods commandments and serve his children. Church leaders are specifically commanded to judge. Most of us do not face decisions of giant proportions, like leaving our homes to pioneer an unknown land. Reverend Dr. Andrew Teal on Finding Christ Through Suffering, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution, Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Loving Others and Living with Differences, Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church. Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. Whether or how we might seek to obtain laws that would compel or influence behavior that we deem desirable because of our belief in God and His commandments is too large a subject for adequate treatment in the concluding few minutes of my talk. Talks by Dallin H. Oaks. Our Savior applied this principle. The character of transgression remains the same. This Christmas, as with every Christmas, we focus on loving one another just as our Savior loved us. That approach to differences will yield tolerance and also respect. I left last weekend's LDS General Conference inspired and uplifted. These 32 new mission presidents and companions were recently called to serve in Top 42 Quotes from Think Again by Adam Grant, Top 32 Best Quotes From Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, 20 Best Quotes From Melinda Gates New Book The Moment of Lift. . . Thomas S. Monson, inCR,April 2008, 66; or Examples of Righteousness,Ensign,May 2008, 65; emphasis in original. . October 2022. A loving Heavenly Father gives us those feelings to impel us to help His children. We frequently update our Latter-day Saint history content related to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Book of Mormon, and Come Follow Me 2023. He is a native of Provo, Utah (born in 1932). The guilty parties were not hard to spot because they continued whispering all through the class. . For example, an atheist has no need to decide what kinds and occasions of profanity or blasphemy can be tolerated and what kinds should be confronted. First,all persons are brothers and sisters under God, taught within their various religions to love and do good to one another. Ensign, Nov. 1998, 70-72 Dallin H. Oaks, "Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church," Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 24-27 Richard G. Scott, "To Heal the Shattering Consequences of Abuse," Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 40-43 LDS Family Services courses Strengthening Marriage and Strengthening the Family By Church Newsroom and The Daily Universe. Would it have hurt Mary to have joined us in serving, then we all could have sat down to hear the Lord together? Last months widespread rioting and pillaging in Britain and the scandalous, widespread cheating by teachers on state-mandated tests in elementary and middle schools in Atlanta, Georgia, have caused many to wonder whether we are losing the moral foundation Western countries have received from their Judeo-Christian heritage.3. What does tolerance mean to us and to other believers, and what are our special challenges in applying it? This is essential whenever we attempt to act upon different standards than those of others with whom we must associateat home, at work, or in the community. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. Wherefore, take heed . There are important restraints upon our intermediate judgments, but the presumption of innocence is not one of them. October 2021. Lee had another teaching about magnifying the priesthood: If anybody magnifies their priesthoodthat is, makes it bigger than they first thought it was and more important than anyone else thought it wasthat is the way you magnify your priesthood.. God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good, and more Church members should recognize and support the good done by others. I testify to the sweetness of the marriage and family life that the family proclamation describes as founded upon a husband and wifes solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children and upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.. On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). . Now we experience such differences in television and the Internet, through travel, and often in personal interactions in our neighborhoods and the marketplace. The Lord acknowledges Marthas care: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things (v. 41). Helping the Poor and Distressed | Dallin H. Oaks | October 2022 General Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. This is easy to see when it involves extreme behaviors that most believers and nonbelievers recognize as wrong or unacceptable. . . We discuss the talks given by President Dallin H. Oaks and Hugo Montoya about service and love and wish you all a wonderful Christmas this year!Music acknowledgementsMusic: In Dulci Jubilo by J.S. We must go, I believe, beyond tolerance if we are to achieve harmony in our world., Relying on the teachings of the Quran, Dr. Shihab continued: We must respect this God-given dignity in every human being, even in our enemies. President Dallin H. Oaks speaks at the 192nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2-3, 2022.President Oaks t. He is our Savior, and He reaches out to each of us with the timeless invitation to receive His peace by learning of Him and by walking in His way (see D&C 19:23): Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. bid her therefore that she help me. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. Please! It is not a sermon. 5. Today more than ever before, the blessings of the temple are avail- able to faithful Saints around the world. Content licensed under CC BY 4.0 unless otherwise noted. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. Oaks 'clarifies' LDS doctrine on LGBTQ-related issues If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. In this context the wordcondemnapparently refers to the final judgment (see John 3:17). He was president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980, and a justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 until his resignation in 1984 to accept his calling to the apostleship. Our Savior also taught that His followers will have tribulation in the world, that their numbers and dominions will be small (see 1 Nephi 14:12), and that they will be hated because they are not of the world (John 17:14). President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, waves while holding his wife Sister Kristen Oaks' hand inside the Conference Center during the Saturday evening session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (Church Newsroom), New BYU opera professor performs as featured soloist for Tabernacle Choir, Orchestras summer concert, Video of the Day: West Virginia city adopts stray cat as mascot, Gov. What does this scripture mean for our day and how can it be applied by Latter-day Saints? deaton funeral home, red bay, al obituaries. . Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places. Introductory Message. 9. Opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become. S2:E1 "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks by General He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. As was wisely taught in a BYU devotional, The Lord does not grade on a curve. He will judge us in terms of qualities, not quotas (in Janet G. Lee, The Lord Doesnt Grade on a Curve,BYU 199495 Devotional and Fireside Speeches[Provo: Brigham Young University, 1995], pp. Subscribe To Our Newsletter. . Joseph G. Donders (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2005), 21013; Harold Kushner,Who Needs God(New York: Summit, 1989), 8384. As we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. [Matthew 11:2830]. The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit. He was set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostlesin April 7,1984. We need to be reminded that in total and over a significant period of time, these seemingly small things bring to pass great things. In a BYU devotional address, Professor Catherine Corman Parry gave a memorable scriptural illustration of the consequences of judging by the wrong standards. Howeverand here I express asecond absolute truththis living with differences is what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do. Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. All Talks by President Dallin H. Oaks | Giuseppe Martinengo Also see, GamblingMorally Wrong and Politically Unwise (, Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church, Loving Others and Living with Differences, Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution, Prophetic Announcements of Christs Birth, Stand Fast with Love in Proclaiming Truth, Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination. We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. S2:E1 "Helping the Poor an. . . See Heidi S. Swinton,To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010), especially chapters 25 and 28 and pages 46263. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? I testify of the power and blessings of the priesthood of God, available for His sons and daughters alike. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. It will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. April 2022. . I have felt impressed to speak this evening about another set of twins, the twin ideas of Truth and Tolerance. [Arthur R. Bassett, Floods, Winds, and the Gates of Hell,Ensign,June 1991, p. 8]. His creations witness His existence, and His servants hear and proclaim His voice. Consider where society would be if we did not have religious freedom, says President Oaks, President Oaks general conference addresses, Read more October 2022 general conference coverage, President Oaks was a law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren at the U.S. Supreme Court and served as a. . For this purpose we must walk together on the same path in order to secure our freedom to pursue our separate ways when that is necessary according to our separate beliefs. . One of Martin Harriss greatest contributions to the Church, for which he should be honored for all time, was his financing the publication of the Book of Mormon. PresidentDallin H. Oakswassustained andset apartas first counselor in the First Presidencyandpresident of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostlesof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints onSunday, January 14, 2018. He has an eye trained for the imperfections, the weaknesses. kristen meredith mcmain oaks age - nautilusva.com The most fundamental principle is contained in the Saviors commandment that we judge not unrighteously . May 3: Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It is a very unstable virtue.12. President Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was invited to speak at the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit on July 20. If there are more that I have missed, please let me know and I will add them to the list. Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. As believers, we should also frame our arguments and positions in ways that contribute to the reasoned discussion and accommodation that are essential to democratic government in a pluralistic society. What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. From all of this we see that final judgment is the Lords and that mortals must refrain from judging any human being in the final sense of concluding or proclaiming that they are irretrievably bound for hell or have lost all hope of exaltation. Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. [Teachings,p. 218]. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 1, 2022. Many even question whether there is a God. It will refrain from declaring that a person has forfeited all opportunity for exaltation or even all opportunity for a useful role in the work of the Lord. In doing so, we Latter-day Saints rely on the truth we sing in the hymn I quoted earlier: The pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast, And the wreck of the fell tyrants hopes.7. 4. Then he delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. Eric Rassbach, quoted in William McGurn, Religion and the Cult of Tolerance,The Wall Street Journal,16 August 2011, A11. My treatment of truth and tolerance will invite you to consider and to teach these twin subjects because they are vital to the rising generation, in which you are the senior members. . . Jointly published by the Deseret News and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church. There is a doctrine underlying the subject of gospel judging. To lighten the load of the bishopric, auxiliary presidencies and Melchizedek Priesthood quorum presidencies and group leaders need to exercise initiative and fully function in the great responsibilities of their callings. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. In this sensitive matter we should first consider whether or the extent to which we should communicate to our associates what we know to be true about their behavior. . She said she received about 10 phone calls from outraged Latter-day Saints who would not accept her admission of error and sincere apology and berated her with abusive language. For most followers of Christ, our sacrifices involve what we can do on a day-to-day basis in our ordinary personal lives. With the love and mutual respect taught by divine commandments, President Oaks said. Search for people biographies, memoirs and profession matching the query: Dallin H. Oaks. . I will not be judged for what happened to me, but I will be judged by how I let it affect my life. Enigma Books Also published by Enigma Books Hitler's Table Talk: 1941-1944 In Stalin's Secret Service Hitler and Mussolini: The Secret Meetings The Jews in Fascist Italy: A History The Man Behind the Rosenbergs Roosevelt and Hopkins: An Intimate History Diary 1937-1943 (Galeazzo Ciano) Secret Affairs: FDR, Cordell Hull, and Sumner Welles Hitler and His Generals: Military Conferences . The Temple Experience: Passage to Healing and Holiness Similar to our article with Russell M. Nelson quotes, this piece includes Dallin H. Oaks quotes from every general conference. In revelation the Lord added this parable for modern Zion: Set . Collected Talks of Dallin H. Oaks Ben Crowder The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of Gods laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. But at the same time, the ancient language of symbolism and storytelling used within the temple has been outpaced by our reliance on fast-paced technology and instant Internet answers. The opposite of joy is misery. 21 Oct 1975 . Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. Holders of the priesthood should also keep the commandments so they will have the power of the priesthood to give blessings to their family members. Today and tomorrow would need to include two talks per day, then after that read one talk per day. The weaker ones belief in God and the fewer ones moral absolutes, the fewer the occasions when the ideas or practices of others will confront one with the challenge to be tolerant. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. This time he was definitely speaking to the Church. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. Consequently, we should be alert to honor the good we should see in all people and in many opinions and practices that differ from our own. First: Truth. Login . From our love of God and our fellowmen, we acquire our desire to share that great gift with everyone. 16. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. And may we grow in the capacity to live his gospel, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Encyclopedia Of Cold War Espionage, Spies, And Secret Operations [PDF Legal experts, including a former federal judge and a former Utah Supreme Court justice, examine the General Conference talk by Latter-day Saint apostle Dallin H. Oaks on the U.S. Constituiton. I know that the gospel is true because my Father in heaven has answered my prayers and borne witness to me by the power of the Holy Ghost. Any content or opinions expressed, implied or included in or with the material are solely those of the owner and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Music courtesy of bensound.com, Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher. Why was last week's speech on LGBTQ rights 'the most difficult' of LDS He has been an officer or member of the board of many business, educational, and charitable organizations. . The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Amen. Our tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs does not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. 3740]. In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? In all of this we should not presume to judge our neighbors or associates on the ultimate effect of their behaviors.