He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. A Relief Society worker visiting a sister in her ward asked whether the womans married children ever visited her. President Dallin H. Oaks stated, "The Lord is all powerful. 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. 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. . 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. . In the intermediate judgments we must make, we should take care to judge righteously. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil. bid her therefore that she help me. The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. . . Top 26 Quotes from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Top 41 Best Quotes from Daring Greatly by Bren Brown. . Often the command to forgive (see D&C 64:10) seems almost more than one can bear, but this eternal principle can bring lasting peace. . Because of a short-term memory loss, this elderly sister innocently answered no. So far as possible, we should judge circumstances rather than people. 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.. In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Profanity consistently used in our presence is an appropriate cause for us to communicate the fact that this is offensive to us. Several times during the hour, I was tempted to ask them to take their conversation outside if they felt it was so urgentbut fortunately something kept me from giving vent to my feelings. Dallin H. Oaks. Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. We must stand up for truth, even while we practice tolerance and respect for beliefs and ideas different from our own and for the people who hold them. The following is a summary of what he said. , not according to what they have not, but according to what they have, those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law. I will leave it in his hands. . I am waiting further evidence. They should cultivate loving family relationships so that family members will want to ask them for blessings. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. . I am a survivor of childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. BYU Speeches
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. After the crowd who intended to stone her had departed, Jesus asked her about her accusers: Hath no man condemned thee? (John 8:10). There are important restraints upon our intermediate judgments, but the presumption of innocence is not one of them. This greater exposure to diversity both enriches our lives and complicates them. The Book of Mormon teaches: For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain . He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. As a student of the scriptures and as a former judge, I have had a special interest in the many scriptures that refer to judging. We can speak of principles rather than personalities.17. As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. When I was a young adult, about sixty years ago, it was only in books and magazines that most Americans were exposed to great differences in cultures, values, and peoples. . 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. Divine Love in the Father's Plan. You whom I address shun evil and seek truth. In such circumstances we do the best we can, relying ultimately on the teaching in modern scripture that we should put our trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do goodyea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously (D&C 11:12). deaton funeral home, red bay, al obituaries. President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. As believers, we must always speak with love and show patience, understanding, and compassion toward our adversaries. 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. 5. . But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. A recentEnsignarticle by an anonymous victim of childhood sexual abuse illustrates the contrast between judging situations and judging persons. Many good, religious-minded . 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. do not doubt the overriding importance of listening to the Lord,[but]does the listening have to be done during dinner preparations? 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. And may we grow in the capacity to live his gospel, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. You cannot possess or use the coin of tolerance without being conscious of both sides. Once an accepted part of American life, religion is now suspect in the minds of many. Because He loves us, He challenges us to focus on Him instead of the things of this mortal world. 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. Standing in the midst of a multitude, he stretched forth his hand and said: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. . 4. We have a right to our preferences, our likes and dislikes, our impressions, our opinions, but we should withhold final judgmentas an honest unprejudiced juryman keeps his verdict in suspense until he has heard and tested all of the evidence. The change has come from inside memy attitude. October 2021. Tolerance requires a similar refraining in our judgment of others. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world (3 Ne. The New York Times, Wikipedia, Patheos, USA Today, NPR, Church News, LDS Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, Heavy, Slate, and more. [Luke 10:4042]. 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. Today I will speak about gospel judging. as the daylight is from the dark night. Alwi Shihab, Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding, BYU forum address, 10 October 2006); http://speeches-dev.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=11324. During his mortal ministry the Savior made and acted upon many intermediate judgments, such as when he told the Samaritan woman of her sinful life (see John 4:1719); when he rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy (see Matthew 15:19, 23:133); and when he commented on the comparative merit of the rich mens offerings and the widows mites (see Mark 12:4144). Now we experience such differences in television and the Internet, through travel, and often in personal interactions in our neighborhoods and the marketplace. As the Book of Mormon teaches: All things which are good cometh of God. [vv. Having discussed the balancing of truth and tolerance in our personal behavior and in our relations with associates, I come to a different and more difficult circumstance. Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. . What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. How Did Freemasons Influence the Temple Ceremony? The Law of Timing (#19) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Top 40 Quotes from The Coddling of the American Mind, Best 70 Quotes from Beyond Order by Jordan Peterson, The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: Videos and 10 Great Quotes. My Savior knows what happened. Let us be involved in good community causes. By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. June: Carol Lynn Pearson's estranged gay husband returns to live with her and their children after being diagnosed with AIDS, and she cares for him until his death. That is why we have commandments and ordinances. All rights reserved. . The worlds way is to judge competitively between winners and losers. There is one qualification to this principle that we should not judge people without an adequate knowledge of the facts. Yet we dare to judge our fellow man by single acts and words, misleading glimpses, and deceptive moments of special strain. The guilty parties were not hard to spot because they continued whispering all through the class. [Mosiah 26:29, 32]. I have spoken to you as one of those watchmen on the subject the Spirit has assigned me. 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. Similarly, in modern revelation the Lord appointed the bishop to be a judge in Israel to judge over property and transgressions (D&C 58:17, 107:72). May 3: Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. The most fundamental principle is contained in the Saviors commandment that we judge not unrighteously . : but judge righteous judgment (JST, Matthew 7:12; see also John 7:24, Alma 41:14). The scriptures give a specific caution against judging where we cannot know all the facts. This Christmas, as with every Christmas, we focus on loving one another just as our Savior loved us. First: Truth. I testify of Jesus Christ, whose light and Spirit guides all the children of God in helping the poor and distressed throughout the world.. Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Common Misunderstandings about Brigham Young. The parents have insisted that he not smoke in their home or in front of his younger siblings. A fourth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment of a person is that we should, if possible, refrain from judging until we have adequate knowledge of the facts. Some say that attending church meetings is not helping them. Some Christians look on this as the time when individuals are assigned to heaven or hell. My dear young brothers and sisters, Kristen and I feel privileged to be with you on this significant occasion. Learn more about the Dallin H. Oaks biography, In the Hands of the Lord. As one of our Apostles observed: God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. That is athirdabsolute truth: We do not abandon the truth and our covenants. When I walk imperfectly? . . The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming. . 1. (See John 18:3738.). Purchase a 60+ page workbook which will help you read, study, and record insights from each General Conference talk from October 2022 while using the 8 learning styles. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. Whats in the Relief Society General Board Minutes? Whenever possible we should refrain from judging people until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. 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. The best known of these is Judge not, that ye be not judged (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). . Elder Dallin H. Oaks Opposition in All Things. Then he delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. November 12, 2021 at University of Virginia. The ripples in my pond will spread through future generations. Top credite nebancare. . I will speak first of the final judgment. As the Apostle Paul taught, Christians should follow after the things which make for peace (Romans 14:19) and, as much as possible, live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18). . There may be situations, there will be situations, where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. (See D&C 20:77.) Did the Kinderhook Plates Really Fool Joseph Smith? BYU Studies sponsors FromtheDesk.org as part of its mission to publish scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. . Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. He loves us, and all that He does is for our eternal benefit. He practiced law and taught law in Chicago. We frequently update our Latter-day Saint history content related to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Book of Mormon, and Come Follow Me 2023. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort. And, in all of this, we must remember the command to forgive. Priesthood Blessings. When we speak every man truth with his neighbour (Ephesians 4:25), and when we [speak] the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) as the Apostle Paul taught, we are acting as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, doing His work. We see this in the account of the woman taken in adultery. 1015]. It is well to worry about our moral foundation. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. It is important to remember that the illumination and revelation that come to an individual as a result of the gift of the Holy Ghost do not come suddenly or without seeking. 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. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family. There are many kinds of priesthood blessings. Last year, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was invited to participate in Indiana. . Trust Him." As our confidence in God goes up, our fear goes down. On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). Page last updated 30 Sep 2021. Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from some behavior that is wrong. . Our Master, whom we seek to serve, is, as the scriptures say, a God of love (2 Corinthians 13:11). A Conversation with Dallin H. Oaks, President of Brigham Young University Ensign. I dont need to entertain thoughts of revenge. April 1985, Sunday afternoon session. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.15. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team to help you come unto Christ. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I seek to help you make right choices in a world that is increasingly polarized between belief and disbelief, between good and evil. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given. Elder Dallin H Oaks; sacrifice; sanity; self care; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; widow; March 2023 (1) February 2023 (2) This is beyond what Latter-day Saints do in callings, in member-to-member service and individually with innumerable charitable organizations. April 2022. BachArranged by: Michel Rondeau (trumpet)Performers: Marthe Jobidon (trumpets), Eric Vaillancourt . President Oaks General Conference Talks (, President Dallin H. OaksPicture Quotes (, Read 9 President Oaks Quotes from the Past Year (. . Do not be deceived; behind that faade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. 7. Some time ago I attended an adult Sunday School class in a small town in Utah. Modern revelation teaches that some have the gift to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, . 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. . I am responsible for my actions and what I do with my knowledge. . On Sabbath observance, Latter-day Saints know that we are taught to observe the Sabbath day in a different way than many other Christians. As a student of the scriptures and as a former judge, I have had a special interest in the many scriptures that refer to judging. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. If a person you have trusted with your property has been indicted for embezzlement, would you continue to leave him in charge of your life savings? , I do not need to condemn or judge my abusers nor be part of the punishment. The following is a summary of what he said. . This is that future occasion in which all of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged according to our works (see 1 Nephi 15:33, 3 Nephi 27:15, Mormon 3:20, D&C 19:3). Collection: Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer, BYU Speeches
I left last weekend's LDS General Conference inspired and uplifted. In honor of his 90th birthday, President Oaks shares 12 lessons learned through the decades, President Oaks calls on young adults to stand fast with love in proclaiming truth, Offering a historic address in Rome, Italy, President Oaks calls for a global effort to defend and advance religious freedom, Why does religious liberty matter? Because of Gods plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be cleansed by the process of repentance. When we seek the truth about religion, we should use spiritual methods appropriate for that search. This is the age of snap judgments. Your email address will not be published. . There was a conference talk by Elder Dallin H Oaks a few years back about making good choices. Each of us is part of a great family, the human family, sons and daughters of God, and therefore brothers and sisters. And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance. I have chosen to speak about truth because teachers in schools, colleges, and universities are teaching and practicing relative morality. . . Like many scriptures, this commandment has multiple meanings. [Mosiah 4:1718, 22]. We may not live by bread alone, but Ive never known anyone to live without it. [Teachings,p. 218]. When we do thisand there is great temptation to do sowe hurt ourselves and the person we pretend to judge. And whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people. A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. Let us be good neighbors, kind and generous and gracious. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. October 2022. In our eternal journey, the resurrection is the mighty milepost that signifies the end of mortality and the beginning of immortality. We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. 3740]. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). Introductory Message. We can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: 1. I am very t`hankful that it is not our province . Thus, the Lord said to Alma: Whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also. 46:19. There is no middle ground. It is forever associated with the Twin Towers. . God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good, and more Church members should recognize and support the good done by others. He talked about "good, better and best " choices. . 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. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort. This inspired caution reminds us that for persons who believe in absolute truth, tolerance for behavior is like a two-sided coin. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. It will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. I wonder if persons who cannot handle an honest mistake without abusing the actor can stand up to having their own mistakes judged by so severe a standard. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. One judges a painting by the full view of the whole canvas; separate isolated square inches of colour are meaningless. In earlier times the Savior had declared, I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey Gods commandments in a succession of right choices. 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. . 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. 9. The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, but to realize that wonderful blessing we must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit. Since mortals cannot suppose that they will be acting as final judges at that future, sacred time, why did the Savior command that we not judge final judgments? 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. We need to find ways to learn from one another and to reinforce the common commitments that hold us together and promote stable pluralistic societies.. I am listing below all President Dallin H. Oaks talks, not just those that he gave when he was as a General Authority of the Church, but also those given by him before, with the links to the text, video, or audio available. In modern revelation He declared: Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come (D&C 93:24). Beware of the wordtolerance. Another such circumstance was described in anEnsignarticle by BYU professor Arthur R. Bassett: I was troubled when one person whispered to another all through the opening prayer. Thomas S. Monson, inCR,April 2008, 66; or Examples of Righteousness,Ensign,May 2008, 65; emphasis in original.