We call this quality of life spirituality. The talk was timely, according to political and legal sources, because while politicians, pundits and social media . Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. This time he was definitely speaking to the Church. 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. . Some influential voices even question the extent to which our constitution should protect the free exercise of religion, including the right to practice and preach religious principles. Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. To help us develop the godly attributes and the change in nature necessary to realize our divine potential, the Lord has revealed doctrine and established commandments based on eternal law. 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. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. A standard can be unrighteous because it is too harshthe consequences are too severe for the gravity of the wrong and the needs of the wrongdoer. As a Apostle with a unique legal background Elder Oaks has on occasion spoken both for the Church and to the Church. If a particular person has been arrested for child sexual abuse and is free on bail awaiting trial on his guilt or innocence, will you trust him to tend your children while you take a weekend trip? By Church Newsroom and The Daily Universe. And furthermore, what about the value of our work in the world? We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey Gods commandments in a succession of right choices. On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Recently, the Church of Jesus Christ reported for the first time the extent of its humanitarian work worldwide; 2021 expenditures for those in need in 188 countries totaled $906 million, with members also volunteering over 6 million hours of labor. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure.2, The existence and nature of truth is one of the fundamental questions of mortal life. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. October 2021. In doing so we stand with angels. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. 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. I believe this commandment was given because we presume to make final judgments whenever we proclaim that any particular person is going to hell (or to heaven) for a particular act or as of a particular time. Elder Dallin H. Oaks speaks on Sunday, April 3, 2022, during The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Annual General Conference at the church Conference Center in Salt Lake City. 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. Many good, religious-minded . 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. . 50 of The Best Talks of All Times From The General Conference of First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ Calls 164 New Mission Leaders 95 Best Quotes From The Laws of Human Nature, Top 45 Best Quotes from Grit by Angela Lee Duckworth, 34 Best Quotes From Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Top 30 Quotes From Start With Why by Simon Sinek. We see this in the account of the woman taken in adultery. 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. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. That is why we have commandments and ordinances. I will leave it in his hands. Forgiveness is a companion principle to the commandment that in final judgments we judge not and in intermediate judgments we judge righteously. . But where believers are in the majority, they should always be sensitive to the views of the minority. I just reread it and appreciate the good counsel he gave. Some say, I didnt learn anything today or No one was friendly to me or I was offended. Personal disappointments should never keep us from the doctrine of Christ, who taught us to serve, not to be served. S2:E2 "Jesus Christ is the Strengt. Iassure you that my message is true. [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. [We need]the courage to say, I dont know. As we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. . 11819]. So it was that, at the conclusion of His ministry, Jesus prayed to the Father, Not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (John 17:15). 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? . The most fundamental principle is contained in the Saviors commandment that we judge not unrighteously . 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. 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. There is a doctrine underlying the subject of gospel judging. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. . 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. Guided by heaven in this righteous cause, our words will be sweet and find place in the hearts of many. . . . You whom I address shun evil and seek truth. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. But diversities in cultures and values also challenge us to identify what can be embraced as consistent with our gospel culture and values and what cannot. His or her total concentration will be on the needs of the sheepthe good of the students. 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. . Dallin H. Oaks. Second Annual Sacramento Court/Clergy Conference. In contrast to forbidding mortals to make final judgments, the scriptures require mortals to make what I will call intermediate judgments. These judgments are essential to the exercise of personal moral agency. We would even apply the wrong standards. (See John 18:3738.). Dallin H. Oaks was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this CES devotional address was given on 11 September 2011. Here I remember a conversation with an LDS newspaperwoman who described what happened when she reported that the Prophet Joseph Smith received the golden plates in 1826a mistake of one year from the actual date of 1827. From time to time some diligent defenders deny this reality, such as the writer of a letter to the editor who insisted that certain publicly reported conduct should be ignored because in this country you are innocent until you are proven guilty. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law is a vital rule to guide the conduct of a criminal trial, but it is not a valid restraint on personal decisions. 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 . Tolerance, or respect, is on one side of the coin, but truth is always on the other. You cannot possess or use the coin of tolerance without being conscious of both sides. Her 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, is considered a landmark in discussions of homosexuality and Mormonism. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. As the Book of Mormon teaches: All things which are good cometh of God. I begin with our personal conduct, including the teaching of our children. In a time when sovereign power was universally assumed to come from the divine right of kings or from military power, attributing sovereign power to the people was revolutionary. As Latter-day Saints use the words saved and salvation, there are at least six different meanings. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. See Riots in Britain: Anarchy in the UK, Leaders,The Economist,400, no. 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. 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.. . 320.). That is why we make covenants. We can set and act upon high standards for ourselves or our homes without condemning those who do otherwise. President Oaks gives a powerful talk about service, and all of the amazing good works going on around the world. Introductory Message. In this context the wordcondemnapparently refers to the final judgment (see John 3:17). 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. Many religious leaders teach the existence of God as the Ultimate Lawgiver, by whose action certain behavior is absolutely right and true and certain other behavior is absolutely wrong and untrue.6Bible and Book of Mormon prophets foresaw this time, when men would be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4) and, indeed, when men would deny God (see Jude 1:4; 2 Nephi 28:5; Moroni 7:17; D&C 29:22). About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful. From our love of God and our fellowmen, we acquire our desire to share that great gift with everyone. 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. Some say that attending church meetings is not helping them. We meet on 9/11, the tenth anniversary of an event that has profoundly influenced our lives and thinking and will do so for many years to come. Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. Dallin H. Oaks was a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside address was given at BYU on 1 March 1998. Top 26 Quotes from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Top 41 Best Quotes from Daring Greatly by Bren Brown. As John Adams declared: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. Whats in the Relief Society General Board Minutes? 7. 21 Oct 1975 . . Fourth,believers should not shrink from seeking laws to maintain public conditions or policies that assist them in practicing the requirements of their faith where those conditions or policies are also favorable to the public health, safety, or morals. Today more than ever before, the blessings of the temple are avail- able to faithful Saints around the world. May we have his love. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another persons service: Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l These subjects were not chosen because they are uniquely your concern as young adults, like the dating, hanging out, and marriage I described to this audience some years ago. In another essay, William George Jordan wrote: There is but one quality necessary for the perfect understanding of character, one quality that, if[a]man have it, he maydare to judgethat is, omniscience. BYU Studies sponsors FromtheDesk.org as part of its mission to publish scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a world where more and more persons of influence are teaching and acting out a belief that there is no absolute right and wrong, that all authority and all rules of behavior are man-made choices that can prevail over the commandments of God. The Savior also commanded individuals to be judges, both of circumstances and of other people. Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. 8, 11). What do you do?. He knows of our anguish, and He is there for us. But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God. Stephen L. Carter,The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion(New York: BasicBooks, 1993), 225. Dallin H. Oaks discusses the parable of the sower and warns of attitudes that prevent the word of God from growing in our hearts and bearing "fruit." Video Collections; Broadcast and Live Event Recordings; General Conference; April 2015; Saturday Morning Session April 2015; He practiced law and taught law in Chicago. As part of this, we will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faiths, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. Check out our dallin h oaks selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. 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). The article begins with heart-wrenching words and with true statements of eternal principles. Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. 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. . Would it have hurt Mary to have joined us in serving, then we all could have sat down to hear the Lord together? 14. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. 6. Elder Oaks is a graduate of Brigham Young University (1954) and of The University of Chicago Law School (1957). How Did Freemasons Influence the Temple Ceremony? Today we're diving into "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks. The following is a summary of what he said. In the quiet heart is hidden I am loyal to the chosen servants of the Lord, whom I sustain with all my heart. . 11:1011). . We may not live by bread alone, but Ive never known anyone to live without it. Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. May we grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I testify, as our Redeemer, our Creator, and our Savior. Sometimes it even takes a tragedy to teach us that there's more to our lives than what's going on . Helping the Poor and Distressed. 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. 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. It is not a sermon. 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? For example, it is one thing to ignore serious sins when they are private; it is quite another thing to be asked to sponsor or impliedly endorse them, such as by housing them in our own homes. . 46:19. How can I keep my covenant to stand as a witness and not offend these people?13. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: 1. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Law of E. F. Hutton (#5). By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. Profanity consistently used in our presence is an appropriate cause for us to communicate the fact that this is offensive to us. The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion. Search for people biographies, memoirs and profession matching the query: Dallin H. Oaks. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil. 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. For example, I know of an LDS family with an older teenage son who has become addicted to smoking. While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us. Because of His atoning experience in mortality, our Savior is able to comfort, heal, and strengthen all men and women everywhere, but I believe He does so only for those who seek Him and ask for His help. Then, to other believers, we might express appreciation for the fact that we share common ground on what is most vital because each of us believes in God and in the existence of absolute truth, even though we differ in our definitions of these fundamentals. That's amazing. 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. I have spoken to you as one of those watchmen on the subject the Spirit has assigned me. Talks by Dallin H. Oaks. The New York Times, Wikipedia, Patheos, USA Today, NPR, Church News, LDS Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, Heavy, Slate, and more. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . When He faced the woman taken in adultery, Jesus spoke the comforting words of tolerance: Neither do I condemn thee. Then, as He sent her away, He spoke the commanding words of truth: Go, and sin no more (John 8:11). I am responsible for my actions and what I do with my knowledge. And in those intermediate judgments we are responsible to make, may we judge righteously and with love. . Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. I am convinced that these seemingly contradictory directions are consistent when we view them with the perspective of eternity. Professor Parry observed: Quite literally, they were measured by their own standards and found wanting. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. The philosophy of moral relativism, which holds that each person is free to choose for himself what is right and wrong, is becoming the unofficial creed for many in America and other Western nations. November 12, 2021 at University of Virginia. Why, oh, why couldnt the Lord have said, Youre absolutely right, Martha. . As young adults, you may wonder why I am speaking to you about the principles we should follow when we seek government action, such as by the legislature. Yet we dare to judge our fellow man by single acts and words, misleading glimpses, and deceptive moments of special strain. . Come, Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. 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. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort., With partners worldwide, the Church shares the common goal of relieving suffering.