We are to beinthe world, but notofthe world. Today more than ever before, the blessings of the temple are avail- able to faithful Saints around the world. . 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. by Giuseppe Martinengo | Sep 11, 2019 | All Talks | 0 comments. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Living in the mission field, I often hear the name of the Lord taken in vain, and I also have acquaintances who tell me that they are living with their boyfriends. S2:E2 "Jesus Christ is the Strengt. I cannot change the past. 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. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. I close with this assurance and this testimony: The Bible teaches that one of the functions of a prophet is to be a watchman to warn Israel (see Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7). I am devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. I begin with our personal conduct, including the teaching of our children. I have spoken to you as one of those watchmen on the subject the Spirit has assigned me. Some of these intermediate judgments are surely among those the Savior referred to when he taught that the weightier matters of the law include judgment (Matthew 23:23). 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. [Moroni 7:1516]. How can I keep my covenant to stand as a witness and not offend these people?13. 11:1011). . . 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. Library General Conference Speakers Dallin H. Oaks. You do your thing, and Ill do my thing is the popular description. As we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. Her 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, is considered a landmark in discussions of homosexuality and Mormonism. The friend could read lips, but since I was discussingas I often dowith my back to the class, writing at the chalkboard and talking over my shoulder, my student had been translating for her friend, telling her what I was saying. 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. 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. bid her therefore that she help me (v. 40). How Did Freemasons Influence the Temple Ceremony? . My Savior knows what happened. Howeverand here I express asecond absolute truththis living with differences is what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do. . We all remember how a prophet reacted from a hospital bed when an operating room attendant stumbled and cursed in his presence. Divine Love in the Father's Plan. A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. Letter to Dallin H. Oaks, 14 May 1998. . 46:19. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. . BYU Studies sponsors FromtheDesk.org as part of its mission to publish scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The frank rebuttal to partisanship in President Dallin H. Oaks' recent talk on the U.S. Constitution has been driving conversation since he gave it on April 4 in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. May we grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I testify, as our Redeemer, our Creator, and our Savior. Please! Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. We should be strong in keeping the commandments and our covenants, and we should repent and improve when we fall short. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. A loving Heavenly Father gives us those feelings to impel us to help His children. I have chosen to heal myself and pass on to my children what I have learned. If you're aware of any talks available online that aren't listed here, please let me know. We frequently update our Latter-day Saint history content related to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the Book of Mormon, and Come Follow Me 2023. May God bless us that we may have that love and that we may show it in refraining from making final judgments of our fellowman. 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. Provo, Utah 84602. 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. 218 University Press Building A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. Remember that God loves His children and will surely do what is best for each of us. What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. 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. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. to judge the world; if it were, we would ruin everything. His creations witness His existence, and His servants hear and proclaim His voice. . Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. I do not need to destroy myself with anger and hate. We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. They should always remember the Saviors teaching that we bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us] (Matthew 5:44). Did you enjoy these Dallin H. Oaks quotes? Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team to help you come unto Christ. The most fundamental principle is contained in the Saviors commandment that we judge not unrighteously . What does this scripture mean for our day and how can it be applied by Latter-day Saints? For example, even though religious beliefs are behind many criminal laws, and some family laws, such laws have a long-standing history of appropriateness in democratic societies. judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord (Mormon 8:20). . . All of this is part of Gods work for His children., Jesus Christ is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world(John 1:9). . The talk was timely, according to political and legal sources, because while politicians, pundits and social media . Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. 4. Wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Amen. October 2022. 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? Along with the ascendancy of moral relativism, the United States is experiencing a disturbing reduction in overall public esteem for religion. Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. . . [The Journey to Healing,Ensign,September 1997, p. 19]. : but judge righteous judgment (JST, Matthew 7:12; see also John 7:24, Alma 41:14). Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. . God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good, and more Church members should recognize and support the good done by others. Tony & Tacky: Campus Confidential, Taste,The Wall Street Journal,5 July 2002, W11. He can make the judgments and the punishments. The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse by John Gottman. 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? President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. 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. After the class, one of them came to me and apologized that she hadnt explained to me before class that her friend was deaf. 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? 2022. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. We should not add to the extremism that divides our society. 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. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. . What Was Brigham Youngs Swift Pony Express? . Believers can be less cautious in seeking government action that would serve principles broader than merely facilitating the practice of their beliefs, such as laws concerning public health, safety, and morals. . 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. 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. . Similarly, with our children and others we have a duty to teachsuch as in our Church callingsour duty to truth is paramount. Login . We Latter-day Saints are sometimes accused of being self-righteous and intolerant of others, especially where we are in the majority or where others are in the majority and our beliefs cause us to oppose them. 15. 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). President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, broadcast from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Oct. 2, 2021. . Some say that attending church meetings is not helping them. . King Benjamin taught: Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. We make better choices and decisions if we look at the alternatives and ponder where they will lead. . Shocking reports of large-scale thievery and lying in civilized societies in the last two months suggest a moral vacuum in which many have little sense of right and wrong. He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. 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. 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. I will say no more about the tolerance or intolerance of nonbelievers. . The worlds way is to judge competitively between winners and losers. First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. The opposite of joy is misery. The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. This is not a call for doctrinal compromises, President Oaks said. 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. A Relief Society worker visiting a sister in her ward asked whether the womans married children ever visited her. The Book of Mormon tells of the resurrected Lord visiting some of the people of the Americas. I love that truth that although I need to evaluate situations . President Dallin H. Oaks speaks at the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 1-2, 2022.President . 5. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong,yoube the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone.14. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. He talked about "good, better and best " choices. 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. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency delivers the 2021 Joseph Smith Lecture in the Dome Room of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia on Nov. 12, 2021. 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). First: Truth. In fact, one of her children visited her at least daily, and all of them helped her in many ways. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming. 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. There is no middle ground.