272. 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). Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. Learn more about his general conference talks in this compilation. The STANDS4 Network . . Spirituality. I will speak first of the final judgment. a watchman upon the tower, who will [see] the enemy while he [is] yet afar off and give warning to save the vineyard from the hands of the destroyer (D&C 101:45, 54). The following is a summary of what he said. 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. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given. We do not need to judge nearly so much as we think we do. . Lord, I would follow thee. crucified for the sins of the world, and that it is given to others to believe on their words (D&C 46:13, 14). The Church Handbook of Instructions 32.0 states: . No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. . 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. Because of Gods plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be cleansed by the process of repentance. 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. I am very t`hankful that it is not our province . Conquer fear through Charity. The following is a summary of what he said. : but judge righteous judgment (JST, Matthew 7:12; see also John 7:24, Alma 41:14). . An apostle's responsibility is to be a special witness of Jesus Christ . Misery is the ultimate state of disharmony with God and his laws. 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.. During class discussion a member asked, What if you see an unworthy person partaking of the sacrament? . First,all persons are brothers and sisters under God, taught within their various religions to love and do good to one another. It was taught when a lawyer asked the Savior, Which is the great commandment in the law? (Matthew 22:36). Sorrow that the eye cant see. April 1986, Sunday morning session. The best known of these is Judge not, that ye be not judged (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). 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 . 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. 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. President Gordon B. Hinckley expressed this idea for Latter-day Saints: Each of us [from various religious denominations] believes in the fatherhood of God, although we may differ in our interpretations of Him. October 1985, Sunday morning session. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort. 13. 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. From these we magnify a mood into a character and an episode into a life. He talked about "good, better and best " choices. . The Lord acknowledges Marthas care: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things (v. 41). . 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. We call this quality of life spirituality. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful. 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. I am waiting further evidence. 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. Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family. A Conversation with Dallin H. Oaks, President of Brigham Young University Ensign. . as the daylight is from the dark night. 10. Elder Oaks is a graduate of Brigham Young University (1954) and of The University of Chicago Law School (1957). . Cox announces free period products in all state buildings, Bill to remove state food tax also removes constitutional earmark for education, Jordin Sparks kicks off first in-person RootsTech since 2020. Whats in the Relief Society General Board Minutes? There is no middle ground. 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. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). As modern transportation and communication have brought all of us into closer proximity to different peoples and different ideas, we have greater need for tolerance. Beyond that, we should remember the Saviors teaching that we should avoid contention (see 3 Nephi 11:2930) and that our example and our preaching should be the warning voice, every man to his neighbor, in mildness and in meekness (D&C 38:41). The change has come from inside memy attitude. In this context the wordcondemnapparently refers to the final judgment (see John 3:17). BYU Speeches
Sign up to receive free emails each time we publish new content, like Russell M. Nelson quotes and links to Brad Wilcox talks. What he did say is difficult to bear, but perhaps somewhat less difficult if we examine its context. His or her total concentration will be on the needs of the sheepthe good of the students. The opposite of joy is misery. In this way diversity increases the potential for conflict and requires us to be more thoughtful about the nature of tolerance. The purpose of the gospel is to transform common creatures into celestial citizens, and that requires change. 5. 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 . What Did the Founding Fathers Think about the Bible? 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. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. 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. . The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit. After the class, one of them came to me and apologized that she hadnt explained to me before class that her friend was deaf. Dallin Harris Oaks (born August 12, 1932) is an American religious leader and former jurist and academic who since 2018 has been the first counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). 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. He has been an officer or member of the board of many business, educational, and charitable organizations. 3. He loves us, and all that He does is for our eternal benefit. By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. Thomas S. Monson, inCR,April 2008, 66; or Examples of Righteousness,Ensign,May 2008, 65; emphasis in original. On another occasion he said, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. that ye do not judge . The Church gives us opportunities to serve the Lord and our fellowmen. Thus, a thoughtful LDS woman wrote me about her concern that the worlds definition of tolerance seems to be increasingly used in relation to tolerating wicked lifestyles. She asked how the Lord would define tolerance.11, President Boyd K. Packer gave an inspired introduction to this subject. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. Tony & Tacky: Campus Confidential, Taste,The Wall Street Journal,5 July 2002, W11. October 1986, Saturday afternoon session. . Talks by Dallin H. Oaks. Stephen L. Carter,The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion(New York: BasicBooks, 1993), 225. See the complete list of abbreviations here. But our obligation to truth has its own set of requirements and its own set of blessings. Is Jim Bridger Responsible for What Happened to the Donner Party? 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. Letter to Dallin H. Oaks, 14 May 1998. We can speak of principles rather than personalities.17. Perfect love casteth out fear. Unfortunately, some who believe in moral relativism seem to have difficulty tolerating those who insist that there is a God who should be respected and certain moral absolutes that should be observed. . 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. 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. Of course, teaching efforts only bear fruit through the agency of others, so they must always be done with love, patience, and persuasion. 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? do not doubt the overriding importance of listening to the Lord,[but]does the listening have to be done during dinner preparations? . . This time he was definitely speaking to the Church. If we apply unrighteous standards, our judgment will be unrighteous. . If you're aware of any talks available online that aren't listed here, please let me know. And we must all oppose violence and thievery. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. We also know that evil exists and that some things are simply, seriously, and everlastingly wrong. Modern revelation shows that our first parents understood the necessity of the Fall. 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. What can one person do to promote world peace? Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. 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; This is beyond what Latter-day Saints do in callings, in member-to-member service and individually with innumerable charitable organizations. We can acknowledge the sincerity of those whose positions we cannot accept. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 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). 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? . (See John 18:3738.). Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. In one of the monthly General Authority fast and testimony meetings, I heard President James E. Faust say, The older I get, the less judgmental I become. That wise observation gives us a standard to live by in the matter of judgments. Along with the ascendancy of moral relativism, the United States is experiencing a disturbing reduction in overall public esteem for religion. October 2021. As to less extreme behaviors, where even believers disagree on whether or not they are wrong, the nature and extent of what we should tolerate is much more difficult to define. . . What Was Brigham Youngs Swift Pony Express? The key is to understand that there are two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make; and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles. For them, almost anything goes. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. 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. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. Misery is more than unhappiness, sorrow, or suffering. One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l . But rather, a plea for unity and cooperation on strategy and advocacy toward our common goal of religious liberty for all.. A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. 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. How should we react toward and communicate with them? on Dallin H. Oaks Quotes From Every General Conference, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Angel Moroni, Come Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. Login . Josephs candor about his shortcomings is evident in the fact that one of the first revelations he recorded in writing and published to the world was a crushing rebuke he received from the Lord. In May 2013, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty awarded him the Canterbury Medal for courage in the defense of religious liberty (from the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Your email address will not be published. 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. That is a wise judgment of a situation, not a person. . The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. November 12, 2021 at University of Virginia. When practiced by those around us, it can be private behavior or something we are asked to condone, sponsor, or facilitate. But I can change the future. [vv. cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. . His creations witness His existence, and His servants hear and proclaim His voice. . Apostles have the calling and ordination to be special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world (see D&C 107:23), but the duty to witness and testify of Christ at all times and in all places applies to every member of the Church who has received the testimony of the Holy Ghost. 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. We sing: Tho the heavens depart and the earths fountains burst,Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,Eternal, unchanged, evermore.1. . The best known of these is "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). Reverent and Clean. When I walk imperfectly? The character of transgression remains the same. . 11:1011). Its approach, as counseled by the Prophet Joseph Smith, is to teach correct principles and then leave its members to govern themselves by personal choices. This wise author also treats the importance of forgiveness. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort. On August 25, 2000, he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple. . As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. And, in all of this, we must remember the command to forgive. Why, oh, why couldnt the Lord have said, Youre absolutely right, Martha. Our Savior applied this principle. 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 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. . The Savior gave this same teaching on another occasion, when he said to the Pharisees, And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47). 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. 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.. 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. We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. 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. They should cultivate loving family relationships so that family members will want to ask them for blessings. I begin with our personal conduct, including the teaching of our children. Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. . If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. 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. Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. While we must practice tolerance and respect forothers and theirbeliefs,including their constitutional freedom to explain and advocate their positions, we are not required to respect and tolerate wrongbehavior. 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. President Oaks' conference talk summary I testify of the power and blessings of the priesthood of God, available for His sons and daughters alike. 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. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. Profanity consistently used in our presence is an appropriate cause for us to communicate the fact that this is offensive to us. . Perhaps we should explain our belief that our observance of the Sabbath, including our partaking of the sacrament, restores us spiritually and makes us better people for the rest of the week. Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. Currently, he is the second most senior apostle by years of service and is . 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. We can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. As we draw farther from worldliness, we feel closer to our Father in Heaven and more able to be guided by his Spirit. Tolerance is defined as a friendly and fair attitude toward unfamiliar opinions and practices or toward the persons who hold or practice them. That approach to differences will yield tolerance and also respect. At the extreme level, evil acts that used to be localized and covered up like a boil are now legalized and paraded like a banner. , I do not need to condemn or judge my abusers nor be part of the punishment. [Mosiah 4:1718, 22]. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. We should seek the guidance of the Spirit in our decisions. Howeverand here I express asecond absolute truththis living with differences is what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do. It is forever associated with the Twin Towers. Remember that God loves His children and will surely do what is best for each of us. 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 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. . The protection promised to the faithful servants of God is a reality today as it was in Bible times. Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. As John Adams declared: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. He will be just. This is an analysis of a general conference talk given by Elder Oaks titled Opposition in All Things, where he warned against taking opposition against the church. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. 218 University Press Building
It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. November 04, 2022. . Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion. I cannot change the past. See Riots in Britain: Anarchy in the UK, Leaders,The Economist,400, no. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. 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. 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.