3. Would it have hurt Mary to have joined us in serving, then we all could have sat down to hear the Lord together? 10. By this, all the children of God are enlightened to serve Him and one another to the best of their knowledge and ability.. that which is good and of God to be of the devil. We should be strong in keeping the commandments and our covenants, and we should repent and improve when we fall short. If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. You whom I address shun evil and seek truth. 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. He can make the judgments and the punishments. 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. Provo, Utah 84602, Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee: Judgment and Condemnation in the Parables of Jesus. The fundamental scripture on the whole subject of not judging contains this warning: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again (Matthew 7:2; see also 3 Nephi 14:2). Last update: May 2022. We Are All Engaged in the Work of Bringing Others to Christ 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. Legal experts see 'sense of urgency' in LDS leader Dallin Oaks' talk on 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. This philosophy of moral relativism denies what millions of believing Christians, Jews, and Muslims consider fundamental, and this denial creates serious problems for all of us. President Oaks' conference talk summary These include covenants and ordinances and repentance when our choices are wrong. . Today I will speak about gospel judging. 35 (25 July 2011): 2021; csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2011/0719/Is-US-a-nation-of-liars-Casey-Anthony-isn-t-the-only-one. He is the way and He is the light because His teachings light our path in mortal life and show us the way back to the Father. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. The scriptures not only command or contemplate that we will make intermediate judgments, but they also give us some guidancesome governing principlesin how to do so. Satan says we are not. We are to beinthe world, but notofthe world. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. President Oaks asks BYU: How are we measuring up to President Kimballs 1975 call to be unique, special? He will be just. Elder Dallin H. Oaks Opposition in All Things There is one qualification to this principle that we should not judge people without an adequate knowledge of the facts. What are we thinking of to let you do all this work alone? October 2022 General Conference Recap - Saturday Morning Session May we grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I testify, as our Redeemer, our Creator, and our Savior. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Provo, Utah 84602. 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. . 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. 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 change has come from inside memy attitude. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. The scriptures give a specific caution against judging where we cannot know all the facts. Come, Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. I left last weekend's LDS General Conference inspired and uplifted. 2021. 12. What is tolerance, when does it apply, and when does it not apply? Alwi Shihab, Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding, BYU forum address, 10 October 2006); http://speeches-dev.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=11324. [JD19:78]. On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). There may be situations, there will be situations, where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. 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. 91, 93). . We would even apply the wrong standards. This time he was definitely speaking to the Church. They are directions away from pitfalls, and they are invitations to blessings. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. Lord, I would follow thee. 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). Content licensed under CC BY 4.0 unless otherwise noted. The Law of The Big Mo (#16) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Coronavirus: la Chiesa di Ges Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni Sta Aiutando Top 40 Best Quotes from The Gift of Imperfection by Bren Brown. . Perfect love is charity. But I can change the future. President Oaks address can be read on the Church Newsroom website. . 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? . 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 Lords way of final judgment will be to apply his perfect knowledge of the law a person has received and to judge on the basis of that persons circumstances, motives, and actions throughout his or her entire life (see Luke 12:4748, John 15:22, 2 Nephi 9:25). . 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. This belief system can tolerate almost any behavior and almost any persons. Forgiveness is a companion principle to the commandment that in final judgments we judge not and in intermediate judgments we judge righteously. 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. . . We can speak of principles rather than personalities.17. 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. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost comes a little at a time as you merit it. 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. 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. Then, even as the parents take protective measures pertaining to a regrettable situation, they need to maintain loving relations and encourage improved conduct by the precious person. 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). On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. 3740]. It is a very unstable virtue.12. My Savior knows what happened. There is no middle ground. When we understand our relationship to God, we also understand our relationship to one another. 8746 (1319 August 2011): 14; Patrik Jonsson, Is the US a Nation of Liars? US News,The Christian Science Monitor,103, no. We make better choices and decisions if we look at the alternatives and ponder where they will lead. [Matthew 11:2830]. The Temple Experience: Passage to Healing and Holiness Elder Dallin H. Oaks Opposition in All Things. As one of our Apostles observed: God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. On Aug. 25, 2000, he married Sister. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. How should we react toward and communicate with them? Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. What Have Scholars Learned about Joseph Smith? do not doubt the overriding importance of listening to the Lord,[but]does the listening have to be done during dinner preparations? The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. The protection promised to the faithful servants of God is a reality today as it was in Bible times. Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. [Arthur R. Bassett, Floods, Winds, and the Gates of Hell,Ensign,June 1991, p. 8]. This Christmas, as with every Christmas, we focus on loving one another just as our Savior loved us. The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. October 1985, Sunday morning session. Login . This is a harder question for those who affirm the existence of God and absolute truth than for those who believe in moral relativism. Your email address will not be published. Most people study character as a proofreader pores over a great poem: his ears are dulled to the majesty and music of the lines, his eyes are darkened to the magic imagination of the genius of the author; that proofreader is busy watching for an inverted comma, a misspacing, or a wrong font letter. 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). See, for example,John Paul II: The Encyclicals in Everyday Language,3rd ed., ed. President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, opened Conference by answering the question, "What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members give . . . That's definitely what we want. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 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.. To this day I am thankful that both of us were spared the embarrassment that might have occurred had I given vent to a judgment made without knowing the facts. 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. . Similarly, with our children and others we have a duty to teachsuch as in our Church callingsour duty to truth is paramount. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. 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. 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). We can all remember our feelings when a little child cried out and reached up to us for help. 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? 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. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. Speaking to an audience of institute students three years ago, he said: The wordtolerancedoes not stand alone. She died July 21, 1998. The Four Horsemen of The Apocalypse by John Gottman. As the Book of Mormon teaches: All things which are good cometh of God. The Book of Mormon tells of the resurrected Lord visiting some of the people of the Americas. I testify of Jesus Christ, whose light and Spirit guides all the children of God in helping the poor and distressed throughout the world.. Joseph G. Donders (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2005), 21013; Harold Kushner,Who Needs God(New York: Summit, 1989), 8384. S2:E1 "Helping the Poor an. . Finally, the spirit of our balance of truth and tolerance is applied in these words of President Gordon B. Hinckley: Let us reach out to those in our community who are not of our faith. 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. . Well all help, and by the way, that centerpiece looks lovely? 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. As I face this audience of committed youngpeople, I know that some of you may be wondering why I am speaking about what is obvious to you and what, you might assume, is obvious to others. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. by Giuseppe Martinengo | Sep 11, 2019 | All Talks | 0 comments. 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). He has given 87 general conference talksincluding 18 addresses as a member of the First Presidency. I love the words in Susan Evans McClouds familiar hymn: Who am I to judge another He is a native of Provo, Utah (born . Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33). 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). I have chosen to speak about truth because teachers in schools, colleges, and universities are teaching and practicing relative morality. 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). This is a vital matter on which we who believe in a Supreme Being who has established absolute right and wrong in human behavior must unite to insist on our time-honored constitutional rights to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and in the halls of justice. They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts. . Profanity used out of our presence by nonbelievers probably would not be an occasion for us to confront the offenders. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. The Saviors Golden Rule says we are. All efforts begin with desire. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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? The best known of these is Judge not, that ye be not judged (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). 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. . 1015]. 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. Guided by heaven in this righteous cause, our words will be sweet and find place in the hearts of many. A talk a day: How to prepare for April 2023 general conference 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. [The Journey to Healing,Ensign,September 1997, p. 19]. Elder Dallin H Oaks; sacrifice; sanity; self care; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; widow; March 2023 (1) February 2023 (2) An apostle's responsibility is to be a special witness of Jesus Christ . It will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. My young brothers and sisters, we know that the existence of God and the existence of absolute truth are fundamental to life on this earth, whether they are believed or not. 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. March | 2023 | ANONYMOUS BISHOP 11:1011). 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. May we have his love. 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. I am speaking to an audience of Latter-day Saints who believe in God and in absolute truth. 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. President Oaks quotes cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. What does tolerance mean to us and to other believers, and what are our special challenges in applying it? 5. . . First,when believers in Jesus Christ take their views of truth into the public square, they must seek the inspiration of the Lord to be selective and wise in choosing which true principles they seek to promote by law or executive action. 7. I have spoken to you as one of those watchmen on the subject the Spirit has assigned me. Subscribe To Our Newsletter. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful. As President Thomas S. Monson taught us in the conference where he was sustained as our prophet: My young friends, be strong. 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. 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.. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference.

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