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. 2730; emphasis in original]. The most fundamental principle is contained in the Saviors commandment that we judge not unrighteously . 1015]. . 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. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world (3 Ne. The Book of Mormon tells of the resurrected Lord visiting some of the people of the Americas. The theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 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. This belief system can tolerate almost any behavior and almost any persons. 14. The scripture is familiar. Library General Conference Speakers Dallin H. Oaks. I will not be judged for what happened to me, but I will be judged by how I let it affect my life. As the Book of Mormon teaches: All things which are good cometh of God. On Aug. 25, 2000, he married Sister. Is Jim Bridger Responsible for What Happened to the Donner Party? Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. 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. [Mosiah 4:1718, 22]. October 2021. What does this scripture mean for our day and how can it be applied by Latter-day Saints? Learn more about the Dallin H. Oaks biography, In the Hands of the Lord. A recentEnsignarticle by an anonymous victim of childhood sexual abuse illustrates the contrast between judging situations and judging persons. 13. As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. 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. Let us consider how to apply that example to some other behaviors. The parents have insisted that he not smoke in their home or in front of his younger siblings. 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. One judges a painting by the full view of the whole canvas; separate isolated square inches of colour are meaningless. Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. In this way diversity increases the potential for conflict and requires us to be more thoughtful about the nature of tolerance. Because of Gods plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be cleansed by the process of repentance. This is the age of snap judgments. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. . 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. 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. He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah? It is significant that when we partake of the sacrament we do not witness that we take upon us the name of Jesus Christ. Let us be involved in good community causes. 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. By this means we will contribute to the civility that is essential topreserve our civilization. [We need]the courage to say, I dont know. (See John 18:3738.). Even He refrained from a final mortal judgment of the woman taken in adultery. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. Home. We all remember how a prophet reacted from a hospital bed when an operating room attendant stumbled and cursed in his presence. 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. 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). 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. 10. And whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people. Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice but a continuous commitment and way of life that applies at all times and in all places. On the broader question being widely agitated by the atheists of our day, I proclaim my knowledge that God lives! We can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. . We must, of course, make judgments every day in the exercise of our moral agency, but we must be careful that our judgments of people are intermediate and not final. What he did say is difficult to bear, but perhaps somewhat less difficult if we examine its context. Beware of the wordtolerance. See the complete list of abbreviations here. What Have Scholars Learned about Joseph Smith? . . The guilty parties were not hard to spot because they continued whispering all through the class. Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. . . First: Truth. There are many kinds of priesthood blessings. . A Relief Society worker visiting a sister in her ward asked whether the womans married children ever visited her. I no longer view myself as a victim. So far as possible, we should judge circumstances rather than people. . April 2022. What are we thinking of to let you do all this work alone? 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. BachArranged by: Michel Rondeau (trumpet)Performers: Marthe Jobidon (trumpets), Eric Vaillancourt . 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. Those of us with more of Martha than of Mary in us . 11. "Brother's Keeper". We should be strong in keeping the commandments and our covenants, and we should repent and improve when we fall short. I have been puzzled that some scriptures command us not to judge and others instruct us that we should judge and even tell us how to do it. as the daylight is from the dark night. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33). 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? I cannot change the past. . . . 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). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. Today we're diving into "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks. 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.. 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. 46:19. 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). Giving to those in need the poor and distressed is a principle in all Abrahamic religions, and in others as well. Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival. that ye do not judge . 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). 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. Talks by Dallin H. Oaks. cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. 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). Similar reasoning forbids our presuming to make final judgments on the outcome of any persons lifelong mortal contest. 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). 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. 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. Some Christians look on this as the time when individuals are assigned to heaven or hell. Cohabitation we know to be a serious sin in which Latter-day Saints must not engage, whatever the circumstances. 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. One who understands that principle will not look upon his or her calling as giving or presenting a lesson, because that definition views teaching from the standpoint of the teacher, not the student. Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. Summary of President Oaks' talk. I will speak first of the final judgment. Introductory Message. [Moroni 7:1516]. 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. Perfect love is charity. They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts. Most of us are troubled by packed shopping centers and other commercial activities on the Sabbath. The Need for a Church. Because He loves us, He challenges us to focus on Him instead of the things of this mortal world. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. . Similarly, with our children and others we have a duty to teachsuch as in our Church callingsour duty to truth is paramount. What Was Brigham Youngs Swift Pony Express? May 3: Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 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. We do not need to judge nearly so much as we think we do. 15. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team to help you come unto Christ. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. (See D&C 20:77.) [Moroni 7:1214]. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). I am very t`hankful that it is not our province . President Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was invited to speak at the Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit on July 20. The worlds way is to judge competitively between winners and losers. The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the most important sense. Last update: May 2022. A gospel teacher does not focus on himself or herself. 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. Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. 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). You whom I address shun evil and seek truth. We are to live in the world but not be of the world. judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord (Mormon 8:20). In any event, as defenders of the faith, believers can and must seek laws that will preserve religious freedom. 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. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. Thus, we must refrain from making final judgments on people, because we lack the knowledge and the wisdom to do so. Sometimes urgent circumstances require us to make preliminary judgments before we can get all of the facts we desire for our decision making. 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. I do not need to destroy myself with anger and hate. . . It is a very unstable virtue.12. Helping the Poor and Distressed. [Arthur R. Bassett, Floods, Winds, and the Gates of Hell,Ensign,June 1991, p. 8]. . 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. . Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. I used the principle of forgiveness to strengthen me.[Journey to Healing, p. 22]. Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. 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. 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. We should all be edified and strengthened by this example of speaking both tolerance and truth: kindness in the communication, but firmness in the truth. For them, almost anything goes. On another occasion he said, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). 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 Oaks teaches that God inspires many organizations and individuals to help those in need and that the Church is committed to work with others in that effort.The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort.https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/18oaks 12. 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). A Conversation with Dallin H. Oaks, President of Brigham Young University Ensign. Copyright 2017-2023 Kurt Manwaring, All Rights Reserved. Jesus answered: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Holders of the priesthood should also keep the commandments so they will have the power of the priesthood to give blessings to their family members. . The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort. 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. We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion. He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. 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 . . Wherefore, take heed . Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. But that is our role. 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. He spoke of helping the poor and distressed not just what the Church is doing but what is being done worldwide. [vv. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. October 1985, Sunday morning session. How Did Freemasons Influence the Temple Ceremony? What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? He will be just. . The Savior taught, Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven (Luke 6:37). 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. 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 . We may not live by bread alone, but Ive never known anyone to live without it. . 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. So informed, her visitor and others spoke criticisms of her children for neglecting their mother. I kept glaring at them, hoping that they would take the hint, but they didnt seem to notice. . The ripples in my pond will spread through future generations. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. It is forever associated with the Twin Towers. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. by Giuseppe Martinengo | Sep 11, 2019 | All Talks | 0 comments. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. Amen. A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. Includes a page for each General Conference talk with reflection questions, a place for notes, and a learning style study idea (unique for each talk). 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.. 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. I have found that observance of the Sabbath is almost obsolete. Also see, GamblingMorally Wrong and Politically Unwise (, Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church, Loving Others and Living with Differences, Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution, Prophetic Announcements of Christs Birth, Stand Fast with Love in Proclaiming Truth, Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination. Login . We must also stand shoulder to shoulder with other believers to preserve and strengthen the freedom to advocate and practice our religious beliefs, whatever they are. Priesthood Blessings. He has an eye trained for the imperfections, the weaknesses. My Savior knows what happened. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort. Our Savior applied this principle. That is a wise judgment of a situation, not a person. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. 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. President Oaks address can be read on the Church Newsroom website. Christian believers are under command to love their neighbors (see Luke 10:27), to forgive (see Matthew 18:2135), and to do good to those who despitefully use them (see Matthew 5:44). Iassure you that my message is true. He holds the reins of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of men . . Page last updated 30 Sep 2021. President [Harold B.] Please now consider the following sections of the Church Handbook of Instructions. The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. Today and tomorrow would need to include two talks per day, then after that read one talk per day. He and his late wife, June Dixon Oaks, are the parents of six children. . We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. bid her therefore that she help me. 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). 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. 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. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. In other words, are we responsible to look after the well-being of our neighbors as we seek to earn our daily bread? Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke in the October 2014 General Conference. What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. As Latter-day Saints use the words saved and salvation, there are at least six different meanings. 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? 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. . Professor Parry observed: Quite literally, they were measured by their own standards and found wanting. . President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. . We should be ruled by the demands of truth. We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. For example, I know of an LDS family with an older teenage son who has become addicted to smoking. I just reread it and appreciate the good counsel he gave. Joseph G. Donders (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2005), 21013; Harold Kushner,Who Needs God(New York: Summit, 1989), 8384. leflore county warrant search; 2 3 of israel will be destroyed kjv; the cokeville miracle debunked 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. fatal car accident knoxville tn today young and the restless recap today It is too vast, too arduous, for any one people. As members of the restored Church, we need to be more aware and more appreciative of the service of others.Quote #2: Modern revelation teaches that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. By this, all the children of God are enlightened to serve Him and one another to the best of their knowledge and ability.