I will leave it in his hands. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. On another occasion he said, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). What do you do?. . . The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. 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. . Eric Rassbach, quoted in William McGurn, Religion and the Cult of Tolerance,The Wall Street Journal,16 August 2011, A11. When believers enter the public square to try to influence the making or the administration of laws motivated by their beliefs, they should apply some different principles. 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). 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. A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. 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. Sometimes it even takes a tragedy to teach us that there's more to our lives than what's going on . Last year, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was invited to participate in Indiana. [Matthew 11:2830]. This is that future occasion in which all of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be judged according to our works (see 1 Nephi 15:33, 3 Nephi 27:15, Mormon 3:20, D&C 19:3). She died July 21, 1998. Even half-conscious, Elder [Spencer W.] Kimball recoiled and implored: Please!
Dallin H. Oaks - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Temple Experience: Passage to Healing and Holiness Conference talk by President Oaks cheers Latter-day Saints backing April 1985, Sunday afternoon session. I am responsible for my actions and what I do with my knowledge. 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. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort.
Oaks 'clarifies' LDS doctrine on LGBTQ-related issues . . Through the prophet Moses the Lord commanded Israel, Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour (Leviticus 19:15). On August 25, 2000, he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple. President Oaks shared four suggestions for shouldering religious freedom: (1) recognize that all need each other and are subject to law, (2) urge religious tolerance, (3) let the world know the good that religion does and (4) unite and find common ground to defend and promote religious liberty. In all of this we should not presume to judge our neighbors or associates on the ultimate effect of their behaviors. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. President Oaks asks BYU: How are we measuring up to President Kimballs 1975 call to be unique, special? . . For reasons we do not understand, we have different challenges in our mortal experiences. Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. 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. 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 believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. Did the Kinderhook Plates Really Fool Joseph Smith? November 04, 2022. . Whenever possible we should refrain from judging people until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. 2730; emphasis in original]. The theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family. What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? 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. . Your email address will not be published. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. This greater exposure to diversity both enriches our lives and complicates them. Who am I to judge another? . [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. . Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. 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. Second Annual Sacramento Court/Clergy Conference. For example, I know of an LDS family with an older teenage son who has become addicted to smoking. I am devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. 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.. There was a conference talk by Elder Dallin H Oaks a few years back about making good choices. (Church Newsroom), New BYU opera professor performs as featured soloist for Tabernacle Choir, Orchestras summer concert, Video of the Day: West Virginia city adopts stray cat as mascot, Gov. Subscribe To Our Newsletter. Thus, we must refrain from making final judgments on people, because we lack the knowledge and the wisdom to do so. crucified for the sins of the world, and that it is given to others to believe on their words (D&C 46:13, 14). In this teaching Brigham Young was, typically, merely elaborating on a teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, who said: While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a BYU devotional address, Professor Catherine Corman Parry gave a memorable scriptural illustration of the consequences of judging by the wrong standards. . One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l Her 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, is considered a landmark in discussions of homosexuality and Mormonism. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . Our Savior applied this principle. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. 9. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, center, and his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, second from right, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, right, arrive for the women's session of the 192nd Annual General Conference in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on . I leave all that to the Lord. No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. We should be ruled by the demands of truth. The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Tolerance is defined as a friendly and fair attitude toward unfamiliar opinions and practices or toward the persons who hold or practice them. Surely Latter-day Saints do need to be more wise and skillful in explaining and pursuing our views and in exercising our influence when we have it. see other collected talk by Church Leaders, from the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 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, Going Forward with Religious Freedom and Nondiscrimination, Elder Dallin H. Oaks at BYU: Racism and Other Challenges | Giuseppe Martinengo, President Oaks: avoid being unduly influenced by extreme voices | Giuseppe Martinengo, President Oaks Tells Students in Rome Why Religious Freedom Matters | Giuseppe Martinengo, Top 25 Best Quotes From Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. The article begins with heart-wrenching words and with true statements of eternal principles. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. 8746 (1319 August 2011): 14; Patrik Jonsson, Is the US a Nation of Liars? US News,The Christian Science Monitor,103, no. As I have observed the judgments of presidents of the Church in matters of Church discipline, I have marveled at the care they have exercised to assure that justice is balanced with mercy, with loving concern for the consequences to innocent family membersborn and unbornas well as to the transgressors themselves. I cannot change the past. I testify of Jesus Christ, whose light and Spirit guides all the children of God in helping the poor and distressed throughout the world.. We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. 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. Now we experience such differences in television and the Internet, through travel, and often in personal interactions in our neighborhoods and the marketplace. 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. It really is the answer. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. In this troubled circumstance, we who believe in God and the corollary truth of absolute right and wrong have the challenge of living in a godless and increasingly amoral world. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not attempt to isolate its members from alternate voices. 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. The protection promised to the faithful servants of God is a reality today as it was in Bible times. Giving to those in need the poor and distressed is a principle in all Abrahamic religions, and in others as well. Alwi Shihab, Building Bridges to Harmony Through Understanding, BYU forum address, 10 October 2006); http://speeches-dev.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=11324. 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). Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. Like many scriptures, this commandment has multiple meanings. Provo, Utah 84602, Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee: Judgment and Condemnation in the Parables of Jesus. By Church Newsroom and The Daily Universe. 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. While there are many things we must make judgments about, the sins of another or the state of our own souls in comparison to others seems not to be among them. Today we're diving into "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks. You cannot possess or use the coin of tolerance without being conscious of both sides. Russell M. Nelson Dallin H. Oaks Henry B. Eyring Also implicated due to his historic position as Presiding Bishop is Gary E. Stevenson. . 7. Once an accepted part of American life, religion is now suspect in the minds of many. Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. I am convinced that these seemingly contradictory directions are consistent when we view them with the perspective of eternity. . , I do not need to condemn or judge my abusers nor be part of the punishment.
Dallin H. Oaks Talks and Quotes - FromtheDesk.org 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. See, for example,John Paul II: The Encyclicals in Everyday Language,3rd ed., ed. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost comes a little at a time as you merit it. BYU Studies sponsors FromtheDesk.org as part of its mission to publish scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 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? 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? We are to beinthe world, but notofthe world. 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. Lord, I would follow thee. [Luke 10:4042]. 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. 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 Helping the Poor and Distressed. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. Misery is the ultimate state of disharmony with God and his laws. 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. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: 1. [vv.
Divine Love in the Father's Plan (Dallin H. Oaks talk) Part 2 Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice. 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. 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. 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. November 12, 2021 at University of Virginia. Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. 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. I am listing below all President Dallin H. Oaks talks, not just those that he gave when he was as a General Authority of the Church, but also those given by him before, with the links to the text, video, or audio available. Modern revelation teaches that some have the gift to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, . First: Truth. 2021. . I have chosen to speak about truth because teachers in schools, colleges, and universities are teaching and practicing relative morality. President Oaks talks cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. He practiced law and taught law in Chicago. Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. 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. 220]. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given. Third,believers should not be deterred by the familiar charge that they are trying to legislate morality. Any content or opinions expressed, implied or included in or with the material are solely those of the owner and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Music courtesy of bensound.com, Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher. [John 13:3435]. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. He simply told her that he did not condemn herthat is, he would not pass final judgment on her at that time. I am speaking to an audience of Latter-day Saints who believe in God and in absolute truth.