Russell M. Nelson Dallin H. Oaks Henry B. Eyring Also implicated due to his historic position as Presiding Bishop is Gary E. Stevenson. But I can change the future. The scripture is familiar. I believe that the scriptural command to judge not refers most clearly to this final judgment, as in the Book of Mormon declaration that man shall not . [Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee, pp. In the intermediate judgments we must make, we should take care to judge righteously. Conquer fear through Charity. 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. 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. What Have Scholars Learned about the Book of Mormon? . 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 . 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. . We are willing to receive all truth, from whatever source it may come; for truth will stand, truth will endure.2, The existence and nature of truth is one of the fundamental questions of mortal life. 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. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). 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. 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). But our obligation to truth has its own set of requirements and its own set of blessings. April 2022. Copyright 2017-2023 Kurt Manwaring, All Rights Reserved. What does tolerance mean to us and to other believers, and what are our special challenges in applying it? Top credite nebancare. Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. . That approach to differences will yield tolerance and also respect. Living in the mission field, I often hear the name of the Lord taken in vain, and I also have acquaintances who tell me that they are living with their boyfriends. 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). A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. He simply told her that he did not condemn herthat is, he would not pass final judgment on her at that time. He is a native of Provo, Utah (born in 1932). We must go, I believe, beyond tolerance if we are to achieve harmony in our world., Relying on the teachings of the Quran, Dr. Shihab continued: We must respect this God-given dignity in every human being, even in our enemies. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. Most of us are troubled by packed shopping centers and other commercial activities on the Sabbath. We should limit our judgments to our own stewardships. In this circumstance, all of usand especially you of the rising generationhave a duty to stand up and speak up to affirm that God exists and that there are absolute truths His commandments establish. 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. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The woman taken in adultery was granted time to repent, time that would have been denied by those who wanted to stone her. Profanity, cohabitation, and Sabbath breakingexcellent examples to illustrate how Latter-day Saints might balance their competing duties to truth and tolerance in their own lives in these difficult circumstances. No sect or religious denomination in the world possesses a single principle of truth that we do not accept or that we will reject. Wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On another occasion he said, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). In case you want to follow along, here are the quotes we're discussing today: Quote #1: "Despite all that our Church does directly, most humanitarian service to the children of God worldwide is carried out by persons and 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. [Catherine Corman Parry, Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee: Judgment and Condemnation in the Parables of Jesus,Brigham Young University 199091 Devotional and Fireside Speeches[Provo: BYU, 1991], p. 116]. 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. Of course, teaching efforts only bear fruit through the agency of others, so they must always be done with love, patience, and persuasion. With the love and mutual respect taught by divine commandments, President Oaks said. It really is the answer. Stephen L. Carter,The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion(New York: BasicBooks, 1993), 225. (Boston: Little, Brown, 18501856), 9:229. In the process of what we call the Apostasy, the tangible, personal God described in the Old and New Testaments was replaced by the abstract, incomprehensible deity defined by compromise with the speculative principles of Greek philosophy. What does this scripture mean for our day and how can it be applied by Latter-day Saints? 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. We need to be reminded that in total and over a significant period of time, these seemingly small things bring to pass great things. [We need]the courage to say, I dont know. Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. In applying the sometimes competing demands of truth and tolerance in these three behaviors and many others, we should not be tolerant with ourselves. 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 a student of the scriptures and as a former judge, I have had a special interest in the many scriptures that refer to judging. 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 . . We can all remember our feelings when a little child cried out and reached up to us for help. Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. In the quiet heart is hidden See the complete list of abbreviations here. We witness that we are willing to do so. We should not presume to exercise and act upon judgments that are outside our personal responsibilities. Let us consider some principles or ingredients that lead to a righteous judgment.. For example, we must all deplore murder or other terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. 320.). Jesus told the Roman governor Pilate that He came into the world to bear witness unto the truth., What is truth? that unbeliever responded. The Law of Timing (#19) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Top 40 Quotes from The Coddling of the American Mind, Best 70 Quotes from Beyond Order by Jordan Peterson, The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek: Videos and 10 Great Quotes. The Savior also commanded individuals to be judges, both of circumstances and of other people. Let us consider how to apply that example to some other behaviors. I am not to blame for what happened to me as a child. The Book of Mormon tells of the resurrected Lord visiting some of the people of the Americas. We can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. . When we do thisand there is great temptation to do sowe hurt ourselves and the person we pretend to judge. She died July 21, 1998. That's definitely what we want. If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. 9. This is shaping the attitudes of many young Americans who are taking their places as the teachers of our children and the shapers of public attitudes through the media and popular entertainment. Many even question whether there is a God. BachArranged by: Michel Rondeau (trumpet)Performers: Marthe Jobidon (trumpets), Eric Vaillancourt . . Our Savior applied this principle. . He can make the judgments and the punishments. All efforts begin with desire. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. 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. He knows of our anguish, and He is there for us. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. 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 will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. 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. There was a conference talk by Elder Dallin H Oaks a few years back about making good choices. And we must all oppose violence and thievery. The parents have insisted that he not smoke in their home or in front of his younger siblings. Many of our challenges are different from those faced by former pioneers but perhaps just as dangerous and surely as significant to our own salvation and the salvation of those who follow us. [vv. Our Master, whom we seek to serve, is, as the scriptures say, a God of love (2 Corinthians 13:11). We meet on 9/11, the tenth anniversary of an event that has profoundly influenced our lives and thinking and will do so for many years to come. . Conference on-the Go: Dallin H. Oaks, Helping the Poor and Distressed, One Minute Scripture Study: A Come Follow Me Podcast. First of all, a righteous judgment must, by definition, be intermediate. The talk was timely, according to political and legal sources, because while politicians, pundits and social media . And in those intermediate judgments we are responsible to make, may we judge righteously and with love. 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). I will leave it in his hands. This time he was definitely speaking to the Church. Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. 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. That question is as penetrating today as when Jesus used it to confound the Pharisees almost two thousand years ago. [Lord, I Would Follow Thee,Hymns,1985, no. Subscribe To Our Newsletter. I testify of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the vineyard. But in such instances we can politely disagree without being disagreeable. 6. Last year, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was invited to participate in Indiana. . Login . Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. I may need to do something. That wise answer illustrates my point about stewardship in judging. One of Martin Harriss greatest contributions to the Church, for which he should be honored for all time, was his financing the publication of the Book of Mormon. Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. From time to time some diligent defenders deny this reality, such as the writer of a letter to the editor who insisted that certain publicly reported conduct should be ignored because in this country you are innocent until you are proven guilty. The presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law is a vital rule to guide the conduct of a criminal trial, but it is not a valid restraint on personal decisions. 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. We should be ruled by the demands of truth. As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. that which is good and of God to be of the devil. The Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. The Book of Mormon teaches that every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil;Links:Our General Conference talk schedule: https://kristenwalkersmith.com/conference-on-the-go-episode-list/The Conference Talk checklist: https://bit.ly/3eHJGEIThis weeks phone wallpaper: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z9cJGCePDNy9ccHnDzVrzkxkf4UXnJ4_/view?usp=sharingHelping the Poor and Distressed by Dallin H. Oaks By Intellectual Reserve, Inc.This material is neither made, provided, approved, nor endorsed by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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). Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. Whether or how we might seek to obtain laws that would compel or influence behavior that we deem desirable because of our belief in God and His commandments is too large a subject for adequate treatment in the concluding few minutes of my talk. When I was a young adult, about sixty years ago, it was only in books and magazines that most Americans were exposed to great differences in cultures, values, and peoples. All of the humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seek to follow the example of a righteous people described in the Book of Mormon: And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, and they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church (Alma 1:30). The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming. What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. . By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 2021. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: 1. Similar to our article with Russell M. Nelson quotes, this piece includes Dallin H. Oaks quotes from every general conference. 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. Because He loves us, He challenges us to focus on Him instead of the things of this mortal world. fatal car accident knoxville tn today young and the restless recap today 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. 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. President Dallin H. Oaks speaks at the 192nd Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2-3, 2022.President Oaks t. 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. 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? Many good, religious-minded . Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. S2:E2 "Jesus Christ is the Strengt. Generally, they should refrain from seeking laws or administrative action to facilitate beliefs that are distinctive to believers, such as the enforcement of acts of worship, even by implication. 2. 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. Thomas S. Monson, inCR,April 2008, 66; or Examples of Righteousness,Ensign,May 2008, 65; emphasis in original. Speaking to an audience of institute students three years ago, he said: The wordtolerancedoes not stand alone. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. 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 subject was the sacrament, and the class was being taught by the bishop. Trust Him." As our confidence in God goes up, our fear goes down. Some time ago I attended an adult Sunday School class in a small town in Utah. My Savior knows what happened. The best known of these is "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). How can we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide our choices? When practiced by those around us, it can be private behavior or something we are asked to condone, sponsor, or facilitate. From these we magnify a mood into a character and an episode into a life. From our love of God and our fellowmen, we acquire our desire to share that great gift with everyone. Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from some behavior that is wrong. Library General Conference Speakers Dallin H. Oaks. 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. . On August 25, 2000, he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple. 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? The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. Top 26 Quotes from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Top 41 Best Quotes from Daring Greatly by Bren Brown. Reverent and Clean. By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. . That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. I have chosen to heal myself and pass on to my children what I have learned. . 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. Sometimes it even takes a tragedy to teach us that there's more to our lives than what's going on . Lord, I would follow thee. October 2022 conference featured 35 messages over the five sessions. 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. 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. Priesthood Blessings. Angels will stand with us, and He will send His Holy Spirit to guide us. Howeverand here I express asecond absolute truththis living with differences is what the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do. A fourth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment of a person is that we should, if possible, refrain from judging until we have adequate knowledge of the facts. cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. President [Harold B.] See Riots in Britain: Anarchy in the UK, Leaders,The Economist,400, no. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I love that truth that although I need to evaluate situations . I am devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. May we grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I testify, as our Redeemer, our Creator, and our Savior. 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? Having discussed the balancing of truth and tolerance in our personal behavior and in our relations with associates, I come to a different and more difficult circumstance. . 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. 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. Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. . How should we react toward and communicate with them? Learn how your comment data is processed. 11819]. In all our judgments we should apply righteous standards. After the crowd who intended to stone her had departed, Jesus asked her about her accusers: Hath no man condemned thee? (John 8:10). Jesus answered: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. . (See John 18:3738.). This is not a call for doctrinal compromises, President Oaks said. He knows the truth. It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. 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. This is beyond what Latter-day Saints do in callings, in member-to-member service and individually with innumerable charitable organizations. Come, Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. They are directions away from pitfalls, and they are invitations to blessings. By Church Newsroom and The Daily Universe. An apostle's responsibility is to be a special witness of Jesus Christ . 220]. 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 . 272. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Because of a short-term memory loss, this elderly sister innocently answered no. . President Dallin H. Oaks stated, "The Lord is all powerful. by Giuseppe Martinengo | Sep 11, 2019 | All Talks | 0 comments. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) I am speaking to an audience of Latter-day Saints who believe in God and in absolute truth. Perfect love casteth out fear.