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. The kingdom of God is like a leaven, Jesus taught (see Matthew 13:33). Please now consider the following sections of the Church Handbook of Instructions. . 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 . Priesthood Blessings. Our own sins, no matter how few or seemingly insignificant, disqualify us as judges of other peoples sins. That is athirdabsolute truth: We do not abandon the truth and our covenants. On Sabbath observance, Latter-day Saints know that we are taught to observe the Sabbath day in a different way than many other Christians. . Standing in the midst of a multitude, he stretched forth his hand and said: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. (See D&C 20:77.) PresidentDallin H. Oakswassustained andset apartas first counselor in the First Presidencyandpresident of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostlesof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints onSunday, January 14, 2018. . President 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. 16. 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. 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. Like many scriptures, this commandment has multiple meanings. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is a doctrine underlying the subject of gospel judging. That approach to differences will yield tolerance and also respect. We give thanks for commandments. 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. Your email address will not be published. So far as possible, we should judge circumstances rather than people. . That is a wise judgment of a situation, not a person. President Oaks quotes cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. 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 . President Oaks General Conference Talks (, President Dallin H. OaksPicture Quotes (, Read 9 President Oaks Quotes from the Past Year (. 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? 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. . Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. He is a native of Provo, Utah (born . . 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. Last update: May 2022. 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. You do your thing, and Ill do my thing is the popular description. 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. 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). Professor Parry observed: Quite literally, they were measured by their own standards and found wanting. 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. 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. The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. N. T. Wright on the New Testament in Its World, Ann Madsen Reflects on Isaiah, Jehovah, and the Temple. In modern revelation the Lord has declared, I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men (D&C 64:10). On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). 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. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. Jesus told the Roman governor Pilate that He came into the world to bear witness unto the truth., What is truth? that unbeliever responded. Two hypotheticals illustrate this principle: 1. Modern revelation teaches that some have the gift to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, . Currently, he is the second most senior apostle by years of service and is . 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. . We should trust in the Lord and be positive about this nations future. Whenever possible we should refrain from judging people until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah? I have chosen to heal myself and pass on to my children what I have learned. 15. So it was that, at the conclusion of His ministry, Jesus prayed to the Father, Not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (John 17:15). Home. Check out our dallin h oaks selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. A loving Heavenly Father gives us those feelings to impel us to help His children. . Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. May 3: Dallin H. Oaks is ordained to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 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. 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. 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). If it werent for us Marthas cleaning whatever we see and fussing over meals, there would be a lot of dirty, hungry people in this world. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 114). Iassure you that my message is true. (Photo courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the governing First Presidency, speaks at General Conference about the U.S . The Holy Ghost will protect us against being deceived, but to realize that wonderful blessing we must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit. It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. Modern revelation shows that our first parents understood the necessity of the Fall. 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. In our eternal journey, the resurrection is the mighty milepost that signifies the end of mortality and the beginning of immortality. 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 . Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. 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. 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. 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. . They should cultivate loving family relationships so that family members will want to ask them for blessings. October 2022 conference featured 35 messages over the five sessions. 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. I have chosen to speak about truth because teachers in schools, colleges, and universities are teaching and practicing relative morality. 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. Whats Really in the Journal of Discourses? We misinterpret motives, do not know facts, and judge from wrong standards. . 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. But where believers are in the majority, they should always be sensitive to the views of the minority. Pursuing that principle, the author of theEnsignarticle writes: Somewhere along the journey of healing comes the essential task of forgiving. (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. Isalute you for your righteous actions and your righteous desires. . The Book of Mormon teaches: For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain . . . Sign up to receive free emails each time we publish new content, like Russell M. Nelson quotes and links to Brad Wilcox talks. 12. The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion. Reverent and Clean. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. Cohabitation we know to be a serious sin in which Latter-day Saints must not engage, whatever the circumstances. This greater exposure to diversity both enriches our lives and complicates them. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Saturday morning session of October 2022 general conference. 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). From our love of God and our fellowmen, we acquire our desire to share that great gift with everyone. 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). The philosophy of moral relativism, which holds that each person is free to choose for himself what is right and wrong, is becoming the unofficial creed for many in America and other Western nations. [The Journey to Healing,Ensign,September 1997, p. 19]. In an essay titled Sitting in the Seat of Judgment, the great essayist William George Jordan reminded us that character. leflore county warrant search; 2 3 of israel will be destroyed kjv; the cokeville miracle debunked I do not need to destroy myself with anger and hate. Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. We know from these inspired words that even the most extreme acts of servicesuch as giving all of our goods to feed the poorprofit us nothing unless our service is motivated by the pure love of Christ. [Teachings,p. 218]. Our civilization is based on morality and cannot exist without it. . Her 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, is considered a landmark in discussions of homosexuality and Mormonism. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Saturday morning session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Oct. 1, 2022. 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? How can we have the Spirit of the Lord to guide our choices? 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 gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of love. You whom I address shun evil and seek truth. What do you do?. 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. Trust Him." As our confidence in God goes up, our fear goes down. Even half-conscious, Elder [Spencer W.] Kimball recoiled and implored: Please! Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. There is one qualification to this principle that we should not judge people without an adequate knowledge of the facts. that which is good and of God to be of the devil. First,all persons are brothers and sisters under God, taught within their various religions to love and do good to one another. . By this means we will contribute to the civility that is essential topreserve our civilization. Let us consider how to apply that example to some other behaviors. . First of all, a righteous judgment must, by definition, be intermediate. When we seek the truth about religion, we should use spiritual methods appropriate for that search. The key is to understand that there are two kinds of judging: final judgments, which we are forbidden to make; and intermediate judgments, which we are directed to make, but upon righteous principles. 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 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. . . This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). Then he delivers the gentle but clear rebuke. May God bless us that we may have that love and that we may show it in refraining from making final judgments of our fellowman. 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. I must hear both sides of the question. It is this suspended judgment that is the supreme form of charity. Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke in the October 2014 General Conference. Similar reasoning forbids our presuming to make final judgments on the outcome of any persons lifelong mortal contest. If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l as the daylight is from the dark night. My dear young brothers and sisters, Kristen and I feel privileged to be with you on this significant occasion. Most of us do not face decisions of giant proportions, like leaving our homes to pioneer an unknown land. I am very t`hankful that it is not our province . And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 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. The frank rebuttal to partisanship in President Dallin H. Oaks' recent talk on the U.S. Constitution has been driving conversation since he gave it on April 4 in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the 191st Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is the spirit of the two-sided coin of truth and tolerance. 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. Some say that attending church meetings is not helping them. In a BYU devotional address, Professor Catherine Corman Parry gave a memorable scriptural illustration of the consequences of judging by the wrong standards. 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. Dallin H. Oaks quotes cover more than 30 years. . Similar to our article with Russell M. Nelson quotes, this piece includes Dallin H. Oaks quotes from every general conference. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. That's definitely what we want. I just reread it and appreciate the good counsel he gave. to judge the world; if it were, we would ruin everything. Sometimes urgent circumstances require us to make preliminary judgments before we can get all of the facts we desire for our decision making. The Need for a Church. [Moroni 7:1214]. First is the principle that the source of government power is the people. He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. If we apply unrighteous standards, our judgment will be unrighteous. . [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]. We can all remember our feelings when a little child cried out and reached up to us for help. on Dallin H. Oaks Quotes From Every General Conference, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about the Angel Moroni, Come Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. . 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). 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 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. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). . . 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). If there are more that I have missed, please let me know and I will add them to the list. . Perfect love is charity. The STANDS4 Network . . They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts. 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. Wherefore, take heed . 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. 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. 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. Tolerance requires a similar refraining in our judgment of others. One judges a painting by the full view of the whole canvas; separate isolated square inches of colour are meaningless. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. But I can change the future. Did the Kinderhook Plates Really Fool Joseph Smith? A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. May we have his love. crucified for the sins of the world, and that it is given to others to believe on their words (D&C 46:13, 14). Did you enjoy these Dallin H. Oaks quotes? The weaker ones belief in God and the fewer ones moral absolutes, the fewer the occasions when the ideas or practices of others will confront one with the challenge to be tolerant. And whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. [We need]the courage to say, I dont know. For example, it is one thing to ignore serious sins when they are private; it is quite another thing to be asked to sponsor or impliedly endorse them, such as by housing them in our own homes. By this, all the children of God are enlightened to serve Him and one another to the best of their knowledge and ability.. I believe this commandment was given because we presume to make final judgments whenever we proclaim that any particular person is going to hell (or to heaven) for a particular act or as of a particular time. 3 Apr 2016 Opposition in All Things General . Profanity consistently used in our presence is an appropriate cause for us to communicate the fact that this is offensive to us. And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. April 1985, Sunday afternoon session. 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. Are we our brothers keepers? . [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. His creations witness His existence, and His servants hear and proclaim His voice. For most followers of Christ, our sacrifices involve what we can do on a day-to-day basis in our ordinary personal lives. 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. Subscribe To Our Newsletter. [Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee, pp. A leavenyeastis hidden away in the larger mass until the whole is leavened, which means raised by its influence. 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. In the intermediate judgments we must make, we should take care to judge righteously. Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. 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). Purchase a 60+ page workbook which will help you read, study, and record insights from each General Conference talk from October 2022 while using the 8 learning styles. Our obligation to tolerance means that none of these behaviorsor others we consider deviations from the truthshould ever cause us to react with hateful communications or unkind actions. 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). Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. We Latter-day Saints are sometimes accused of being self-righteous and intolerant of others, especially where we are in the majority or where others are in the majority and our beliefs cause us to oppose them. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. 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. We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey Gods commandments in a succession of right choices. I turn now to the obligations of truth and tolerance in our personal relations with associates who use profanity in our presence, who live with a partner out of wedlock, or who do not observe the Sabbath day appropriately. 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 gospel is a gospel of hope, and none of us is authorized to deny the power of the Atonement to bring about a cleansing of individual sins, forgiveness, and a reformation of life on appropriate conditions. Show Timeline. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great (Doctrine and Covenants 64:33). . October 2021. If you have doubts about this, or if you have questions about how to apply these principles in your own life, I urge you to seek guidance from the same source. Later, in the sublime teachings the Savior gave his apostles on the eve of his suffering and the Atonement, he said: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. Our decisions are mostly in the daily routines of life, but as the Lord has told us, Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Law of E. F. Hutton (#5). 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.