Divine Love in the Father's Plan (Dallin H. Oaks talk) Part 2 And, in all of this, we must remember the command to forgive. As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. 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. Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. Why was last week's speech on LGBTQ rights 'the most difficult' of LDS Conquer fear through Charity. The effect of one mortals attempting to pass final judgment on another mortal is analogous to the effect on athletes and observers if we could proclaim the outcome of an athletic contest with certainty while it was still underway. Perfect love casteth out fear. Similar reasoning forbids our presuming to make final judgments on the outcome of any persons lifelong mortal contest. , I do not need to condemn or judge my abusers nor be part of the punishment. 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. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort. It is well to worry about our moral foundation. Let us consider some principles or ingredients that lead to a righteous judgment.. To them it has become something that must prove its legitimacy as a part of our public life. What Was Brigham Youngs Swift Pony Express? Our Savior also taught that His followers will have tribulation in the world, that their numbers and dominions will be small (see 1 Nephi 14:12), and that they will be hated because they are not of the world (John 17:14). On another occasion he said, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival. It will refrain from declaring that a person has been assured of exaltation or from dismissing a person as being irrevocably bound for hellfire. 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. [The Journey to Healing,Ensign,September 1997, p. 19]. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. . I do not need to destroy myself with anger and hate. That's amazing. deaton funeral home, red bay, al obituaries. 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. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: . We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. Dallin H. Oaks - Bibliography - List of Talks - INSTITUTEOFRELIGION.ORG A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. Some Christians look on this as the time when individuals are assigned to heaven or hell. The best known of these is "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). For example, we must all deplore murder or other terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. . He is a native of Provo, Utah (born in 1932). 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 . 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? April 1986, Sunday morning session. Tony & Tacky: Campus Confidential, Taste,The Wall Street Journal,5 July 2002, W11. 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). 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? 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. Helping the Poor and Distressed. We believe in absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. John Adams, from an address to officers of the militia of Massachusetts, 11 October 1798, inThe Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States,ed. 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. President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. If you're aware of any talks available online that aren't listed here, please let me know. . Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from some behavior that is wrong. For them, almost anything goes. Letter to Dallin H. Oaks, 22 December 1987. Whenever possible we should refrain from judging people until we have an adequate knowledge of the facts. Wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. May we have his love. My Savior knows what happened. Conference on-the Go: Dallin H. Oaks, "Helping the Poor and Distressed" [vv. Introductory Message. 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 Lord did not go into the kitchen and tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. He was set apart as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 7, 1984. And in those intermediate judgments we are responsible to make, may we judge righteously and with love. Mormonism in the 20th century - Wikipedia 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.. Similarly, with our children and others we have a duty to teachsuch as in our Church callingsour duty to truth is paramount. 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. Commandments mark the path and show us the way to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. The Church gives us opportunities to serve the Lord and our fellowmen. In attempting to answer the question "What have I learned and what ought I to have learned?" I've learned just how incredibly difficult it is to arrive at a consensus in a group without the assistance of a leader, teacher, or arbiter. 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. For example, an atheist has no need to decide what kinds and occasions of profanity or blasphemy can be tolerated and what kinds should be confronted. A loving Heavenly Father gives us those feelings to impel us to help His children. as the daylight is from the dark night. This greater exposure to diversity both enriches our lives and complicates them. 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. As one of our Apostles observed: God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency delivers the 2021 Joseph Smith Lecture in the Dome Room of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia on Nov. 12, 2021. Whats in the Relief Society General Board Minutes? 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. We have not sufficient wisdom, our minds are not filled with the knowledge and power of God. He has an eye trained for the imperfections, the weaknesses. . . And behold, I am the light and the life of the world (3 Ne. That is the spirit of the two-sided coin of truth and tolerance. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. 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. On Aug. 25, 2000, he married Sister. 7. 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. . [The Supreme Charity of the World,The Kingship of Self-Control(Old Tappan, New Jersey: Revell, n.d.), pp. Dallin H. Oaks - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 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. I have felt impressed to speak this evening about another set of twins, the twin ideas of Truth and Tolerance. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 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. Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. 5. I am devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will not be judged for what happened to me, but I will be judged by how I let it affect my life. (See John 18:3738.). Tolerance is defined as a friendly and fair attitude toward unfamiliar opinions and practices or toward the persons who hold or practice them. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. Some time ago I attended an adult Sunday School class in a small town in Utah. Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke in the October 2014 General Conference. As believers, we must always speak with love and show patience, understanding, and compassion toward our adversaries. 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). Because of a short-term memory loss, this elderly sister innocently answered no. Second Annual Sacramento Court/Clergy Conference. . 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. I love the words in Susan Evans McClouds familiar hymn: Who am I to judge another 218 University Press Building 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. 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. [Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee, pp. One judges a painting by the full view of the whole canvas; separate isolated square inches of colour are meaningless. President Oaks General Conference Talks (, President Dallin H. OaksPicture Quotes (, Read 9 President Oaks Quotes from the Past Year (. 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 She said she received about 10 phone calls from outraged Latter-day Saints who would not accept her admission of error and sincere apology and berated her with abusive language. I am waiting further evidence. . Provo, Utah 84602, Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee: Judgment and Condemnation in the Parables of Jesus. I leave all that to the Lord. 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. Page last updated 30 Sep 2021. 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. Cox announces free period products in all state buildings, Bill to remove state food tax also removes constitutional earmark for education, Jordin Sparks kicks off first in-person RootsTech since 2020. Dec 2015 A Savior Is Born Ensign. Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. Thomas S. Monson, inCR,April 2008, 66; or Examples of Righteousness,Ensign,May 2008, 65; emphasis in original. He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah? If we apply unrighteous standards, our judgment will be unrighteous. They were innocent of neglect and should not have been judged on the basis of an inadequate knowledge of the facts. judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord (Mormon 8:20). 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. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. What Did the Founding Fathers Think about the Bible? Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. Copyright 2017-2023 Kurt Manwaring, All Rights Reserved. , not according to what they have not, but according to what they have, those who have lived without law, will be judged without law, and those who have a law, will be judged by that law. What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. The Church Handbook of Instructions 32.0 states: The Need for a Church. That's definitely what we want. Amen. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers. Each of us is part of a great family, the human family, sons and daughters of God, and therefore brothers and sisters. . This is beyond what Latter-day Saints do in callings, in member-to-member service and individually with innumerable charitable organizations. . 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. [Mosiah 26:29, 32]. Elder Dallin H Oaks; sacrifice; sanity; self care; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; widow; March 2023 (1) February 2023 (2) He will be just. . On the broader question being widely agitated by the atheists of our day, I proclaim my knowledge that God lives! Sometimes it even takes a tragedy to teach us that there's more to our lives than what's going on . 11819]. (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 .
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