Yet we dare to judge our fellow man by single acts and words, misleading glimpses, and deceptive moments of special strain. But at the same time, the ancient language of symbolism and storytelling used within the temple has been outpaced by our reliance on fast-paced technology and instant Internet answers. cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. [Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee, pp. Joseph G. Donders (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2005), 21013; Harold Kushner,Who Needs God(New York: Summit, 1989), 8384. . . He knows the truth. . Check out our dallin h oaks selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Let us consider some principles or ingredients that lead to a righteous judgment.. How can I keep my covenant to stand as a witness and not offend these people?13. . As modern transportation and communication have brought all of us into closer proximity to different peoples and different ideas, we have greater need for tolerance. He is the author or co-author of many books and articles on religious and legal subjects. The STANDS4 Network . I no longer view myself as a victim. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful. October 2022. If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. Wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. 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. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. [The Supreme Charity of the World,The Kingship of Self-Control(Old Tappan, New Jersey: Revell, n.d.), pp. For example, I know of an LDS family with an older teenage son who has become addicted to smoking. We should be strong in keeping the commandments and our covenants, and we should repent and improve when we fall short. . The Parable of the Sower Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not attempt to isolate its members from alternate voices. 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. Second, a righteous judgment will be guided by the Spirit of the Lord, not by anger, revenge, jealousy, or self-interest. We can all pray for desire to help with this vital part of the work of salvation. November 12, 2021 at University of Virginia. A loving Heavenly Father gives us those feelings to impel us to help His children. 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. 11:1011). 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. There are important restraints upon our intermediate judgments, but the presumption of innocence is not one of them. As one of our Apostles observed: God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. By this means we will contribute to the civility that is essential topreserve our civilization. Sorrow that the eye cant see. , 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. . 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? [Matthew 11:2830]. [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. You do your thing, and Ill do my thing is the popular description. 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? Profanity consistently used in our presence is an appropriate cause for us to communicate the fact that this is offensive to us. Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. 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. 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). 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. April 2022. President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. 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. Elder Dieter F. Ucthdorf back in 2017 said, Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. 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. President Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. . We can set and act upon high standards for ourselves or our homes without condemning those who do otherwise. Misery is more than unhappiness, sorrow, or suffering. What Did the Founding Fathers Think about the Bible? But that is our role. Faith is essential for healing by the powers of heaven. 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). The bishop answered, You do nothing. 10. that which is good and of God to be of the devil. Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. 15. 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. 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). [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]. I will, therefore, limit myself to describing four paramount principles that should govern such an effort. . . 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. 4. In revelation the Lord added this parable for modern Zion: Set . After the class, one of them came to me and apologized that she hadnt explained to me before class that her friend was deaf. Conference on-the Go: Dallin H. Oaks, Helping the Poor and Distressed, One Minute Scripture Study: A Come Follow Me Podcast. And, in all of this, we must remember the command to forgive. 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. And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance. He was president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980, and a justice of the Utah Supreme Court from 1980 until his resignation in 1984 to accept his calling to the apostleship. . Trust Him." As our confidence in God goes up, our fear goes down. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: We believe in all truth, no matter to what subject it may refer. Beware of the wordtolerance. President Dallin H. Oaks: 'The Need for a Church' Letter to Dallin H. Oaks, 22 December 1987. 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. Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. 4. There may be situations, there will be situations, where, with serious moral issues involved, we cannot bend on matters of principle. The best known of these is Judge not, that ye be not judged (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). Is Jim Bridger Responsible for What Happened to the Donner Party? The worlds way is to judge competitively between winners and losers. One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l Conquer fear through Charity. 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. as the daylight is from the dark night. Today I will speak about gospel judging. That judgment is the Lords, not ours. . President Dallin H. Oaks: 'Helping the Poor and Distressed' That is the spirit of the two-sided coin of truth and tolerance. But our obligation to truth has its own set of requirements and its own set of blessings. . He has an eye trained for the imperfections, the weaknesses. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful - Latter-day Saint Women Stand 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). Our Master, whom we seek to serve, is, as the scriptures say, a God of love (2 Corinthians 13:11). Dallin H. Oaks Talks and Quotes - FromtheDesk.org Oaks 'clarifies' LDS doctrine on LGBTQ-related issues We are called to live with other children of God who do not share our faith or our values and who do not have the covenant obligations we have assumed. In the words of President Joseph F. Smith: 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. 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 . 4 May 1971 Naming of a New President BYU Devotional - Oaks Inauguration. Spiritual food is necessary for spiritual survival. Boyd K. Packer, Be Not Afraid (address at the Ogden Institute of Religion, 16 November 2008), 5; see also Bruce D. Porter, Defending the Family in a Troubled World,Ensign,June 2011, 1218. And as your life is in harmony, you gradually receive the Holy Ghost in a great measure (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. . 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. 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. . First,all persons are brothers and sisters under God, taught within their various religions to love and do good to one another. Speaking to an audience of institute students three years ago, he said: The wordtolerancedoes not stand alone. It requires an object and a response to qualify it as a virtue. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. The best known of these is "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. Most of us are troubled by packed shopping centers and other commercial activities on the Sabbath. First Presidency: 193rd Annual General Conference to be April 1-2 October 2022 General Conference Recap - Saturday Morning Session Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 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. . He is a native of Provo, Utah (born in 1932). . . What do you do?. In applying the sometimes competing demands of truth and tolerance in these three behaviors and many others, we should not be tolerant with ourselves. Throughout his life he has been exemplary in reaching out and working with the members and leaders of other faiths in cooperative efforts on matters of common interest and in the Christian fellowship and concern that have no denominational boundaries.16. . 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. 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. 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. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. Judge Not and Judging - Dallin H. Oaks - BYU Speeches The law of tithing is not a remote Old Testament practice, but a commandment directly from the Savior to the people of our day. When we understand our relationship to God, we also understand our relationship to one another. This is not a call for doctrinal compromises, President Oaks said. . He declared, I have many things to say and to judge of you (John 8:26) and For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see (John 9:39). We should refrain from anything that seems to be a final judgment of any personmanifesting our determination to leave final judgments to the Lord, who alone has the capacity to judge. 3. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). Show Timeline. 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. It really is the answer. If there are more that I have missed, please let me know and I will add them to the list. [vv. I am responsible for my actions and what I do with my knowledge. We also know that evil exists and that some things are simply, seriously, and everlastingly wrong. President Oaks talks cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. 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. Learn more about the Dallin H. Oaks biography, In the Hands of the Lord. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. 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. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. 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). My Savior knows what happened. President Dallin H. Oaks stated, "The Lord is all powerful. . 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. Library General Conference Speakers Dallin H. Oaks. A testimony of the gospel is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members.
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