We Are All Engaged in the Work of Bringing Others to Christ On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). When practiced by those around us, it can be private behavior or something we are asked to condone, sponsor, or facilitate. 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. They all come through the mercy and grace of the Holy One of Israel, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23). This is a vital matter on which we who believe in a Supreme Being who has established absolute right and wrong in human behavior must unite to insist on our time-honored constitutional rights to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and in the halls of justice. Provo, Utah 84602, Simon, I Have Somewhat to Say unto Thee: Judgment and Condemnation in the Parables of Jesus. Even half-conscious, Elder [Spencer W.] Kimball recoiled and implored: Please! We make better choices and decisions if we look at the alternatives and ponder where they will lead. 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? . Today I will speak about gospel judging. A gospel teacher, like the Master we serve, will concentrate entirely on those being taught. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. 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. Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team to help you come unto Christ. 220]. His or her total concentration will be on the needs of the sheepthe good of the students. I will not be judged for what happened to me, but I will be judged by how I let it affect my life. He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks . You Are Needed | Spiritual Crusade 218 University Press Building . I am very t`hankful that it is not our province . Many good, religious-minded . I love the words in Susan Evans McClouds familiar hymn: Who am I to judge another One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l . 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. Tolerance, or respect, is on one side of the coin, but truth is always on the other. 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. Her 1986 memoir, Goodbye, I Love You, is considered a landmark in discussions of homosexuality and Mormonism. The friend could read lips, but since I was discussingas I often dowith my back to the class, writing at the chalkboard and talking over my shoulder, my student had been translating for her friend, telling her what I was saying. Alsosee other collected talk by Church Leaders. The woman taken in adultery was granted time to repent, time that would have been denied by those who wanted to stone her. crucified for the sins of the world, and that it is given to others to believe on their words (D&C 46:13, 14). And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. We all remember how a prophet reacted from a hospital bed when an operating room attendant stumbled and cursed in his presence. [Mosiah 4:1718, 22]. The law of tithing is not a remote Old Testament practice, but a commandment directly from the Savior to the people of our day. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, waves while holding his wife Sister Kristen Oaks' hand inside the Conference Center during the Saturday evening session of the 192nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. We sing: Tho the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,Eternal, unchanged, evermore.1. . Tolerance is often demanded but seldom returned. What Have Scholars Learned about the Book of Mormon? 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. President Dallin H. Oaks: 'Helping the Poor and Distressed' The parents have insisted that he not smoke in their home or in front of his younger siblings. The protection promised to the faithful servants of God is a reality today as it was in Bible times. 15. [Arthur R. Bassett, Floods, Winds, and the Gates of Hell,Ensign,June 1991, p. 8]. Encyclopedia Of Cold War Espionage, Spies, And Secret Operations [PDF Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox, The three things you need to know everyday, Highlights from the last week to keep you informed. 6. The Book of Mormon tells of the resurrected Lord visiting some of the people of the Americas. Since followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to be a leavennot to be taken out of the world, but to remain in itwe must seek tolerance from those who hate us for not being of the world. . . As part of this, we will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faiths, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion. 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. There is no middle ground. [We need]the courage to say, I dont know. It is forever associated with the Twin Towers. Stephen L. Carter,The Culture of Disbelief: How American Law and Politics Trivialize Religious Devotion(New York: BasicBooks, 1993), 225. 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. 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. Some time ago I attended an adult Sunday School class in a small town in Utah. . to judge the world; if it were, we would ruin everything. (Boston: Little, Brown, 18501856), 9:229. October 2021. We misinterpret motives, do not know facts, and judge from wrong standards. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. Truth and Tolerance - Dallin H. Oaks - BYU Speeches Persons who dont believe in God or in absolute truth in moral matters can see themselves as the most tolerant of persons. 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. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Third, to be righteous, an intermediate judgment must be within our stewardship. Jesus Christ has the power to prescribe the conditions we must fulfill to qualify for the blessings of His Atonement. Would it have hurt Mary to have joined us in serving, then we all could have sat down to hear the Lord together? Spirituality. We must, of course, make judgments every day in the exercise of our moral agency, but we must be careful that our judgments of people are intermediate and not final. This interpretation is confirmed by what he then said to the Pharisees: Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man (John 8:15). The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. . We can speak of principles rather than personalities.17. He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. Ideas to Teach "How Can the Savior Help Me Overcome My Fears?" (March That question is as penetrating today as when Jesus used it to confound the Pharisees almost two thousand years ago. We should limit our judgments to our own stewardships. The New York Times, Wikipedia, Patheos, USA Today, NPR, Church News, LDS Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, Heavy, Slate, and more. Come, Follow Me 2023: New Testament Resources. But rather, a plea for unity and cooperation on strategy and advocacy toward our common goal of religious liberty for all.. This philosophy of moral relativism denies what millions of believing Christians, Jews, and Muslims consider fundamental, and this denial creates serious problems for all of us. All Talks by President Dallin H. Oaks | Giuseppe Martinengo He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. He will be just. 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? . It is important to remember that the illumination and revelation that come to an individual as a result of the gift of the Holy Ghost do not come suddenly or without seeking. Tolerance requires a similar refraining in our judgment of others. Conference talk by President Oaks cheers Latter-day Saints backing The article begins with heart-wrenching words and with true statements of eternal principles. That is the spirit of the two-sided coin of truth and tolerance. . By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. 8746 (1319 August 2011): 14; Patrik Jonsson, Is the US a Nation of Liars? US News,The Christian Science Monitor,103, no. The Temple Experience: Passage to Healing and Holiness do not doubt the overriding importance of listening to the Lord,[but]does the listening have to be done during dinner preparations? 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 . . I begin with our personal conduct, including the teaching of our children. . See Riots in Britain: Anarchy in the UK, Leaders,The Economist,400, no. President Spencer W. Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost comes a little at a time as you merit it. To this day I am thankful that both of us were spared the embarrassment that might have occurred had I given vent to a judgment made without knowing the facts. . Some personal decisions must be made before we have access to all of the facts. First Presidency: 193rd Annual General Conference to be April 1-2 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. The Lord acknowledges Marthas care: Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things (v. 41). Josephs candor about his shortcomings is evident in the fact that one of the first revelations he recorded in writing and published to the world was a crushing rebuke he received from the Lord. There is one qualification to this principle that we should not judge people without an adequate knowledge of the facts. 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. He knows of our anguish, and He is there for us. The talk was timely, according to political and legal sources, because while politicians, pundits and social media . I have been puzzled that some scriptures command us not to judge and others instruct us that we should . Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah? Whats Really in the Journal of Discourses? As one who knows, I invite you to believe on my words. First: Truth. 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. A testimony of the gospel is not a travelogue, a health log, or an expression of love for family members. The Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We also need focus to avoid what is harmful. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 114). . President Oaks address can be read on the Church Newsroom website. . Elder Oaks is a graduate of Brigham Young University (1954) and of The University of Chicago Law School (1957). Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. A fifth principle of a righteous intermediate judgment is that whenever possible we will refrain from judging people and only judge situations. . As John Adams declared: Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. . 8, 11). And in those intermediate judgments we are responsible to make, may we judge righteously and with love. We can set and act upon high standards for ourselves or our homes without condemning those who do otherwise. 2730; emphasis in original]. 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. as the daylight is from the dark night. The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. Content licensed under CC BY 4.0 unless otherwise noted. I am waiting further evidence. For most followers of Christ, our sacrifices involve what we can do on a day-to-day basis in our ordinary personal lives. (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 . When I walk imperfectly? Pursuing that principle, the author of theEnsignarticle writes: Somewhere along the journey of healing comes the essential task of forgiving. Once an accepted part of American life, religion is now suspect in the minds of many. 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 . 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. 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). Dallin H. Oaks - Bibliography - List of Talks - INSTITUTEOFRELIGION.ORG Subscribe To Our Newsletter. N. T. Wright on the New Testament in Its World, Ann Madsen Reflects on Isaiah, Jehovah, and the Temple. [The Journey to Healing,Ensign,September 1997, p. 19]. He talked about "good, better and best " choices. . 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). A Conversation with Dallin H. Oaks, President of Brigham Young University Ensign. Dallin H. Oaks - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Perfect love casteth out fear. A recentEnsignarticle by an anonymous victim of childhood sexual abuse illustrates the contrast between judging situations and judging persons. Show Timeline. We are enriched by associations with different peoples, which remind us of the wonderful diversity of the children of God. . By Church Newsroom and The Daily Universe. [Luke 10:4042]. Perfect love is charity. 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 For example, we must all deplore murder or other terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice.