It really is the answer. What does tolerance mean to us and to other believers, and what are our special challenges in applying it? 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. Learn more about his general conference talks in this compilation. Along with the ascendancy of moral relativism, the United States is experiencing a disturbing reduction in overall public esteem for religion. I am loyal to the chosen servants of the Lord, whom I sustain with all my heart. If you're aware of any talks available online that aren't listed here, please let me know. Living together with mutual respect for one anothers differences is a challenge in todays world. A recentEnsignarticle by an anonymous victim of childhood sexual abuse illustrates the contrast between judging situations and judging persons. [Mosiah 4:1718, 22]. Martha received Jesus into her house and worked to provide for him while her sister Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word. Dec 2015 A Savior Is Born Ensign. . We sing: Tho the heavens depart and the earths fountains burst,Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,Eternal, unchanged, evermore.1. 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. We should be strong in keeping the commandments and our covenants, and we should repent and improve when we fall short. . 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. May we have his love. In an essay titled Sitting in the Seat of Judgment, the great essayist William George Jordan reminded us that character. The Law of The Big Mo (#16) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Coronavirus: la Chiesa di Ges Cristo dei Santi degli Ultimi Giorni Sta Aiutando Top 40 Best Quotes from The Gift of Imperfection by Bren Brown. The guilty parties were not hard to spot because they continued whispering all through the class. 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. I will say no more about the tolerance or intolerance of nonbelievers. 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. Oh Say, What Is Truth?Hymns,2002, no. . Our tolerance and respect forothersand theirbeliefsdoes not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made. October 1985, Sunday morning session. Another such circumstance was described in anEnsignarticle by BYU professor Arthur R. Bassett: I was troubled when one person whispered to another all through the opening prayer. . Some time ago I attended an adult Sunday School class in a small town in Utah. Let us consider some principles or ingredients that lead to a righteous judgment.. President Oaks asks BYU: How are we measuring up to President Kimballs 1975 call to be unique, special? 16. We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey Gods commandments in a succession of right choices. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of love. Perfect love casteth out fear. . Amen. 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). 8, 11). We do not need to judge nearly so much as we think we do. First: Truth. . We give thanks for commandments. Clothed in a white robe, he descended out of heaven. See the complete list of abbreviations here. 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. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Dallin H. Oaks: Kindness Is Powerful. When we understand our relationship to God, we also understand our relationship to one another. That is how we qualify for the promised blessings. The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church. Wherefore, take heed . . He also said religious freedom is the DNA of The Church of Jesus Christ. . On August 25, 2000, he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple. 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. October 2022. 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. Like a sword, sharp and powerful, it uncovers what is hidden, divides truth from error, and goes to the heart of religious belief. 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. 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. (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 . 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. . The scripture is familiar. I leave all that to the Lord. There are many kinds of priesthood blessings. The protection promised to the faithful servants of God is a reality today as it was in Bible times. He loves us, and all that He does is for our eternal benefit. First of all, a righteous judgment must, by definition, be intermediate. 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. that which is good and of God to be of the devil. Let us be good neighbors, kind and generous and gracious. 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. 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. 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 . . 218 University Press Building 8746 (1319 August 2011): 14; Patrik Jonsson, Is the US a Nation of Liars? US News,The Christian Science Monitor,103, no. 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 Oaks said religious liberty faces serious challenges around the world, such as secularism, authoritarianism, political correctness and deteriorating attitudes toward religion. Your email address will not be published. Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. Satan says we are not. Legal experts, including a former federal judge and a former Utah Supreme Court justice, examine the General Conference talk by Latter-day Saint apostle Dallin H. Oaks on the U.S. Constituiton. Isalute you for your righteous actions and your righteous desires. 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. 3740]. 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. When we do thisand there is great temptation to do sowe hurt ourselves and the person we pretend to judge. But the rebuke would not have come had Martha not prompted it. I express them as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I believe that most of these ideas are shared by believers generally. The Savior gave this same teaching on another occasion, when he said to the Pharisees, And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47). 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. In most cases this decision can depend on how directly we are personally affected by it. In this sensitive matter we should first consider whether or the extent to which we should communicate to our associates what we know to be true about their behavior. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I seek to help you make right choices in a world that is increasingly polarized between belief and disbelief, between good and evil. 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.. Marthas self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lords rebuke, not her busyness with the meal. 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. 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. The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort., With partners worldwide, the Church shares the common goal of relieving suffering. If we apply unrighteous standards, our judgment will be unrighteous. In this context the wordcondemnapparently refers to the final judgment (see John 3:17). 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. God inspires many organizations and individuals to do much good, and more Church members should recognize and support the good done by others. 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 . Sometimes urgent circumstances require us to make preliminary judgments before we can get all of the facts we desire for our decision making. And whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people. Login . Recall the survey data I mentioned earlier, suggesting that about three-quarters of all college seniors believe thedifference between right and wrong is relative. 272. . What believers should do about this introduces the second of my twin subjects: Tolerance. That is athirdabsolute truth: We do not abandon the truth and our covenants. Elder Uchtdorf introduces the revised For the Strength of Youth pamphlet while bearing powerful testimony of Jesu. We are to beinthe world, but notofthe world. . . A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. He is our Savior, and He reaches out to each of us with the timeless invitation to receive His peace by learning of Him and by walking in His way (see D&C 19:23): Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. In all our judgments we should apply righteous standards. Those who hold the Aaronic Priesthood open the door for all Church members who worthily partake of the sacrament to enjoy the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord and the ministering of angels. (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. We live in a world where more and more persons of influence are teaching and acting out a belief that there is no absolute right and wrong, that all authority and all rules of behavior are man-made choices that can prevail over the commandments of God. November 04, 2022. Top 11 Best Quotes From The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, by GamblingMorally Wrong and Politically Unwise (, Education Week devotional (unavailable) June 8, 2001. We all make judgments in choosing our friends, in choosing how we will spend our time and our money, and, of course, in choosing an eternal companion. 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. Through the prophet Moses the Lord commanded Israel, Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour (Leviticus 19:15). 5. But where believers are in the majority, they should always be sensitive to the views of the minority. . April 2022. [vv. 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. We have a right to our preferences, our likes and dislikes, our impressions, our opinions, but we should withhold final judgmentas an honest unprejudiced juryman keeps his verdict in suspense until he has heard and tested all of the evidence. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. Iassure you that my message is true. 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. Those who seek out and use pornography forfeit the power of their priesthood. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error. 218 University Press Building 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. 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? President [Spencer W.] Kimball taught that the moment we begin preaching to others, our testimony is ended. What future event or events could this covenant contemplate? The question posed by the second commandment is What is our ultimate priority?. But I can change the future. This is a harder question for those who affirm the existence of God and absolute truth than for those who believe in moral relativism. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service will reward us beyond anything we have given. What we get from a bookespecially a sacred textis mostly dependent on what we take to its readingin desire and readiness to learn, and in attunement to the light communicated by the Spirit of the Lord. Today and tomorrow would need to include two talks per day, then after that read one talk per day. President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Giving to those in need the poor and distressed is a principle in all Abrahamic religions, and in others as well. 4. In a time when sovereign power was universally assumed to come from the divine right of kings or from military power, attributing sovereign power to the people was revolutionary. I may need to do something. That wise answer illustrates my point about stewardship in judging. Eric Rassbach, quoted in William McGurn, Religion and the Cult of Tolerance,The Wall Street Journal,16 August 2011, A11. . . We should not presume to exercise and act upon judgments that are outside our personal responsibilities. April 1985, Sunday afternoon session. Many areas of the law are based on Judeo-Christian morality and have been for centuries. [William George Jordan, Sitting in the Seat of Judgment,The Crown of Individuality(New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1909), pp. He is a native of Provo, Utah (born in 1932). I will speak first of the final judgment. I believe the United States Constitution contains at least five divinely inspired principles. And we must all oppose violence and thievery. On one occasion the Savior chided the people, Judge ye not what is right? (Luke 12:57). . 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).
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