. 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. You do your thing, and Ill do my thing is the popular description. . We must also practice tolerance and respect toward others. The fact that we only witness to our willingness suggests that something else must happen before we actually take that sacred name upon us in the most important sense. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The worlds way is to judge competitively between winners and losers. 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? (See John 18:3738.). 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 whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people. President Thomas S. Monson has provided an excellent example of the practice of these twin virtues. Each of us is part of a great family, the human family, sons and daughters of God, and therefore brothers and sisters. Apostles have the calling and ordination to be special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world (see D&C 107:23), but the duty to witness and testify of Christ at all times and in all places applies to every member of the Church who has received the testimony of the Holy Ghost. The character of transgression remains the same. (Boston: Little, Brown, 18501856), 9:229. As one of our Apostles observed: God is using more than one people for the accomplishment of his great and marvelous work. Those of us with more of Martha than of Mary in us . There are many kinds of priesthood blessings. By falling short of righteous standards, we place ourselves in jeopardy of being judged by incorrect or unrighteous standards ourselves. If there are more that I have missed, please let me know and I will add them to the list. 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. This is beyond what Latter-day Saints do in callings, in member-to-member service and individually with innumerable charitable organizations. Our scriptural accounts of the Saviors mortal life provide the pattern. The STANDS4 Network . Let us consider how to apply that example to some other behaviors. The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit. . We see this in the account of the woman taken in adultery. President Oaks quotes cover topics like desire, repentance, and trust in the Lord. Guided by heaven in this righteous cause, our words will be sweet and find place in the hearts of many. Shocking reports of large-scale thievery and lying in civilized societies in the last two months suggest a moral vacuum in which many have little sense of right and wrong. 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. Whats Really in the Journal of Discourses? 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. This is easy to see when it involves extreme behaviors that most believers and nonbelievers recognize as wrong or unacceptable. When she answered no, Jesus declared, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (v. 11). The Savior also commanded individuals to be judges, both of circumstances and of other people. Common Misunderstandings about Brigham Young. Today we're diving into "Helping the Poor and Distressed" by Dallin H. Oaks. The best known of these is "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (3 Nephi 14:1, Matthew 7:1). . 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. But I can change the future. A final ingredient or principle of a righteous judgment is that it will apply righteous standards. As the Book of Mormon teaches: All things which are good cometh of God. Some things are better than good, and these are the things that should command priority attention in our lives. [JD19:78]. The Savior taught that one of the missions of the Comforter he would send would be to assist in judgment of the world by guiding the faithful into all truth (John 16:13; see also vv. . Church leaders are specifically commanded to judge. 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. We can all remember our feelings when a little child cried out and reached up to us for help. 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. A gospel teacher does not focus on himself or herself. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Believers can be less cautious in seeking government action that would serve principles broader than merely facilitating the practice of their beliefs, such as laws concerning public health, safety, and morals. What Have Scholars Learned about Joseph Smith? 12. I begin with our personal conduct, including the teaching of our children. 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). 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. 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). . Please now consider the following sections of the Church Handbook of Instructions. 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. deaton funeral home, red bay, al obituaries. 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 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. In doing so we stand with angels. We need to find ways to learn from one another and to reinforce the common commitments that hold us together and promote stable pluralistic societies.. In any event, as defenders of the faith, believers can and must seek laws that will preserve religious freedom. 1015]. When practiced by those around us, it can be private behavior or something we are asked to condone, sponsor, or facilitate. On the foundation belief in right and wrong, there is an alarming contrast between the older and the younger generations. Today and tomorrow would need to include two talks per day, then after that read one talk per day. . That is why we have commandments and ordinances. In this way diversity increases the potential for conflict and requires us to be more thoughtful about the nature of tolerance. . Required fields are marked *. The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments, and the effect of Gods laws and commandments does not diminish the purpose and effect of His love. 21 Oct 1975 . Currently, he is the second most senior apostle by years of service and is . But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help. Sustaining of General Authorities, Area Seventies, and General Officers. As to less extreme behaviors, where even believers disagree on whether or not they are wrong, the nature and extent of what we should tolerate is much more difficult to define. . Login . Some Christians look on this as the time when individuals are assigned to heaven or hell. For this purpose we must walk together on the same path in order to secure our freedom to pursue our separate ways when that is necessary according to our separate beliefs. That is my Lord whose names you revile. (Improvement Era, May 1953, p. . I close with this assurance and this testimony: The Bible teaches that one of the functions of a prophet is to be a watchman to warn Israel (see Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7). 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. One about the role of the Book of Mormon in sharing the gospel and the other in knowing the l Many good, religious-minded . : but judge righteous judgment (JST, Matthew 7:12; see also John 7:24, Alma 41:14). 8746 (1319 August 2011): 14; Patrik Jonsson, Is the US a Nation of Liars? US News,The Christian Science Monitor,103, no. 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. 2022. Even the Savior, during his mortal ministry, refrained from making final judgments. This is the second time in two years that a leader of the Church was invited to speak at the summit. 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. Speaking at BYU a decade later, a Muslim scholar, Dr. Alwi Shihab, an Indonesian, elaborated that idea in these words: To tolerate something is to learn to live with it, even when you think it is wrong and downright evil. Having discussed the balancing of truth and tolerance in our personal behavior and in our relations with associates, I come to a different and more difficult circumstance. In the balance between truth and tolerance, tolerance can be dominant where the behavior does not involve us personally. . The Church Handbook of Instructions 32.0 states: . . 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. King Benjamin taught: Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. We do not need to judge nearly so much as we think we do. I left last weekend's LDS General Conference inspired and uplifted. . Introductory Message. My dear young brothers and sisters, Kristen and I feel privileged to be with you on this significant occasion. What he did say is difficult to bear, but perhaps somewhat less difficult if we examine its context. Charles Francis Adams, 10 vols. 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. 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. Collection: Jesus Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer, BYU Speeches
May we grow in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom I testify, as our Redeemer, our Creator, and our Savior. cannot be judged as dress-goodsby a yard or so of sample unrolled from a bolt on the counter. [John 13:3435]. Sometimes urgent circumstances require us to make preliminary judgments before we can get all of the facts we desire for our decision making. . I begin with three absolute truths. I am not to blame for what happened to me as a child. Satan says we are not. Giving to those in need the poor and distressed is a principle in all Abrahamic religions, and in others as well. President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, opened Conference by answering the question, "What does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members give . We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey Gods commandments in a succession of right choices. bid her therefore that she help me (v. 40). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are enriched by associations with different peoples, which remind us of the wonderful diversity of the children of God. 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. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others. In an essay titled Sitting in the Seat of Judgment, the great essayist William George Jordan reminded us that character. The doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. Two experiences illustrate the importance of caution in judging. 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. President Oaks' conference talk summary . Whether or how we might seek to obtain laws that would compel or influence behavior that we deem desirable because of our belief in God and His commandments is too large a subject for adequate treatment in the concluding few minutes of my talk.