Review of General Conference talks of President Dallin H. Oaks,
April 1990 through October 1994
- April 1990 — “World Peace”
- Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace can only come through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Peace is much more than the absence of war. It is the opposite of war. Only one thing can bring peace into the world. It is the adoption of the gospel of Jesus Christ, rightly understood and lived.
- The enemies of peace are hatred, envy, ill-gotten gain, unrighteous dominion, misery, and unhappiness.
- Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye ends of the earth…” and “…all men are privileged, the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”
- This is the formula for peace — keep the commandments of God. War and conflict are the result of wickedness, and peace is the product of righteousness.
- We cannot have peace among nations without achieving general righteousness among the people who comprise them.
- The only was to build a peaceful community is to build men and women who are lovers and makers of peace.
- Citizens of communities and nations further the cause of world peace when they keep the commandments of God and live at peace with family and neighbors.
- What can we do to promote world peace? Keep God’s commandments and serve His children.
- “Love one another and serve one another…” Mosiah 4:15
- By preaching righteousness, our missionaries seek to treat the causes of war. They preach repentance.
- October 1990 — “Witnesses of Christ”
- A member of the Church asked, “Do I have a right to bear testimony of the Savior, or is that the sole prerogative of the Twelve Apostles?”
- Every member of the Church should bear witness of the Savior.
- Adam and Eve set the pattern, receiving at testimony of Jesus from the Holy Ghost and then bearing witness.
- In the Doctrine and Covenants, we are told that church members should witness before the Church that they are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus.
- Baptism, partaking of the Sacrament, our membership in the Church all help us serve as witnesses of Jesus.
- The fundamentals of the Church include Apostles and Prophets testifying that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven.
- We are to stand as witnesses of Jesus at all times, and in all things, and in all places. This applies to every member.
- The testimony of Jesus is rooted in the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
- Peter testified that “we are his witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Ghost.”
- Anna, the prophetess, recognized the Messiah and spoke of him to all who looked for redemption.
- The gospel allows for every man or woman to speak in the name of the Savior of the world.
- The Lord is not well pleased with them who open not their mouths in testimony of the Lord.
- President Lee shared that our divine mission today is to bear witness of the Lord.
- “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
- April 1991 — “Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother”
- “Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long…”
- This commandment relates to the government of the family.
- Children should obey they parents in all righteous things. Love, respect, and confide in your parents.
- We should care for our elderly parents and grandparents with love, care, and attention.
- The best way to care for the aged is to preserve their independence as long as possible.
- The tradition of ‘Old Folks Day’ taught us the importance of caring for our elderly family members.
- Our days upon the land will be lengthened if we as children care for our family members.
- October 1991 — “Joy and Mercy”
- Men are that they might have joy.
- Joy comes from being complete and in harmony with our Creator and His eternal laws.
- Incredible joy comes with the recovery of something precious we fear we have lost.
- For the wicked, misery shall be their doom.
- What do we hear? Mercy from heaven, a voice of gladness for the living and for the dead, glad tidings of great joy.
- All things which come of the earth are made for the benefit and use of man.
- The gospel plan is a great plan of happiness!
- Were it not for our transgression, we should never have had seed, never have known good and evil, or the joy of our redemption, or known eternal life.
- Joy comes from accomplishing worthy goals, even simple things like exercise and good health.
- Only in Christ can our joy be full. Hence the Angel said, I bring you glad tidings of great joy!
- We cannot live again with God but through the merits, and mercies, and grace of the Messiah.
- Alma said, “Oh what joy and what marvelous light I did behold, my soul was filled with joy.”
- The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace.
- When the wicked rule, the people mourn.
- Lasting happiness and ultimate joy come by exercising faith in God and by keeping his commandments.
- April 1992 — “The Relief Society and the Church”
- The Relief Society has great significance for every member of the Church.
- The Relief Society has led out in charitable work.
- The Relief Society has helped sisters obtain work opportunities for the needy, took in the homeless, and made donations to help those in need of food and shelter.
- The society if not only to relieve the poor, but to save souls.
- The study of religious subjects, or Church doctrine and government, might be pursued by women.
- The commission of the Relief Society is the relief of poverty, relief of illness, relief of doubt, relief of ignorance, relief of all that hinders the joy and progress of women.
- Joseph Smith said, “I will organize the women under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.”
- The Relief Society, organized under the First Presidency, teaches us how to act before God, that it may turn to us for our salvation.
- Joseph Smith exhorted the sisters to concentrate their faith and prayers for, and place confidence in, those whom God had appointed to honor, whom God had placed at their head.
- The Relief Society has always functioned and thrived under the direction of the presiding authorities of the priesthood.
- The Relief Society is to be self-governing, but it was not to be an independent organization. It is an integral part of the Church.
- If the Relief Society lives up to their privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being their associates.
- While the sisters have not been given the priesthood, that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. Authority and priesthood are two different things. A brother may have authority given to him or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation.
- The priesthood keys were delivered to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, not to any organization.
- The greatest work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.
- Men have no greater claim than women upon the blessings that issue from the Priesthood and accompany its possession.
- Our sisters do not wish to be indulged or to be treated condescendingly, they desire to be respected and revered as sisters and equals.
- The ultimate and highest expression of womanhood and manhood is in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.
- October 1992 — “Bible Stories and Personal Protection”
- Abraham and Isaac — where is the lamb for the offering, Isaac didn’t resist being placed on the alter (obedience, trust), this was a ‘type’ of God’s sacrifice of His Holy Son.
- Joseph meets a test — he fled from a wicked woman, be ye clean, go ye out from the world.
- Joseph sold into Egypt — he excelled in a very hostile environment, he loved and forgave his brothers, he was literally preserved by the hand of the Lord.
- David fought Goliath — he fought against all odds, I come to thee in the name of God, I will smite thee, stand up against those who mock and revile, God will be our sling and stone.
- Elisha’s servant — those that be with us are greater than those that be with them, surrounded by evil but God is with us.
- Elder Oaks was confronted by a hoodlum in Chicago who threatened him with a gun — he followed the promptings of the Lord and was preserved.
- April 1993 — “The Language of Prayer”
- We use special words and language to convey respect for authority or position. For example, In church callings, in the military, in the mission field, in the judicial and political systems and especially in PRAYER!
- The special language of prayer conveys love, respect, reverence, and closeness. We use thee, thou, thy, and thine in place of you, your, and yours.
- Scriptural examples of prayer wording include Matthew 6;9, John 17:3, Doctrine and Covenants 20:77-79, and Doctrine and Covenants 109:10-12.
- The language of prayer is a distinctive, unique way to show respect to Heavenly Father.
- We avoid flowery or wordy prayers, vain repetitions, and ‘much speaking’. We use simple, direct, sincere prayers.
- At times, people use ‘modern’ or casual language in their prayers. We know Heavenly Father hears all prayers, regardless of the wording, but we should strive for respect using proper prayer language.
- We spend great amounts of time mastering communication skills, musical talent, foreign languages, and computer language. We should also take the time to master the respectful language of prayer.
- The closing phrase in each prayer (‘…in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.’) should be said slowly, clearly, with great dignity and respect. This important phrase should not be rushed, hurried, slurred, or mumbled.
- The proper ending to a prayer is: “…in the name of THY Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.” We use this wording because we are addressing Heavenly Father. The proper ending to a testimony or a talk is: “…In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” The word ‘thy’ is not included because it is not a prayer to Heavenly Father.
- October 1993 — “The Great Plan of Happiness”
- Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Three great questions answered in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- We are spirit children of heavenly parents. There was a great council in heaven that included all of God’s children.
- We learned that a Savior would be provided, and an atonement made available to redeem us all.
- Our actions in the spirit world affected our circumstances here in mortality.
- Satan works to discredit the Lord and his divine authority.
- Maleness, femaleness, marriage, and raising children are all essential parts of the plan of happiness. Gender was part of our pre-mortal identity.
- God declared that he created male and female.
- The ‘fall’ was a part of the divine plan, allowing us not to remain in a state of innocence. We celebrate Eve’s act and decision, her wisdom and courage.
- We should not accuse Adam or Eve of ‘sinning’. They transgressed the law for a purpose.
- Because of the transgression, we now know good from evil, the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life to come.
- The emphasis on chastity is due to our understanding of procreative powers and the accomplishing of God’s plan.
- Sexual sin or transgression stands next to murder in enormity. Likewise, elective abortion is contrary to the Lord’s will.
- No man who is marriageable is fully living his religion if he remains in an unmarried state.
- It is selfish to refuse to have children when we are able to do so.
- The Lord has promised that in the eternities no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters.
- It is not requisite that a man should run faster than that he has strength. After we have done all we can, God will make up the difference.
- April 1994 — “Tithing”
- Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…
- Pay one-tenth of all your interest annually.
- “Tithe payers will have greater wisdom whereby they are able to utilize the remaining nine-tenths.” Heber J. Grant
- Sister Oaks: “When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless me, and we must have those blessings.”
- The mother of Joseph F. Smith: “If I did not pay my tithing, I should expect the Lord to withhold His blessings from me. I pay my tithing, not only because it is a law of God, but because I expect a blessing by doing so.”
- A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.
- “The law of tithing is one of the most important ever revealed to man.” Lorenzo Snow
- October 1994 — “Worship through Music”
- Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, and unify us as members.
- Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns.
- The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit.
- “If I would teach with power, the doctrine of the plan, I’d wish for gentle music, to prepare the soul of man. And then to press forever, these truths upon the mind, We’d sing the hymns of Zion, with their messages sublime.” Elder Nadauld.
- The Savior sang hymns with his apostles, the apostle Paul spoke often of the singing of hymns, and the Lord stated in our day that His soul delights in the song of the heart, that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto him.
- I have read the accounts of angelic choirs joining in with hymns of praise, and I think i have experienced this on several occasions.
- I believe some of us in North America are getting neglectful in our worship, including the singing of hymns.
- Soloists in our meetings should remember that music in our worship services is not for demonstration but for worship. Music should facilitate worship.
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