Elder Dallin H. Oaks on personal political involvement

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"Our belief in divine inspiration gives Latter-day Saints a unique responsibility to uphold and defend the United States Constitution and principles of constitutionalism wherever we live. We should trust in the Lord and be positive about this nation’s future.

"What else are faithful Latter-day Saints to do? We must pray for the Lord to guide and bless all nations and their leaders. This is part of our article of faith. Being subject to presidents or rulers of course poses no obstacle to our opposing individual laws or policies. It does require that we exercise our influence civilly and peacefully within the framework of our constitutions and applicable laws. On contested issues, we should seek to moderate and unify.

"There are other duties that are part of upholding the inspired Constitution. We should learn and advocate the inspired principles of the Constitution. We should seek out and support wise and good persons who will support those principles in their public actions. We should be knowledgeable citizens who are active in making our influence felt in civic affairs....

"There are many political issues, and no party, platform, or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences. Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time. Then members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election.

"Such independent actions will sometimes require voters to support candidates or political parties or platforms whose other positions they cannot approve. That is one reason we encourage our members to refrain from judging one another in political matters. We should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate. We teach correct principles and leave our members to choose how to prioritize and apply those principles on the issues presented from time to time."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution," General Conference April 2021 Sunday afternoon

President Oaks is uniquely qualified to prepare and deliver this kind of discourse. His background in legal training and experience are remarkable, along with his apostolic calling. He spoke about the United States Constitution as a foundational document for countries throughout the world, and described the inspired moral principles it lays out to help define our associations and interactions.  President Oaks, in these remarks, built upon some of his previous writings (see for example "The Divinely Inspired Constitution," Ensign February 1992)

I thought President Oaks' counsel on our political opportunities and obligations was so appropriate and timely. We must be educated and aware of the Constitution's principles, and use that understanding to guide our selections and participation. It was especially gratifying to hear his counsel about our choices and involvement in politics, based on that understanding. It is impossible to have a party, or even an individual, that will fully agree with all of our priorities. We regulary have to "pick and choose" based on what we personally feel is most important. But we must never judge or criticize others who choose otherwise! We should seek inspiration on how best to use our agency and influence. Very wise counsel.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)

President Dallin H. Oaks on appropriate behavior in disagreements

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"We live in a time of anger and hatred in political relationships and policies. We felt it this summer when some went beyond peaceful protests and engaged in destructive behavior. We feel it in some current campaigns for public offices. Unfortunately, some of this has even spilled over into political statements and unkind references in our Church meetings.

"In a democratic government we will always have differences over proposed candidates and policies. However, as followers of Christ we must forgo the anger and hatred with which political choices are debated or denounced in many settings....

"Loving our enemies and our adversaries is not easy.... But it must be essential, for it is part of the Savior’s two great commandments to 'love the Lord thy God' and to 'love thy neighbour as thyself' (Matthew 22:37, 39)....

"The Savior’s teaching not to 'contend with anger' is a good first step. The devil is the father of contention, and it is he who tempts men to contend with anger. He promotes enmity and hateful relationships among individuals and within groups. President Thomas S. Monson taught that anger is 'Satan’s tool,' for 'to be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.' (Ensign Nov 2009, 68.) Anger is the way to division and enmity. We move toward loving our adversaries when we avoid anger and hostility toward those with whom we disagree. It also helps if we are even willing to learn from them."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Love Your Enemies," General Conference October 2020, Saturday afternoon session
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In this message, President Oaks addressed one of the very troubling issues of our time. Over many years, I've watched these expressions of angry confrontation and personal disagreement, but never worse than the current year. The complexities of the COVID pandemic and the conflicts resulting from racial tensions have combined with a contentious political situation to perhaps "bring out the worst" in people. On each of these three situations, I have seen such angry attacks by people who ought to know better. I have read and heard things from people on each side of each of these issues questioning the intelligence of their "opponents" and accusing them of lack of basic moral sense, or worse questioning motives and accusing of evil intentions. It's amazing to me how "bi-directional" these accusations are!

President Oaks acknowledged the challenge as well, but reminded us that there is a better way.

We must learn to accept that differing opinions can exist. Instead of attacking in anger, we must learn to listen and try to understand. Never is the Golden Rule more important, and the challenge to love our enemies more directly applicable.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2020)

President Dallin H. Oaks on intellectual principles and the gospel of Christ

President Dallin H. Oaks (born August 12, 1932) served as president of BYU from 1971-1980.  He was then appointed as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court, and resigned when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1984. He became President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and also 1st Counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.

"Those who govern their thoughts and actions solely by the principles of liberalism or conservatism or intellectualism cannot be expected to agree with all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As for me, I find some wisdom in liberalism, some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism—but I find no salvation in any of them.

"The role of a preacher or a practitioner of righteousness is not to be popular with the world or to be esteemed by any particular group, but to be right with God. Isaiah affirmed that fact when he condemned the rebellious 'which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.' (Isa. 30:10.) It is easy to preach freedom or truth. Praise for those subjects is usually safe and always popular. It is infinitely more difficult to preach how men and women should use freedom or truth. The preacher of that message may command respect, but he or she will not win popularity.

"I conclude with a message of hope. When Isaiah condemned the critics of his day, he concluded with a prophecy. He said that in time the children of God would sanctify his name and 'fear the God of Israel.' Continuing, he declared, 'They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.' (Isa. 29:23–24.) In that spirit I pray for the day when all of us will know God and keep his commandments. In that day, as Isaiah foretold, the 'king shall reign in righteousness,' and 'the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.' (Isa. 32:1, 17.)"

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Critisicm," talk to an LDSSA fireside on 4 May 1986; see Ensign, February 1987, p. 68-70
Click here to read the full talk

This thought-provoking talk was shared with a gathering of young adults early in President Oaks' service as an apostle. His views on learning and philosophy are very interesting in light of that new focus of his life. I appreciate his open-minded description of finding merit in a variety of approaches to life and politics: liberalism, conservatism, and intellectualism. But the critical distinction is between finding wisdom and insight, and finding salvation:

President Oaks makes a critical distinction between the teaching of intellectual principles and the insights of the gospel. While it's one thing for a man to talk about ideas like truth and freedom, it's quite another to discuss how to use those ideas in practical daily living.

The key for us is to learn doctrine and to obey commandments. With those two priorities, the rest of the intellectual endeavors will fall into their proper places.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)