Notable quotes:
"Because all would sin in our mortal experience and be cut off from God’s presence, man could not be saved without repentance."
"To assure that we will be clean before God, we must repent before the final judgment."
"Our loving Savior opens His arms to receive all men and women on the loving conditions He has prescribed, to enjoy the greatest blessings God has for His children."
Summary points:
Talk summary:
The atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ opens the door for all men to repent and return to the Lord
"My message today is one of hope for all of us, including those who have lost their membership in the Church by excommunication or name removal. We are all sinners who can be cleansed by repentance."
Repentance begins with the Savior — and it is a joy, not a burden.
"Repentance is an essential part of God’s plan. Because all would sin in our mortal experience and be cut off from God’s presence, man could not be saved without repentance."
No one is exempt from the need to repent by forsaking sin and confessing them to the Lord and, where required, a mortal judge.
"We need to partake of the sacrament each Sabbath day. In that ordinance we make covenants and receive blessings that help us overcome all acts and desires that block us from the perfection our Savior invites us to achieve."
All will be subject to a final judgment to determine if one has achieved a "mighty change of heart." The judge will be the Savior, Jesus Christ. "To assure that we will be clean before God, we must repent before the final judgment."
Repentance brings about the Lord's assurance that one's sins are cleansed and forgotten.
"Our loving Savior opens His arms to receive all men and women on the loving conditions He has prescribed, to enjoy the greatest blessings God has for His children."
In the news:
- President Oaks gave a devotional for young married adults in Chicago in February, talking about trials and how to tackle faith-threatening questions.
- In October 2018, President Oaks visited Church members in Florida with Elder David A. Bednar after Hurricane Michael.
- On Dec. 9, 2018, President Oaks dedicated the Barranquilla Colombia Temple, accompanied by Elder Ulisses Soares.
- During October 2018 general conference, President Oaks talked about understanding eternal truths taught in the plan of salvation. He also spoke to mothers and young women during the general women’s session.
About the speaker:
- President Dallin H. Oaks was called to be an apostle for the Church in 1984.
- As a young man, President Oaks obtained a radiotelephone operator’s license and later worked as a radio announcer and engineer.
- President Oaks was a law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren of the U.S. Supreme Court and later served as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court until his call to apostleship in 1984.
Recently on social:
- In an Instagram post on Feb. 4, 2019, President Oaks shared his thoughts with young couples about raising the next generation and promised them that Heavenly Father will help them in their efforts.
- President Oaks visited areas of the United States impacted by hurricanes last year. In a post about his experience, he writes, “What a different world it would be if brotherly and sisterly love and unselfish assistance could transcend all boundaries of nation, creed, and color...Such love would not erase all differences of opinion and action, but it would encourage each of us to focus our opposition on inappropriate actions rather than on actors.”
- President Oaks testified on Twitter of how we are all children of God.
