President Dallin H. Oaks was sustained first counselor in the First Presidency on Jan. 14, 2018. He served as president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980, and was a Utah Supreme Court justice from 1980 until his resignation in 1984 to accept his calling as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
Born on Aug. 12, 1932, President Oaks is a native of Provo, Utah. He and his late wife, June Dixon Oaks, are the parents of six children. She died July 21, 1998. On Aug. 25, 2000, he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple.
In honor of his 89th birthday, here are nine quotes from President Oaks in the past year.
Absolute truth
“We affirm absolute truth, including the existence of God and the right and wrong established by His commandments. The existence of God and the necessity of absolute truth are fundamental to life on this earth, whether a majority believe them or not.”
— The Abundant Life Conference for single adults in the North America West Area, Aug. 8, 2021
Revelation
“Revelation is the ultimate objective of the council, either revelation in the council, revelation to participants or revelation to presiding officers.”
— Church News “Inside Church Headquarters” series, Aug. 5, 2021
‘Lead out in demonstrating inclusion’
“We live in a time when inclusion is needed — in political relations, in cultural relations, in legal relations — and it’s not forthcoming in our society. As a Church and as a culture, we need to lead out in demonstrating inclusion, not descent, diversity, diversion or opposition.”
— SUPer DUPer Day at This Is the Place Heritage Park, July 19, 2021
Defending the U.S. Constitution
“Our original Constitution, adopted in 1787, had what our distinguished [former] Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, herself a member of our most prominent minority, called some ‘birth defects.’ Nevertheless, it was our best hope for freedom and self-government. It remains so. Let us be united to defend the great principles of the United States Constitution and to use our precious freedoms to further the work of our faith and to serve our fellow men.”
— Freedom Awards Gala, July 1, 2021
Adapting missionary work
“Because of what [missionaries] must do in this new environment, they will be better prepared for leadership in today’s world, in their homes, in the Church and in the world.”
— Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 25, 2021
The Savior at the center
“Place the Savior at the center of your teachings of your students and you will have that power. … As you draw closer to Christ, your students will draw closer to you and to Him. Your capacity to teach the truth they need will increase, and your capacity to love them and discern their needs will be magnified.”
— Church Educational System broadcast, June 4, 2021
‘What has Jesus Christ done for each of us?’
“What has Jesus Christ done for each of us? He has done everything that is essential for our journey through mortality toward the destiny outlined in the plan of our Heavenly Father. … Motivating all of this is ‘the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things’ (1 Nephi 11:22).”
— “What Has Our Savior Done for Us?” April 2021 general conference
Change needs to be personal
“The changes that will help us become what our Heavenly Father wants us to become are not changes by the Church in its policies or practices, but changes by you and me made in our individual desires and actions.”
— Devotional for Spanish-speaking young adults, March 14, 2021
‘Unite in love’
“Only the gospel of Jesus Christ can unite and bring peace to people of all races and nationalities. We who believe in that gospel — whatever our origins — must unite in love of each other and of our Savior Jesus Christ.”
— BYU devotional, Oct. 27, 2020
