Days before traveling to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to dedicate a new Latter-day Saint temple in the city, President Dallin H. Oaks celebrated his 94th birthday on Wednesday.
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Set apart as the president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nine months ago on Oct. 14, President Oaks has addressed the global membership of the church, engaged in media interviews and spoken to students at Brigham Young University.
Here are a few of the topics he has spoken about as president of the church.
1. The Church of Jesus Christ is family-oriented
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a family-oriented church, and that doesn’t just mean that we pull together as a family in our life on earth, but we began as a family — spirit children of heavenly parents. …
“We are here to further our growth toward eternal beings as children of eternal heavenly parents.”
— Olsen family reunion in Joe’s Valley, Utah, July 4, 2026
2. Jesus Christ is the way
When asked to summarize his message to the church in his first media interview as prophet, President Oaks said “Jesus Christ is the way.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ is “a gospel of happiness and growth and information about the purpose of life. People who subscribe to its doctrine find that it makes their life more happy, more significant, more resistant to the difficulties we all experience in mortal life, and more able to serve their fellow men and to raise their children.”
— First interview as prophet, Oct. 16, 2026
3. Knowledge of the Resurrection changes perspective
The Resurrection is “a pillar of our faith. … The conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity changes the whole perspective of our mortal life. It affects how we look on the physical challenges of mortality. It gives us the strength and perspective to endure the mortal challenges faced by each of us and by those we love. (And) it signifies that mortal deficiencies are only temporary. …
“Our belief in the Resurrection also encourages us to fulfill our family responsibilities in mortality.”
— “Alive in Christ,” April 2026 general conference
4. Christ is the antidote to deception
“You live in a season where the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many. … I want to help all our members overcome present or future doubts. Whatever those doubts, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Again and again, he has taught us that he is the way.”
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— BYU devotional, Feb. 10, 2026
5. Trust in the Lord builds optimism
“By all means, people should not be depressed because we are surrounded with challenges, whether they are economic or political or social. That is part of what we were put here to experience. … We are optimistic because we trust the Lord and know that he loves us and he set us up to succeed, not to fail.”
— Interview in Burley, Idaho, Jan. 11, 2026
6. Christ’s love is perfect
“Truly, Jesus Christ is the way to peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come. He knows and loves each of us perfectly, and invites us to walk with him, abide in him, and follow his example of ministering to others one by one in charity and love.
“We have been reminded of the central role of marriage and families in our Heavenly Father’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. May we demonstrate the pure love of Christ in our families, in our communities, and in all of our interactions with God’s children.”
— Social media post, April 5, 2026
7. Science and religion are not at odds
“We are grateful to know that there are two methods of gaining needed knowledge. One, the arm of flesh in the evolving disclosures of the scientific method and two, truths disclosed by the spiritual method, which begins with faith in God and relies on scriptures, inspired teaching and personal revelation.
“There is no ultimate conflict between knowledge gained by these different methods because God, our omnipotent Eternal Father, knows all truth and beckons us to learn by them both.”
— BYU devotional, Feb. 10, 2026
8. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true
“When I say that I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, I’m talking about something I know as well as I know that I live, breathe and think and enjoy the blessings of God and the knowledge of his plan for his children. And making all that possible is our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.”
— Olsen family reunion in Joe’s Valley, Utah, July 4, 2026
9. Life is a journey
“Sometimes we consider the commandments of the Lord and experiences we could aspire to in this life as a checklist, and we check off different points. I think it is much more wholesome to think of our mortal journey as a journey from birth to a return to where our Heavenly Father wants us to be.”
— Interview in Burley, Idaho; Jan. 11, 2026
10. Forgo contention and ‘seek to be holy’
“My brothers and sisters, as followers of Christ, let us follow him by forgoing contention and by using the language and methods of peacemakers. In our families and other personal relationships, let us avoid what is harsh and hateful. Let us seek to be holy, like our Savior.”
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— “Alive in Christ,” April 2026 general conference