President Dallin H. Oaks reaffirmed a number of distinctive doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his main talk Sunday at the faith’s 196th Semiannual General Conference.
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President Oaks said the church believes additional revelations will “be brought forth” with accounts of inspired messages Jesus Christ shared with people in other areas of the world.
“This will include accounts of the visit of the resurrected Lord to what we call the lost tribes of Israel and his revelations to all the seed of Abraham,” he said.
President Oaks also reiterated church teachings that:
- The Church of Jesus Christ is so named because it holds that it is literally Christ’s restored church with the fulness of his doctrine and authority.
- Latter-day Saints believe that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are distinct beings.
- The Book of Mormon adds to the knowledge of “how our Savior’s earthly ministry reached out to all of his scattered flock” with its account of his visit to the Americas after his resurrection.
In his closing talk on Sunday afternoon, he invited the world to tour a unique symbol of Latter-day Saint belief, the Salt Lake Temple. The temple will open to the public for six months beginning April 5 for the first time since 1893.
President Oaks delivered a major speech on the Constitution last month at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He is scheduled to deliver welcoming remarks at the Annual G20 Interfaith Forum on Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City.
His comments Sunday about distinctive Latter-day Saints beliefs follow another he made in April during his first general conference talk as church president.
“All mortals are beloved children of God,” he said.
It is a popular belief, though many Christian traditions reject it in favor of one that says all people are God’s creations but only become his spiritual children by accepting Jesus Christ.
Still, 71% of Americans believe they are children of God, according to a recent poll by BYU’s Wheatley Institute.
It is a teaching leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ have emphasized vigorously in recent years and did again on Sunday.
“Our identity is not something we achieve,” Primary General President Rosemary K. Chibota said on Sunday. “It is something we inherit as beloved sons and daughters of God.”
The Latter-day Saint belief that all are literal and spiritual children of God changes the way they think about themselves and treat others she said.
“Seeing others as children of God also influences the way we see ourselves,” she said. She also asked all disciples of Christ “to pray to see others as (God) sees them and to treat them accordingly.”
Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve repeated the teaching directly to Primary children.
“We are children of a loving Heavenly Father,” he said. “This knowledge makes us stronger. This knowledge also makes us kinder to others, knowing that everyone around us is our brother or sister.”
President Oaks promoted peaceable civic dialogue and said that the gospel of Jesus Christ and his grace are for all people.
“The Book of Mormon is a great witness that the Lord loves all people and reaches out to all, everywhere,” he said. “Book of Mormon teachings contradict the erroneous assertion that the grace of God saves only a chosen few,” he said.
At a time when the church has a record number of missionaries and convert baptisms, he noted that, “All around us we see evidence that many in the world are hungry for our Savior Jesus Christ and his teachings.”
Sunday speakers also raised the specters of sickness, poverty, fear, grief, sorrow, doubt, distraction, deception, bullying and natural disaster.
“You might reasonably wonder why a loving and all-powerful God allows our mortal test to be so hard,” said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency.
He shared two reasons. First, God knows that challenges can provide space for his children to experience the growth in spiritual cleanliness they need to be able to live in his presence. Second, trials test his children to determine if they will do what he commands them.
But God sends Jesus Christ and all his faithful disciples to help him keep his promise to comfort, support and provide relief to them in their distress, President Eyring said.
“You are an important part of the Lord’s answers to their prayers for assurance,” he said.
Other speakers Sunday said that because Latter-day Saints make covenants with God, they are united as a covenant people.
“Wherever you are, I invite you to join the Christ-centered unity we are trying to build,” said President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
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He called baptism and the sacrament unifying ordinances that join “us to a worldwide community of Saints” and make a person not only a covenant individual but also a part of a covenant people.
“In the Savior’s Church, it is not our political views, culture, or personal interests that unite us,” he said. “It is our love for God and neighbor. It is our commitment to our covenants with Jesus Christ and to his restored gospel. We are ‘one in Christ.’”
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said ordinances and covenants are spiritual credentials that help his children return to their Father in Heaven.
“For disciples of Jesus Christ, receiving priesthood ordinances and entering into sacred covenants are essential steps in the ‘quest of a lifetime’ to align our hearts, minds and lives with God’s will,” he said.
Covenants are enduring commitments between God and his sons and daughters received through sacred ordinances, or holy acts performed by the authority of the priesthood, he said.
Elder Bednar also referred to a distinctive Latter-day Saint belief.
“The sealing of a man and a woman in the House of the Lord is a crowning covenant and ordinance of the Savior’s restored gospel,” he said.
Sunday’s global audience also learned the meaning of the southern African greeting “Sawubona” — “I see you,” from President Chibota.
“God’s view of us is always more complete and more hopeful than our own,” she said.
“Your Heavenly Father sees you. Your Savior Jesus Christ sees you,” she said. “They know your name, your circumstances, your gifts and your divine potential. As we learn to see ourselves and one another as they do, our homes, wards, schools and communities will become places of belonging, healing and love.”
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged the conference to recognize that integrity and virtue lead to happiness.
“We show our integrity by living virtuous lives and caring for and serving others,” he said. “The ultimate reward of integrity and virtue is the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.”
Happiness is challenged today by a lack of interest in virtue and coarse and crude conduct, language and discourse.
“Any use of the internet to bully, destroy a reputation or place a person in a bad light is reprehensible,” he said.
The solution is integrity, virtue and ongoing repentance, he said.
Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, said young women are crucial and important members of the Church of Jesus Christ and spoke directly to them.
“Today I invite you to look at your life and what you want to achieve with enthusiasm and the certainty that your Father in Heaven will guide you on that journey and show you the best way to make the righteous desires of your heart come true,” she said.
She encouraged them to limit their cellphone use, to protect their sleep by going to bed early and to seek friends who follow God and reinforce their faith.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked listeners to live with courage born of faith in Jesus Christ.
He said faith and courage are hallmarks of Jesus Christ.
“Being his true disciple, overcoming the world, keeping his commandments and trusting in him and his promises is not a casual pursuit,” he said, especially in a world filled with doubts, distractions and deceptions.
“Spiritual courage is the triumph over obstacles, doubt and fear in choosing the right,” he said. “It has always taken spiritual courage, born of faith in Jesus Christ, to be his disciple.”
Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked church members to stand for truth with courage and love using five principles taught by President Oaks.
One, avoid overly contentious settings. Two, find common ground. Three be a light. Fourth, hold to truth even in outreach. Fifth, stay anchored in Jesus Christ.
“For disciples of Jesus Christ, truth and love always walk together,” he said. “I believe teaching truth with love will be the hallmark of Christ’s disciples in the last days. For some this will require greater conviction. For others it will demand greater charity. I know the Lord will help us as we strive to teach truth with love.”
To read more about each talk and see photo galleries of general conference, visit the talk summaries found here.
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