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Dallin H. Oaks Quotes

Dallin Harris Oaks is an American jurist, educator, and religious leader who since 2018 has been the First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was called as a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984. Currently, he is the second most senior apostle by years of service and is the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. However, consistent with long-established practice, due to Oaks serving in the First Presidency, M. Russell Ballard currently serves as the quorum's acting president.

Oaks was born and raised in Provo, Utah. He studied accounting at Brigham Young University , then went to law school at the University of Chicago, where he was editor-in-chief of the University of Chicago Law Review and graduated in 1957 with a J.D. cum laude. After law school, Oaks clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren at the U.S. Supreme Court. After three years as an associate at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis, Oaks returned to the University of Chicago in 1961 as a professor of law. He taught at Chicago until 1971, when he was chosen to succeed Ernest L. Wilkinson as the president of BYU. Oaks was BYU's president from 1971 until 1980 and was then appointed to the Utah Supreme Court, on which he served until his selection to the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984.

During his professional career, Oaks was twice considered by the U.S. president for nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court: first in 1975 by Gerald Ford, who ultimately nominated John Paul Stevens, and again in 1981 by Ronald Reagan, who ultimately nominated Sandra Day O'Connor. Wikipedia  

✵ 12. August 1932
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Dallin H. Oaks: 10 quotes6 likes

Famous Dallin H. Oaks Quotes

“Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Desire https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/desire, Dallin H. Oaks, April 2011

“If we choose the wrong road, we choose the wrong destination.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Be Not Deceived https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/10/be-not-deceived, Dallin H. Oaks, October 2004

“The Atonement of Jesus Christ and the healing it offers do much more than provide the opportunity for repentance from sins. The Atonement also gives us the strength to endure 'pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind,' because our Savior also took upon Him 'the pains and the sicknesses of his people' (Alma 7:11). Brothers and sisters, if your faith and prayers and the power of the priesthood do not heal you from an affliction, the power of the Atonement will surely give you the strength to bear the burden.”

Dallin H. Oaks

He Heals the Heavy Laden https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/he-heals-the-heavy-laden, Dallin H. Oaks, October 2006

“Unpopular minority religions are especially dependent upon a constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion. We are fortunate to have such a guarantee in the United States, but many nations do not. The importance of that guarantee should make us ever diligent to defend it.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Fundamentals of Our Consitutions http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/fundamentals-of-our-constitutions-elder-dallin-h-oaks, 17 September 2010

“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.”

Dallin H. Oaks

" Criticism https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/02/criticism?lang=eng," edited version of a talk delivered at a Latter-day Saint Student Association fireside in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on 4 May 1986), LDS.org

“I submit that religious values and political realities are so inter-linked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of religion in our public life without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms.”

Dallin H. Oaks

" Dallin H Oaks - Religious Liberty's Canterbury Medal http://www.deseretnews.com/topics/561/Dallin-H-Oaks.html", Becket Fund for Religious Liberty Statement

Dallin H. Oaks Quotes

“It's wrong to criticize leaders of the church, even if the criticism is true.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Part Two Transcript http://www.pbs.org/mormons/etc/script2.html, The Mormons, Dallin H. Oaks, 2007

“None should resist the plea that we unite to increase our concern for the welfare and future of our children — the rising generation.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Dallin H. Oaks http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865563944/Elder-Oaks-advocates-for-children-during-Saturday-afternoon-session.html?pg=all, Dallin H. Oaks Advocates for Children, Deseret News, 6 October 2012

“If you wish to marry well, inquire well.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Divorce https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/divorce, Dallin H. Oaks, April 2007

“You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need won't satisfy you.”

Dallin H. Oaks

Joy and Mercy http://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/11/joy-and-mercy, Dallin H. Oaks, November 1991

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