Dallin H. Oaks

The idea that a person can be spiritual or worship God without organized religion is popular in our day. Some may wonder, “Why do we need a church?” While developing a relationship with God is personal and can certainly progress independent of church participation, The Church…

Joseph Smith accomplished more than any mortal man could have accomplished in so short a time. During his 38 and a half years of life, Joseph Smith was a man of the frontier—young, emotional, dynamic, and so loved and approachable by the people that they often called him…

Joseph Smith was the Lord’s instrument in the Restoration in this dispensation. But what did the Lord restore through him? Here is a very brief list of the massive additions the Lord inspired the Prophet Joseph to make to the fullness of Christian doctrine: 1.The nature of…

A common misunderstanding of the judgment that ultimately follows mortal life is that good people go to a place called heaven and bad people go to an everlasting place called hell. This erroneous assumption of only two ultimate destinations implies that those who cannot keep…

We read in the New Testament, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). The “lively hope” we are given by the…

Our Heavenly Father’s Plan provides powerful divine helps to guide us through our mortal journeys. These include the Light or Spirit of Christ; commandments, ordinances, and covenants; manifestations of the Spirit; and the gift of the Holy Ghost, among others. However, by far…

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms that Jesus Christ came forth out of the grave and lives today as a resurrected being. Clear evidence of Jesus Christ’s literal Resurrection—His physical appearance to His disciples and others after His crucifixion—can be…

As we enter in this new year, let us prepare for an Easter celebration of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ culminating in His Resurrection—the most glorious event in history—and contemplate our own future resurrection. How grateful I am for the profound meaning of the…

The scriptures God has given Christians in the Bible and in modern revelation clearly teach the need for a church. We affirm that the scriptures, ancient and modern, clearly teach the origin of and need for a church directed by and with the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.…

All who worship Jesus Christ honor two celebrations of His earthly ministry, Christmas and Easter. Christmas, which we have just celebrated, honors His birth. The understanding of “birth” is universal. In contrast, the significance of “resurrection,” which Easter marks, is not…

Jesus Christ is the most important person who ever lived. He is the God to whom every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is our Creator and Redeemer, the Savior and God of this world.

What is the meaning of the phrase “peace on earth, good will toward men” (see Luke 2:14), shared often during the Christmas season? The heavenly hosts proclaimed good will to all men—to casual friends and to strangers. The Savior taught, “Love thy neighbor as thyself” (see…

When we give thanks in all things, we see hardships and adversities in the context of the purpose of life. We are sent here to be tested. There must be opposition in all things. We are meant to learn and grow through that opposition, through meeting our challenges, and through…

Our Heavenly Father loves all His children so much that He wants us all to live in a kingdom of glory forever. He wants us to live with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, eternally. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses on preparing God’s children for salvation in…

It is significant that among the first principles Jesus taught when He appeared to the inhabitants of the Ancient American continent was to avoid contention. The Savior said, “he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of…

This is a time of many harsh and hurtful words in our public communications and sometimes even in our families. Sharp differences on issues of public policy often result in actions of hostility—even hatred—in public and personal relationships. We need to love and do good to…

President Russell M. Nelson is an absolute joy to serve with. We wish all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could have a sense of just how much he loves them. He truly emulates the Savior as he cares for each and every one of God’s children.

As Latter-day Saints, many of us—not all of us but many of us—are inclined to insist on “the law” and do so in an unloving way. I receive many letters from people who are devastated at the choices being made by someone in their family. As they ask, “What are we to do?,” the…

Kristen and I love spending time together in the outdoors. We feel closer to God when we witness the beauty of the earth that He created. The Book of Mormon teaches us: “All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and…

I have known President @NelsonRussellM, my dear friend, for many years. In that time, he has endured difficulties of varying degrees. Yet he has provided a remarkable example of how understanding the Atonement of Jesus Christ can bring to us heavenly relief in our trials. In…