President Dallin H. Oaks: 'Covenants And Responsibilities'

President Dallin H. Oaks: 'Covenants and Responsibilities''The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God' President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, speaks during the Sunday morning session of the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 7, 2024. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
A covenant is a commitment to fulfill certain responsibilities. Personal commitments are essential to the regulation of individual lives and to the functioning of society.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always emphasized a commitment to making and keeping covenants with God.
Covenants were foundational in the Restoration of the gospel. A fundamental history of God's covenant promises are found in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. The central role of covenants was reaffirmed in the preface the Lord gave for the first publication of His revelations. The early pioneers received spiritual strength and power by making covenants in the Nauvoo Temple before beginning their historic trek to the Rocky Mountains.
Today, Latter-day Saints understand the role of covenants in the restored Church. The Church's growth and its purpose in building temples worldwide is to bless the children of God through temple worship and unique blessings associated with being bound to the Savior through covenants.
Those who have been endowed in a holy temple are responsible to wear a temple garment beneath outer clothing, which reminds them of sacred covenants and promised blessings.
President Dallin H. Oaks , first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the Sunday morning session of April 2024 general conference. He spoke on covenants and responsibilities. The following is a summary of what he said.
President Oaks' talk summaryA covenant is a commitment to fulfill certain responsibilities. Personal commitments are essential to the regulation of individual lives and to the functioning of society.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has always emphasized a commitment to making and keeping covenants with God.
Covenants were foundational in the Restoration of the gospel. A fundamental history of God's covenant promises are found in the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. The central role of covenants was reaffirmed in the preface the Lord gave for the first publication of His revelations. The early pioneers received spiritual strength and power by making covenants in the Nauvoo Temple before beginning their historic trek to the Rocky Mountains.
Today, Latter-day Saints understand the role of covenants in the restored Church. The Church's growth and its purpose in building temples worldwide is to bless the children of God through temple worship and unique blessings associated with being bound to the Savior through covenants.
Those who have been endowed in a holy temple are responsible to wear a temple garment beneath outer clothing, which reminds them of sacred covenants and promised blessings.
See the full text of President Oaks' talk: 'Covenants and Responsibilities' Notable quotes President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "Persons who wear their garments faithfully and keep their temple covenants continually affirm their role as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ."
"The Church of Jesus Christ is known as a church that emphasizes making covenants with God."
"Covenants are inherent in each of the ordinances of salvation and exaltation this restored Church administers."
Who is President Oaks?President Dallin H. Oaks was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984 and as the first counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018. This year, he became the 19th latter-day apostle to reach the age of 90 .President Oaks was a law clerk to Chief Justice Earl Warren at the U.S. Supreme Court and served as a Utah Supreme Court justice until his call to apostleship in 1984.As president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980, he oversaw creation of the J. Reuben Clark Law School and the graduate business school.President Oaks and his late wife, Sister June Dixon Oaks, are the parents of six children. She died July 21, 1998. On Aug. 25, 2000, he married Sister Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple.What has President Oaks done recently?During the October 2023 general conference , he talked about God's plan for His children and the kingdoms of glory available to them.President Oaks participated in a Friend to Friend event in March, where he taught his great-grandchildren and also children globally about listening to Jesus Christ.In conjunction with the Mesa Easter Pageant , "Jesus the Christ," President Oaks visited with cast and crew members in Arizona on March 23. He testified that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ adds "meaning to our doctrine, motivation to our behavior and hope for the future."Read more of President Oaks' general conference addresses , or follow him on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .
Related Story April 2024 general conference: Announcements, talk summaries, session highlights
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President Russell M. Nelson: 'Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys''The significance of these keys being returned to the earth … cannot be overstated' President Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church, speaks in a recorded message shown during the Sunday afternoon session of the 194th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 7, 2024. Screenshot from ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Priesthood keys govern "how the priesthood of God may be used to bring about the Lord's purposes and bless all who accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."
The keys conferred to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple authorized him — and all succeeding Presidents of the Church — to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, to bless all covenant children with the blessings of Abraham, to place a ratifying seal on priesthood ordinances and covenants, and to seal families eternally.
Priesthood keys are what distinguish the Church from any other organization on earth and enable every covenant-keeping man and woman to enjoy "incredible personal spiritual privileges."
The temple is spiritually empowering. "Understanding the spiritual privileges made possible in the temple is vital to each of us today."
The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has for each of His children. The temple is the only place on earth where individuals may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham.
"Let us rejoice in the restoration of priesthood keys which make it possible for you and me to enjoy every spiritual blessing we are willing and worthy to receive."
"The power of these priesthood keys is infinite and breathtaking."
"Consider how your life would be different if priesthood keys had not been restored to the earth."
"Without priesthood keys the Church could serve only as a significant teaching and humanitarian organization but not much more."
President Russell M. Nelson spoke during the Sunday afternoon session of April 2024 general conference about the "incredible personal spiritual privileges" available through the gift of priesthood keys.The following is a summary of what he said.
President Nelson's talk summaryPriesthood keys govern "how the priesthood of God may be used to bring about the Lord's purposes and bless all who accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ."
The keys conferred to Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple authorized him — and all succeeding Presidents of the Church — to gather Israel on both sides of the veil, to bless all covenant children with the blessings of Abraham, to place a ratifying seal on priesthood ordinances and covenants, and to seal families eternally.
Priesthood keys are what distinguish the Church from any other organization on earth and enable every covenant-keeping man and woman to enjoy "incredible personal spiritual privileges."
The temple is spiritually empowering. "Understanding the spiritual privileges made possible in the temple is vital to each of us today."
The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has for each of His children. The temple is the only place on earth where individuals may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham.
"Let us rejoice in the restoration of priesthood keys which make it possible for you and me to enjoy every spiritual blessing we are willing and worthy to receive."
Notable quotes "The power of these priesthood keys is infinite and breathtaking."
"Consider how your life would be different if priesthood keys had not been restored to the earth."
"Without priesthood keys the Church could serve only as a significant teaching and humanitarian organization but not much more."
See the full text of President Nelson's talk: 'Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys' Who is President Nelson? President Russell M. Nelson | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints President Russell M. Nelson became the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018, after serving 34 years in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He is now the oldest President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , as well as the longest-living apostle in this dispensation .A renowned surgeon, President Nelson assisted on the first human open-heart surgery in Utah using a heart-lung machine. In June 2018, the University of Utah honored President Nelson with an endowed chair in surgery.He and his late wife, Sister Dantzel White Nelson , who died in 2005, have 10 children, 57 grandchildren and more than 140 great-grandchildren . He married Sister Wendy Watson in 2006.What has President Nelson done recently?During the October 2023 general conference , he invited listeners to "think celestial ."In January, President Nelson and his counselors met with ambassadors from Iceland and Uzbekistan in Salt Lake City.The next month, the First Presidency met with the president and first lady of the Navajo Nation .More recently, President Nelson joined the Relief Society general presidency in a worldwide devotional celebrating the 182nd anniversary of the organization. President Nelson thanked women for their devotion to the Lord and their efforts to ennoble others.Read more of President Nelson's general conference addresses , or follow him on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .
Related Story See more coverage of the April 2024 general conference
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