President Dallin H. Oaks was born Aug. 12, 1932, in Provo, Utah. He was sustained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 1984 and named first counselor in the First Presidency in January 2018.
President Oaks met June Dixon while attending Brigham Young University, and they married in 1952. They have six children. She died of cancer in 1998. President Oaks married Kristen M. McCain in 2000.
After graduating in accounting from BYU, he received a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School. He clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren at the U.S. Supreme Court, taught at the University of Chicago, was the president of BYU from 1971 until 1980 and then was appointed to the Utah Supreme Court, on which he served until his call to be an Apostle.
President Oaks was a member of the Utah National Guard, Illinois National Guard and Army Reserve.
In honor of President Oaks’ birthday today, here are nine of his quotes from the past year.
1. Repentance
“We can be cleansed from our sins through repentance, and it is a joy, not a burden. When we repent, our loving Savior opens His arms to receive all men and women to enjoy the greatest blessings God has for His children.”
— Facebook post, July 20, 2023
2. Religious freedom
“The members of our Church are members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And fundamental to that doctrine is the right and the obligation of individuals to choose to do what keeps the commandments of God and what furthers the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ as He taught it. And without religious freedom, we are not free to do that.”
— Church News podcast, July 4, 2023
3. Apply both law and love
“I urge you to apply both the law of the gospel and the love and mercy of our Savior and Redeemer, who will help and guide you, if you patiently walk in His paths. Jesus Christ, who said He was the ‘light of the world,’ teaches us the path we need to follow to realize our Heavenly Father’s choicest blessings. He teaches us through the scriptures, through His prophets and through personal revelation. He loves us and will guide us as we seek to follow where He leads us.”
– Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, May 21, 2023
4. The work of temples
“The work of the temples is centered in Jesus Christ. All that is learned and done here relates to Him. ... Temples are essential to our Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. In these houses of the Lord, we are taught the most important things we can learn in mortality, the knowledge of eternity.”
— Richmond Virginia Temple dedication, May 7, 2023
5. ‘We believe in Christ’
“We believe in Christ. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we worship Him and follow His teachings in the scriptures.”
— “The Teachings of Jesus Christ,” April 2023 general conference
6. Brotherly and sisterly love
“What a different world it would be if brotherly and sisterly love and unselfish assistance would transcend all boundaries of nation, creed and color. Such love would not erase all differences of opinion and action, but it would encourage each of us to focus our opposition on actions rather than actors.”
— Address to members of 14 stakes in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, Feb. 11, 2023
7. Followers of Christ
“As followers of Christ, we ought to be the friendliest and most considerate of all people anywhere. We should teach our children to be kind and considerate of everyone. We should, of course, avoid the kinds of associations and activities that compromise our conduct or dilute our faith and worship. But that should not keep us from cooperative efforts with people of every persuasion — believers and nonbelievers.”
— First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, Dec. 4, 2022
8. Helping those in need
“The Church of Jesus Christ is committed to serving those in need, and it is also committed to cooperating with others in that effort.”
— “Helping the Poor and Distressed,” October 2022 general conference
9. Dare to be different
“When we dare to be different, we choose to engage fully in the restored Church. We keep our covenants. We have the courage to follow all the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. We stand up personally for those who are marginalized.”
— Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 13, 2022
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