Last week (you heard right), late on Thursday night, I posted a heartfelt tribute to an Apostle of the Lord, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who earlier that evening had received the prestigious Canterbury Medal for his lifetime service in promoting ReligiousFreedom! Early the next morning, our dear prophet's wife, Frances, passed away; turning our attention immediately in that direction as we have mourned together, as a faith community. Tomorrow, we will honor her life and continue to offer up prayers of comfort and support for the entire Monson family.
However, today, I'd like to take the opportunity to, once again, bring it to your attention, and share with you my personal thoughts and feelings about Elder Oaks. And because I wrote the post less than a week ago, I will not repost it, but simply add some thoughts about the family, which is why I've decided to do #WRW. I will share an excerpt here and invite you to follow a link to read in its entirety:
I am a proud ‘student’ of Elder Oaks', nearly beaming with delight on his behalf. It must be such a satisfying feeling to have spent so much of one’s energy in life teaching these righteous principles of truth, but also feel humble to then receive such an honor. “The free exercise of religion is the basic civil liberty because faith in God and His teachings and the active practice of religion are the most fundamental guiding realities of life," Elder Oaks said.
I also loved hearing, as reported by the Mormon Newsroom that Princeton Professor Robert P. George, serves on the Becket Fund Board of Directors. If that name sounds vaguely familiar, it should. George is one of the three authors of the very important book, "What is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense" “George praised Elder Oaks not only for being an example to “people like myself, Catholics and Evangelicals, people of other faiths who look to Dallin Oaks not only for his excellent judgment and leadership as a lawyer, but also for his great love of God and the great witness he gives as a man of God.””
This year, I have personally seen a great uniting of many faiths as we have pulled together in defense of religious freedom, so that we might better defend values such as traditional marriage. In my opinion, It is no wonder that George would think so highly of Elder Oaks, as they share the same love for righteous principles. I sincerely believe that these are the points of truth upon which the children of God will ultimately find unity, as one, in Christ. We need each other, and it is truth that will bring us together.
Which brings me to 'why' my ultimate love for religious freedom: it allows those who love truth, to find one another. It allows truth to be revealed. Without the maintenance of religious freedom, we become a bound people without the ability to freely express and live who we are. However, we will only lose our freedoms by not speaking up to maintain them. We lose our freedom through our own fear.
You can read the entire poste here:
Dallin H. Oaks: Teacher, Tutor, Recipient of Prestigious Canterbury Medal for Religious Freedom
There is nothing so great that we do with our voice in the public square, in exercising our right of free speech, than protecting our religious freedom. Elder Oaks, in receiving this Medal, one of the most honorable awards in the secular sphere, as a Church we should be so proud of this man, an Apostle of the Lord, for upholding, so beautifully the ways and means whereby The Family: A Proclamation to the World is enabled to still be upheld by you and I; for now. His service, on our behalf, has been his life's work and service unto the Lord, and a benefit to all mankind.
It is a privilege to continue to live in the way we desire each and everyday of our lives. It’s a blessing to live in a country where the number of children we desire to have is not limited; nor their gender discriminated against. In fact, we don’t even give these things a second thought in the manner that some countries are forced. Currently, we are in a global battle to preserve the definition of marriage between a man and a woman, and continue to see radical changes never before imagined.
These basic elements are what allow us to form the basic unit of strong and healthy societies and communities; the family. The family as God has ordained, was the entire purpose for the Plan of Salvation: “…to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39) not alone, but as families. The importance of maintaining religious freedom in the public square is centered in our ability to preserve the family as ordained by God.
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
More Worth Repeating Wednesday:
Worth Repeating Weds: There's a NEW Normal? I Think NOT.
Photo: Mormon Newsroom
Kathryn Skaggs
More Worth Repeating Wednesday:
Worth Repeating Weds: There's a NEW Normal? I Think NOT.
Photo: Mormon Newsroom
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