This was an interesting talk because you could see Elder Oaks judicial background. He was very logical in presenting his arguments. He tried to balance love and law, but I think the law part was more forceful. In the morning session, President Uchtdorf also talked about love. I think the love part was more evident in his talk.
Nevertheless, Elder Oaks raised some very good points. A the beginning he stated:
My message is that God's universal and perfect love is shown in all the blessings of His gospel plan, including the fact that His choicest blessings are reserved for those who obey His law. I will begin with four examples which illustrate some mortal confusion between love and law.
Those examples dealt primarily with children desiring parental love over eternal law. One dealt with the issue of how God could let bad things happen to good people. The answer lies with the principle of agency. Elder Oaks stated:
. . . God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency - our power to choose - is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons' choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons - even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another - for this would destroy His plan for eternal progress. He will bless us to endure the consequences of other's choices, but He will not prevent those choices.
Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that "real love does not support self-destructing behavior."
Elder Oaks concludes with this thought that caught my attention:
. . . When family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions.
I'm glad that our family members are striving to keep the commandments.
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"When family members are not united in striving to keep the commandments of God, there will be divisions." We have been so blessed in our family, because we have been united in striving to keep the commandments of God. As a parent, this brings great peace and joy to me. Not that there have not been hard times, but those are small in number when compared to the many blessings and peace we have received in our family.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the part where he talked about how Heavenly Father burdens us all of us, because he loves us. Also, He still loves us, even if we mess up. We just need to repent. God will always be there for us. There was a story about a woman, and she talked about how she had rejected Christ, but he still caused there to be tender mercies happening around her. It was an enjoyable talk about God's, and parental, love
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that both Elder Oaks & President Uchtdorf spoke on the same subject, but took different approaches (apparently dad & I are on the same page). President Uchtdorf's talk has had a more lasting impact, but I'm sure Elder Oaks' talk will be more meaningful to practical minded & logical people. Elder Oaks' talk reminds me of the seminary video by Elder Packer "Mercy cannot rob justice."
ReplyDeleteIn finishing this article, I realize that President Uchtdorf's talk is focused on us loving God, where as Elder Oaks' talk is about "our love for one another or our patient efforts to be united in understanding God's love & God's laws." he made an important point. "That is a matter for parental wisdom, guided by the instpiration of the Lord. There is no area of parental action that is more needful of heavenly guidance or more likely to receive it than the decisions of parents in raising their children & governing their families." I wouldn't think to pray about little issues, but Rob's cousin does,so that is a good example to me that I try & remember.