- President Dallin H. Oaks urged BYU students to strengthen their faith and humility in his first public address as leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- He emphasized the need for guidance from the Holy Ghost and trusting in God when learning through both science and religion.
PROVO — President Dallin H. Oaks gave four suggestions to Brigham Young University students for overcoming concerns and doubts — strengthen faith in Christ, increase humility, seek help from others and be patient.
During his first public address since becoming president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Oaks said the adversary is currently "so effective at disguising truth" that church members will be deceived without guidance from the Holy Ghost.
"Remember, to survive spiritually you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost. An abidance of speculation and false information in podcasts and on social media surround us. Some may protest or question the truth of church doctrine without even knowing or understanding the fullness of that doctrine. Don't be persuaded by false or inaccurate information. Discuss your concerns with faithful, well-informed friends and always take those concerns to the Lord," he said.
BYU President Shane Reese said it was "a wonderful sight" to have the Marriott Center filled to capacity with students who lined up to listen to a prophet of God.
"It is good to be here," President Oaks said at the beginning of his message, noting that he had given multiple addresses at BYU while serving as president of the university beginning in 1971. He was president when BYU reached its 100th anniversary, and now the university is celebrating its 150th.
"I firmly believe that it is the destiny of Brigham Young University to become what past and present prophets knew it could become. With the consecration and leadership of this community, BYU will become the great university of the Lord, not in the world's way but in the Lord's way," he said.
Although his message was directed at BYU students, President Oaks said it applies to any who wish to follow a prophet.
He said there is no conflict between knowledge gained through spiritual methods and scientific methods and God invites learning through both.
"Trusting God in what we know and what we don't know is a great protection against doubts based on mistaken ideas instead of what God has chosen to reveal," he said.
He said overcoming doubts and conflicts between the understanding of science and "sometimes incomplete teachings of religion" can take a long time. He encouraged students to hold to the first Article of Faith, trust in the Lord's timing and busy themselves with service during this process.
"We are all a work in progress, we are all at different places on what President (Russell M.) Nelson called the covenant path. We need to be patient with each other and occasionally even with ourselves," President Oaks said.
President Oaks was sustained as the 18th president of the church on Oct. 14, and succeeded President Nelson. He said in Tuesday's message that within a few months of the death of President Nelson he felt "the heaviness of responsibility" and "important impressions of what I was required to do now."
He expressed gratitude for church members' prayers for him and said everyone needs the prayers of others.
"As your leader, I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us, and that is to be or to become active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities," he said.
President Oaks said humility is a "master virtue" to help people learn other virtues.
"Humility is one of the powerful commandments we have been given to guide us in our mortal journeys," he said.
President Oaks encouraged students not to be distracted, and spoke of former missionaries and youth who have separated themselves from church teachings — specifically noting the instruction to be married and have children.
"Those of diminishing faith and activity in the restored church are a major source of concern to your prophet leaders. We love you young and old, men and women. So does the Lord. God is relentless in his loving pursuit of each of you. Keep the commandments and be true to the covenant so many of you have made to guide you along the covenant path. Never let your secular learning limit your horizons," he said.
Watch his message here:
