Gen. Robert Oaks, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and a gospel doctrine teacher in his home ward in Germany, recently addressed the historical Oxford University Student Union on personal faith in God and the importance of adhering to religious principles.
His remarks, titled "Common Values of Religion and the Professional World," were well received by the audience of more than 200 people."I am not here this evening to speak about the things you might expect me to address," began Gen. Oaks. "I am not here to talk about the threat to NATO forces in Europe or about the scale down of U.S. air forces on the continent. The topic I have been asked to talk about - personal faith and religious values in large governmental or business organizations - is probably more important than any of the topics I normally address."
Gen. Oaks related several incidents of how his religious convictions and faith in God have enabled him to excel in his professional life. He said, "I believe that faith and adherence to religious values and principles and active participation in an organized religion is a tremendous asset in a person's organizational life."
The first experience the general recounted was how, as a young cadet at the Air Force Academy, he was told by a senior officer, "Oaks, to survive in the Air Force you're going to have to change some of your habits."
Gen. Oaks noted that the officer was referring to his adherence to the Word of Wisdom and that to become more accepted in Air Force circles, Cadet Oaks had better take a drink or a smoke here and there. His reaction was that if such a statement were indeed true, he would rather leave the Air Force immediately than compromise his religious standards. The officer then admitted such a course of action would not be necessary.
"I am convinced that living by a personal set of standards need not be an impediment to success in a large organization," he said. "The basic tenets of the Judeo-Christian ethic are very pragmatic rules by which to run your life. . . . Organizations spend a lot of time and a great deal of their resources searching for and developing people who are hard-working, law-abiding and honest. People who bring these values to an organization have every right to expect to succeed."
The invitation to Gen. Oaks to speak at Oxford University was arranged through the general's youngest son, Elder Brock Oaks, now serving in the England London South Mission, and by Michael Benson, a doctoral student at Oxford and a member of the Oxford Ward.
"Elder Oaks and I thought it would be a tremendous missionary opportunity to have a four-star general address Oxford students on what his religion means to him and how it has affected his professional life," Brother Benson said.
When Elder Oaks responded that his father was indeed willing to address the union, arrangements were made to sponsor the general's trip through the local L'Chaim Jewish Student Society. Brother Benson introduced Elder Oaks and the other missionaries serving in the Oxford Ward to Rabbi Schmuel Boteach, who in turn made all the necessary arrangements to accommodate the general's visit.
The missionaries then assisted the Jewish students in publicizing the general's speech by passing out flyers and putting up posters all over town. The result was a capacity crowd in the Oxford Union's historical Old Library.
In remarks at a pre-speech dinner sponsored by the L'Chaim society, Rabbi Boteach praised the coordinated efforts of the Jewish and LDS communities.
"This is probably the first time in history that a Mormon general has spoken under the auspices of a Hasidic Jewish student society," he said.
In attendance at the dinner were several prominent members of the Oxford University community as well as Pres. and Sister Vann F. Dunn of the England London South Mission and other missionaries from the Oxford area.
The dinner and Gen. Oaks' speech were covered by local news media, and the Oxford student newspaper - The Cherwell - ran a story on the teachings of the Church and on the visit of Gen. Oaks.