Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered young adults worldwide an apostolic blessing in a Sunday devotional broadcast, that they may obtain a witness of President Dallin H. Oaks as a recently called prophet of God and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“In my apostolic authority,” the Latter-day Saint apostle said, “I bless you (that) as you seek to prepare yourself for our Savior’s return, that you will be given a confirming witness of the Lord’s prophet and of the sacred power of his holy house.”
In the devotional broadcast, Elder Andersen spoke of two of the “greatest compensatory blessings” — the prophet and the temple — and shared how he obtained his own witness that President Oaks is a prophet of God, called and prepared to lead the church at this time.
He also highlighted some of the prophet’s teachings and shared a series of videos where he and Latter-day Saint young adults in Washington D.C. discussed these teachings.
“Along with the power of his Spirit,” Elder Andersen said, “the prophet and the temple are two powerful compensatory blessings the Lord has given us in our troubled world, to separate good from evil, to understand our true purpose and our mortality, and to truly become his disciples.
“I bear witness of President Dallin H. Oaks. He has been prepared and refined in the fire of adversity, renewed in his body and his mind to lead us at this time, to speak in the name of the Lord.”
The devotional, titled “The Prophet and the Temple Point Us to Jesus Christ,” was broadcast from the grounds of the Washington D.C. Temple, and also included a few short testimonies from Elder Andersen’s wife, Sister Kathy Andersen.
A prophet called to testify of Christ
After expressing the love the recently reorganized First Presidency of the church has for its young adults, Elder Andersen recounted the “very sacred experience” of participating in the presidency’s reorganization on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
“It was on that day that we met as 14 ordained apostles, fasting and fervently praying for the Lord’s blessing,” Elder Andersen said.
He explained that reorganizing a new First Presidency is a time that “bridges heaven and earth,” and said that he and all of the other apostles received a “powerful and unforgettable spiritual witness” that President Oaks was to serve as prophet as they placed their hands on his head to ordain and set him apart.
“I give you my solemn and humble witness that he is the Lord’s prophet upon the earth,” he said. “He knows the voice of the Lord. He will guide us in truth and point us toward the Lord Jesus Christ. (And) as we are willing, as we’re teachable, our minds and spirit will be expanded, and the powers of heaven will bless our lives.”
Elder Andersen noted that for the past 41 years, President Oaks has testified as an apostle and “special witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now a prophet, President Oaks will continue to teach of Jesus Christ, Elder Andersen said, and his words should be received as if from the mouth of the Lord, “in all patience and faith.”
A prophet prepared to ‘help shape each of us’
President Oaks has been “preserved, prepared (and) refined through more than nine decades,” Elder Andersen told young adults.
“In general conference a month ago, he spoke of his enormous sadness at age seven when his father passed away,” Elder Andersen said.
He then briefly outlined how President Oaks’ “mind and spirit blossomed” in his youth, leading him to earn a law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and then become clerk to the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court at the time, Justice Earl Warren.
“This began a road that would present to this young man of intelligence and capacity, enormous opportunities in the world,” Elder Andersen stated. Yet, “President Oaks was not drawn away from the Lord’s plan for him by the many offers of financial prosperity and worldly acclaim.
“Instead, he followed those quiet promptings as the Lord led him along.”
Elder Andersen then spoke of President Oaks’ time as the “dynamic and visionary university president of BYU,” which he was named as at age 38.
President Oaks was warm, “personable and beloved by the students,” Elder Andersen said. He presented a clip of President Oaks speaking to the university’s students in 1975. And there, President Oaks detailed his efforts to connect with the student body he served.
These efforts included grabbing a tray and enjoying lunch with a “surprise group of students,” from time to time, so that he could eliminate the distance between him and the university’s students.
“How grateful I am that the Lord has preserved Dallin Harris Oaks through these many decades — teaching him, tutoring him and preparing him for these final years of his life,” Elder Andersen later stated. “... The Lord has shaped his heart and will use him to help shape each of us as he serves as God’s prophet upon the earth.”
Three of President Oaks’ frequent teachings
In a part of the devotional, Elder Andersen outlined three topics President Oaks has addressed frequently, sharing video compilations of his teachings on such topics through the years and a series of prerecorded conversations where Elder Andersen and young adults in Washington D.C. discussed these topics and President Oaks’ teachings on them.
The three topics he outlined are: 1) standing for truth, 2) family, marriage and children, and 3) revelation.
“As you know, in listening to President Oaks through the years, he is unafraid to speak the truth with love,” Elder Andersen said. “I admire his courage. He is always kind and thoughtful in his speech, but he is direct in helping us know what is right.”
In one of the video compilations shown, President Oaks taught: “We must stand fast against the values and practices that draw us away from the Lord’s teachings and our covenants, privileges and obligations. We can do this with love.
“We can still love others and find common ground without compromising the truths we know.”
Reflecting on President Oaks’ most recent teachings on the family, Latter-day Saint young adult Joy expressed her appreciation for his teachings, especially being a single mother.
“I really liked how President Oaks addressed everyone, and I liked how he acknowledged that not all situations are happy,” she said. “… I just felt very seen by him addressing people in not traditional situations.”
Thoughts from Sister Andersen
At different points of Elder Andersen’s message, Sister Andersen stood to testify with him of the blessings of temples and having a living prophet.
“I am so excited for the opportunity in the coming days, whether at a stake conference or watching general conference, to be able to raise my hand and sustain President Dallin H. Oaks as a prophet, seer and revelator,” she said.
“And until that moment when I can raise my hand very, very high, in my heart and in my prayers, I thank my Heavenly Father for this beloved man who is now the prophet of God.”
Sister Andersen then shared a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants that she and her husband have often spoken of when thinking of President Oaks. This scripture cites the Lord speaking about Joseph Smith’s brother, Hyrum Smith. But Sister Andersen said it also represents the “heart of President Dallin H. Oaks.”
“For I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart,” the scripture reads, “and because he loveth that which is right before me.”
Young adults’ expressions of love for President Oaks
Also weaved throughout his message, Elder Andersen welcomed expressions of love for President Oaks that young adults worldwide prerecorded for the devotional. These came everywhere from northern Canada to the Philippines and expressed appreciation for President Oaks’ teachings.
“Hi, President Oaks,” a group of young adults in northern Canada stated together.
“We just wanted to let you know that we’re thinking of you and Sister Oaks. We’re sending you guys our prayers and love from northern Canada.”
“Hi from Ogden, Utah, President Oaks,” stated another group of young adults. “We are so grateful for your counsel, especially on exaltation being a family affair. We love you and sustain you.”
Hi President and Sister Oaks, stated another group from Madrid, Spain. “Thank you for your teachings. We love you.”
