With Full Purpose of Heart: Collection of Messages by Dallin H. Oaks

by Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, known for his keen gospel insights and precise expression, has been blessing Latter-day Saints with inspired discourses for many years. Now, Deseret Book offers a collection of some of his most popular and powerful addresses in With Full Purpose of Heart. "I hope that bringing them together in one place will facilitate access and cause the persuasiveness of the compiled whole to be greater than the sum of the scattered parts," Elder Oaks says. In this book, he applies latter-day doctrine to the joys and challenges of life as he examines gospel principles related to judging, repentance, revelation, the resurrection, the sacrament, the Atonement, and the Lord's timing. He bears strong testimony of the divinity of the Savior and the plan of salvation, and challenges us to ask What think we of Christ?

Genres: Religion, Lds, Church, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Inspirational

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Dallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He is a former professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School, a former president of Brigham Young University, and a former justice of the Utah Supreme Court. In the 1970s and 1980s, Republican U.S. presidential administrations considered him as a potential nominee to the United States Supreme Court. Currently, he is the second most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church.

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is clarity and fine tuning on many important aspects of the gospel and in governing our lives. I read this slowly over the course of a year sharing thoughts on it with a friend who was tandem reading it with me and who gifted it to me. What a treasure this book is. I highly recommend reading it. I have a sizeable amount of quotes and notes and will revisit often.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! So many wonderful quotes and thoughts and lessons from Elder Oaks! All of the topics and principles are central to the messages of Jesus Christ and having faith in Him and living His teachings. My favorite chapter was about being a witness of Christ and Elder Oaks' very clear call to each of us to be a witness of Jesus Christ - to teach and testify of Him and live our lives according to His teachings. It is becoming evermore important in the world today. As we remember and have faith in Christ we will focus on what's most important, repent, study the Book of Mormon, seek revelation, not judge others, and have faith in the Lord's plan and His timing. I'm grateful for the reminders and examples and testimony that Elder Oaks shares. I love Jesus Christ and know we will be happy as we learn and live His gospel with all our hearts.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"As the Lord led Lehi and his people out of Jerusalem, He said, 'I will be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments' (1 Nephi 17:13). As we keep the Lord's commandments, we see His light ever brighter on our path and we realize the fulfillment of Isaiah's promise: 'And the Lord shall guide thee continually' (Isaiah 58:11). Jesus Christ is also the light of the world because His power persuades us to do good (p. 13)."

"The Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, is the life of the world because His resurrection and His atonement save us from both physical and spiritual death. Jacob rejoiced in this gift of life: 'O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit' (2 Nephi 9:10). I wish that everyone could understand our belief and hear our testimony that Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Redeemer, is the light and life of the world (p. 15)."

"'The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it (Joseph Smith, p. 21).'"

"How do members become witnesses beyond the mere fact of their membership? The original apostles were eyewitnesses to the ministry and resurrection of the Savior (Acts 10:39-41). He told them, 'Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth' (Acts 1:8; Acts 10:42-43). However, He cautioned them that their witnessing would occur after they had received the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49). An eyewitness was not enough. Even the witness and testimony of the original apostles had to be rooted in the testimony of the Holy Ghost (p. 21)."

"The mission of the Holy Ghost is to witness of the Father and the Son (2 Nephi 31:18; 3 Nephi 28:11; D&C 20:27). Consequently, everyone who has received the witness of the Holy Ghost has a duty to share that testimony with others (p. 22)."

"Those that have the gift to know must give their witness so that those who have the gift to 'believe on their words' can enjoy the benefit of that gift (p. 23)."

"As I see the deterioration in religious faith that has happened in my own lifetime, I am convinced that we who are members of His Church need to be increasingly valiant in our testimony of Christ (p. 25)."

"The father said to his child: 'All that I have I desire to give you--not only my wealth but also my position and standing among men. That which I have I can easily give you, but that which I am you must obtain for yourself. You will qualify for your inheritance by learning what I have learned and by living as I have lived. I will give you the laws and principles by which I have acquired my wisdom and stature. Follow my example, mastering as I have mastered, and you will become as I am, and all that I have will be yours.' This parable parallels the pattern of heaven. The gospel of Jesus Christ promises the incomparable inheritance of eternal life--the fulness of the Father--and reveals the laws and principles by which it can be obtained. We qualify for eternal life through a process of conversion. As used here, this word of many meanings signifies not just a convincing but also a profound change of nature (p. 38)."

"A life is not a trivial thing, and its passing should not be memorialized with trivial things (p. 45)."

"Parents should also teach powerful ideas. So should home teachers, visiting teachers, and the teachers in various classes. The Savior warned that we will be judged for 'every idle word that [we] shall speak' (Matthew 12:36) (p. 45)."

"One of the principal reasons our Heavenly Father had President Benson direct us into a more intensive study of the Book of Mormon is to help us counteract this modern tendency to try to diminish the divinity and mission of our Savior. Are we as Latter-day Saints doing what we should to counteract this modern trend (p. 71)?"

"Repentance begins when we recognize that we have done wrong. We might call this 'confession to self.' This occurs, President Spencer W. Kimball said, when a person is willing 'to convict himself of the transgression without soft-pedaling or minimizing the error, to be willing to face facts, meet the issue, and pay necessary penalties--and until the person is in this frame of mind he has not begun to repent (p. 119).'"

"Church discipline is not an instrument of punishment but a catalyst for change. The purpose of the personal suffering that must occur as part of the process of repentance is not to punish the transgressor but to change him. The broken heart and contrite spirit required to 'answer the ends of the law' (2 Nephi 2:7) introduce the repentant transgressor to the change necessary to conform his life to the pattern prescribed by his Redeemer. The major concern of the laws of God is to perfect the lives of God's children (p. 125)."

"We should seek to avoid mistakes, since some mistakes have very painful consequences. But we do not seek to avoid mistakes at all costs. Mistakes are inevitable in the process of growth in mortality. To avoid all possibility of error is to avoid all possibility of growth. In the parable of the talents, the Savior told of a servant who was so eager to minimize the risk of loss through a mistaken investment that he hid up his talent and did nothing with it. That servant was condemned by his master (Matthew 25:24-30). If we are willing to be corrected for our mistakes--and that is a big if, since many who are mistake-prone are also correction-resistant--innocent mistakes can be a source of growth and progress (p. 146)."

"President Lorenzo Snow declared that it is 'the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint...to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of their lives (p. 150).'"

"When [Bruce R. McConkie] set out to choose a companion for eternity, he did not go to the Lord and ask whom he ought to marry. 'I went out and found the girl I wanted,' he said. 'She suited me;...it just seemed...as though this ought to be....[Then] all I did was pray to the Lord and ask for some guidance and direction in connection with the decision that I'd reached.' Elder McConkie summarized his counsel on the balance between agency and inspiration in these sentences: 'We're expected to use the gifts and talents and abilities, the sense and judgment and agency with which we are endowed....Implicit in asking in faith is the precedent requirement that we do everything in our power to accomplish the goal that we seek....We're expected to do everything in our power that we can, and then to seek an answer from the Lord, a confirming seal that we've reached the right conclusion (p. 156).'"

"There is great strength in being highly focused on our goals. We have all seen the favorable fruits of that focus. Yet an intense focus on goals can cause a person to forget the importance of righteous means (p. 170)."

"We are commanded to give to the poor. Could the fulfillment of that fundamental Christian obligation be carried to excess? I believe it can, and I believe I have seen examples of this. Perhaps you have also seen cases where persons fulfilled that duty to such an extent that they impoverished their own families by expending resources or property or time that were needed for family members. Perhaps this excess explains why King Benjamin...also cautioned them to 'see that all things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength' (Mosiah 4:26-27) (p. 172)."

"Humility is the great protector. Humility is the antidote against pride. Humility is the catalyst for all learning, especially spiritual things....We might also say that if men and women humble themselves before God, He will help them prevent their strengths from becoming weaknesses that the adversary can exploit to destroy them. If we are meek and humble enough to receive counsel, the Lord can and will guide us through the counsel of our parents, our teachers, and our leaders. The proud can only hear the clamor of the crowd, but a person who 'becometh as a child,' as King Benjamin said, 'submissive, meek [and] humble' (Mosiah 3:19), can hear and follow the still small voice by which our Father in Heaven guides His children who are receptive (p. 178)."

"'The Lord did not go into the kitchen to tell Martha to stop cooking and come listen. Apparently he was content to let her serve him however she cared to, until she judged another person's service: 'Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.' Martha's self-importance, expressed through her judgment of her sister, occasioned the Lord's rebuke, not her busyness with the meal (p. 202).'"

"'The older I get the less judgmental I become (President James E. Faust, p. 202).'"

"Latter-day Saints can and should work for and pray for their righteous desires, but despite their efforts, many will remain single well beyond their desired time for marriage. So what should be done in the meantime? Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ prepared us for whatever life brings. Faith in Christ prepares us to deal with life's opportunities--to take advantage of those we receive and to persist through the disappointment of those we lose. In the exercise of that faith we should commit ourselves to the priorities and standards we will follow on matters we do not control, and we should persist faithfully in those commitments whatever happens to us because of the agency of others or the timing of the Lord. When we do this, we will have a constancy in our lives that will give us direction and peace. Whatever the circumstances beyond our control, our commitments and standards can be constant (p. 212)."

"If we have faith in God and if we are committed to the fundamentals of keeping His commandments and putting Him first in our lives, we do not need to plan every single event--even every important event--and we should not feel rejected or depressed if some things--even some very important things--do not happen at the time we had planned or hoped or prayed for them to happen. Commit yourself to put the Lord first in your life, keep His commandments, and do what the Lord's servants ask you to do. Then your feet are on the pathway to eternal life (p. 213)."

[Marla Milligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dallin H. Oaks is an apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This book is a compilation of articles he has written or talks he has given. He was President of Brigham Young University and on the Utah Supreme Court. He talks about his life experiences and shares numerous scriptures to help us in daily life. I liked this book and it made me look at some things differntly and want to be a better person.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallin H. Oaks is one of my very favorite people to learn from. His words are so clear and easy to understand for me. I really felt closer to the Lord after reading this book and I was able to look at life with a different perspective.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although 1) the whole book has wonderful truths in it and much to learn from, and 2) there were some excellent parts that I even dog-eared to save for future reference, I have to admit, this was harder for me to finish than most other church books I've read. (Yes, embarassingly, it took me over a year. Granted, I was also mothering, working part-time, and moving across the country, but...) That is the only reason I gave the book 3 stars rather than higher. I am more of a John Bytheway, Sheri Dew, Neal A. Maxwell-type reader (yes, those 3 aren't really in the same category, but I love reading all of them) and it was just hard for me to get back into this one each time I put it down. There were some gems in here, but one thing I recollect is that Elder Oaks didn't have a whole lot of examples/stories to go along with the doctrine, which makes something easier and more enjoyable for me to read. (Of course, I have a hard time remembering things from a few minutes ago, let alone last year, so maybe I'm wrong on this.) The parts that did have examples and stories seemed to go much faster for me, but mostly what I remember was a lot of doctrine. Good doctrine, just slower reading. It wasn't by any means difficult reading, just harder to get interested in picking up each day.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a series of talks written or given by Oaks in the Ensign or at Brigham Young University. The book focuses on Christ, how we see him and as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints what we should do about it.

As he states at the beginning there is nothing new here. The first chapter is called What Think Ye of Christ? then he builds from there. I felt like I had been looking at a color wheel. We started in one color (or topic) and with the next chapter the colors shifted slightly until by the end of the book it was a couple of colors (or topics) down the rainbow. I thought the progression was cool. I found the addresses uplifting, but because the shift from one chapter to the next was so slight the book was often repetitive.

[Sofi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished rereading this book and I liked it better the second time around. I find that to be true of all great literature--it gets better with time. This book is a collection of gems by Elder Oaks--talks that he has given at conference or devotionals at BYU. He is one of my all-time favorite GA speakers because his talks are very inspirational, logical, succinct and very applicable to our day. This book is a keeper-great as a reference book in a myriad of gospel topics.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I'm gonna get struck by lightning for only giving 2 stars to this book, but I have to be honest.... It wasn't one of my favorite church books. I found myself skimming quite a bit of it at times because it was putting me to sleep. Of course the messages in it are important truths, but I have read similar subjects that have been written and presented in a much more interesting way.
Sorry but it's the truth!

[goddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite speakers and authors, Dallin H. Oaks comes through with a fabulous compilation of talks.....ranging in topics from the Atonement, revelation, timing, powerful ideas, and taking upon ourselves the name of Christ. Very insightful and thought-provoking; points were made that had never crossed my mind. This book will definitely be a resource for future questions and talks.

[Sam Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started out slow but there were some great talks toward the end. Six definitions of salvation, sins vs. mistakes, weightier matters, and the talk on timing were highlights for me. Lots of good stuff. Always recommend reading a good church book, so this gets a thumbs up. 4.25 stars.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallin H. Oaks is a master. He writes in a way that is difficult, maybe even impossible, to disagree with. Furthermore, he's unafraid of the subjects that may make us squirm - dependence on the Lord in a church that teaches independence, for example. This is terrific stuff.

[James Hofheins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning great perspectives of how I can be a better Christian and Latter-day Saint. In totality, these ideas are incredibly helpful to me. Chapter by chapter. Especially the final chapter called, "Timing".

[Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. Elder Oaks is as usual very insightful and spot-on.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started reading it last year and got sidetracked.
I am starting to read it again.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this man!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. Elder Oaks has a way of phrasing ideas that helps me to see broader picture.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. Should have gotten more attention when it was published. Elder Oaks has such an incisive mind and is so good at articulating the subtleties of the gospel.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of Oaks great sermons and discourses. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Dallin H. Oaks....what's not to like? This is a collection of his talks mainly focusing on the Savior, but with other topics as well. It includes some of my all-time favorites.

[Miikey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent

[Aaron BAird · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good

[Danni · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cool book. I loved it. It is just a bunch of talks by Dallin H. Oaks. What a spiritual uplift.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of his addresses from the past - all good (really)

[Erneilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An great collection of talks on a variety of topics. I particularly liked the chapter on revelation.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite quotes:

To those who have doubts about whether Latter-day Saints are Christians:

"We love the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah, our Savior and our Redeemer. His is the only name by which we can be saved. We seek to serve Him. We belong to His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our missionaries and members testify of Jesus Christ in many nations of the world. As the prophet Nephi wrote in the Book of Mormon, 'We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.'

"As we state in our first article of faith, 'We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.' God the Father, the great Elohim, the Almighty God, is the Father of our spirits, the framer of heaven and earth, and the author of the plan of our salvation. Jesus Christ is His Only Begotten Son, Jehovah, the Holy One and God of Israel, the Messiah, 'the God of the whole earth.' As the Book of Mormon declares, 'Salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. The scriptures proclaim and we reverently affirm that Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world." pp 16-17


"Relying upon the totality of Bible teachings and upon clarifications received through modern revelation, we testify that being cleansed from sin through Christ's atonement is conditioned upon our faith, which must be manifested by obedience to the Lord's command to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee,' Jesus taught, 'Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' Believers who have had this required rebirth at the hands of those having authority have already been saved from sin conditionally, but they will not be saved finally until they have completed their mortal probation with the required continuing repentance, faithfulness, service, and enduring to the end.

"Some Christians accuse Latter-day Saints who give this answer of denying the grace of God through claiming they can earn their salvation. We answer this accusation with the words of two Book of Mormon prophets. Nephi taught, 'For we labor diligently... to persuade our children... to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.' And what is 'all we can do'? 'All' surely includes repenting and being baptized, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end. Moroni pleaded, 'Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.'

"We are not saved in our sins, as by being unconditionally saved through confessing Christ and then, inevitably, committing sins in our remaining lives. We are saved from our sins by a weekly renewal of our repentance and cleansing through the grace of God and his blessed plan of salvation." pp 107-108


"In teaching the Saints not to accuse one another, the prophet Joseph Smith said, 'What many people call sin is not sin.' I believe the large category of actions that are mistakes rather than sins illustrates the truth of that statement. If we would be more understanding of one another's mistakes, being satisfied merely to correct and not to chasten or call to repentance, we would surely promote loving and living together in greater peace and harmony...

"The appropriateness of that approach as applied to mistakes is surely illustrated by the Prophet Joseph Smith's well-known teachings to the first Relief Society. He taught the sisters to be kind and loving toward those who made mistakes, and also toward sinners. He said:

"Suppose that Jesus Christ and holy angels should object to us on frivolous things, what would become of us? We must be merciful to one another, and overlook small things...

"Nothing is so much calculated to lead people to forsake sin as to take them by the hand, and watch over them with tenderness..." pp 136-137


"I can identify eight different purposes served by communication from God [personal revelation]: (1) to testify; (2) to prophesy; (3) to comfort; (4) to uplift; (5) to inform; (6) to restrain; (7) to confirm; and (8) to impel." pp 149-150


"Faith in Christ prepares us to deal with life's opportunities - to take advantage of those we receive and to persist through the disappointment of those we lose." p 211

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of conference talks and devotional addresses, all given by Dallin H. Oaks between 1981 and 2002. Reading his talks in the order arranged in the book gives you a sense of his focuses: Christ, covenants, consecration, sins, and personal behavior.
Most of his talks seem to be about defining terms such as becoming, revelation, sin, judging, and strengths. He uses scripture occasionally but focuses more on explanations of behavior rather than dissecting scripture. He also doesn't use a lot of stories and when he does, they are used for a point he is making rather than just to feel good.
I especially enjoyed "Witness of Christ," "The Challenge to Become," and "Always Have His Spirit." I do get the sense that he is careful and deliberate in preparing to speak. It's clear that he developed a style of speaking (dividing his talks into numbered sections) the more he spoke.

[NaDell · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the biography of Dallin H. Oaks, I thought it would be fitting to read this book full of his sermons and essays. Well thought out and researched and spiritually nourishing thoughts by President Oaks from decades of service.

[Elizabeth Ricks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a compilation of talks from Elder Oaks. It would be a good book for a new member of the church.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of talks given by Elder Oakes mostly from BYU devotionals.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesume book. It explains doctrines of the gospel so that anyone can understand them.