With the passing of Prophet and President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Dallin H. Oaks assumed the position as the leader of the Church.
Oaks is the 18th president of the Church, which brings new responsibility. In an interview before the Burley Idaho Temple dedication, President Oaks was asked about his transition from apostle to prophet.
“It feels new to be the president of the Church,” President Oaks said. “It’s a very holy responsibility and I’m trying to grow into it. I’m just sustained by the fact that the Lord has prepared me and now called me to do something. I don’t flinch from that responsibility.”
President Oaks was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April of 1984 after a distinguished career in law. After graduating from Brigham Young University, President Oaks attended and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School.
During his early career, he was a law clerk in the United States Supreme Court and practiced law in Chicago. From 1961 to 1971, he was a professor at the University of Chicago Law School. From 1971 to 1980, he served as president of BYU. He also served as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court before being called to the apostleship in 1984.
In May 2013, he was awarded the Canterbury Medal for Courage in the Defense of Religious Liberty by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.
Since being called as prophet of the Church, President Oaks has made some significant changes to different areas of the Church. He lowered the minimum age requirement for sister missionaries from 19 to 18 and made changes to the Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission.
But one thing that surprised many members was the way the Church announced the location for a new temple in Portland, Maine.
“It has occurred to me for a long time that the best place to announce a temple is in that temple district,” President Oaks said. “And the best person to announce it is the presiding leader in that area, which can be an apostle on assignment to a state conference or other meeting, or it can be the area president.”
Second Nephi chapter 2, verse 25 states, “Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy.” President Oaks takes that scripture literally.
“Be happy. Trust in the Lord. It’s always been that life has terrible challenges,” President Oaks said. “That’s what we’re put here on earth to learn how to overcome. We are optimistic because we trust the Lord and know that He loves us and He set us up to succeed, not fail.”
Through meaningful changes, a thoughtful approach to global Church growth and a consistent message of trust and optimism in the Lord, President Oaks emphasizes joy, resilience and confidence in God’s plan as guiding principles for members of the Church worldwide.