Today, President Dallin H. Oaks came and spoke to BYU-Idaho students about showing love to others while following the law of the gospel in his talk titled, “The Paradox of Love and Law.”

The First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said not only is it possible to have love for those not living the laws of the gospel, it is important to find a balance in holding up the gospel.

President Oaks pointed out that there are several paradoxes, or what seem like paradoxes, in the gospel.

He cited President Henry J. Eyring’s devotional on “Gaining and Strengthening a Testimony.” President Eyring pointed out that when we feel critical of the Church we should instead turn a critical eye on ourselves and that will strengthen us.

President Oaks compared the struggle of balancing the principles of love and law, to a coin. A coin has two sides to it, each side might have different obligations.

“We should keep each side in mind and not pursue or teach either side in a way that displaces or ignores the other,” Oaks said.

President Oaks turned to the scriptures where Jesus Christ asked all people to love one another as He has loved them. And at the same time Jesus also taught that, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

In many cases the Church directs bishops and stake presidents to work with members who have chosen to sin and are subject to discipline but to show more love after.

Many members may wonder how they can show the same amount of balance in their lives. How do you have mutual respect for those who purposely break or mock commandments?

President Oaks encouraged those who wonder, to continue living by their standards while being “examples of civility in our own circles of love and beyond.”

In a democratic country President Oaks said there should be “fairness for all.”

“That is how we follow the teaching to be in the world, but not of the world,” Oaks said.

Problems can happen when showing support for those we love is perceived as showing support for results that go against the laws of the gospel.

Many people question how to show their love while making clear they still support the laws of the gospel.

President Oaks said to do this, each person should seek the counsel of the Holy Ghost. Especially when these problems are in a family setting. In no place should the Holy Ghost be more present in helping a person solve their problems than when they are seeking it’s direction for family matters.

President Oaks closed saying, “As difficult as it is to live in the turmoil surrounding us, our Savior’s command to love one another as He loves us is both our greatest need and one of our greatest challenges.”