Callings are not "up or down" but "forward" (if we act on them well)

 "we do not “step down” when we are released, and we do not “step up” when we are called. There is no “up or down” in the service of the Lord. There is only “forward or backward,” and that difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases and our callings."

- "The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood," By Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, General Conference, April 2014

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/04/the-keys-and-authority-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng 

 “What counsel do you have for fathers?”

Recently, I joined several Church leaders in recording a multistake conference broadcast to our members in Chile—73 stakes. Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk had an important message about fathers, which I share with my strong endorsement:

“Unfortunately, in some homes it is always the wife and mother who has to suggest—even sometimes plead—that the family gather for prayer or for home evening. This should not be. The women in our lives have the right to look to their husbands to assume their duty and to take the lead. A husband should counsel continually with his wife about the welfare of each of their children. … Most sisters are willing and eager to counsel with their husbands and can provide many helpful insights and recommendations, but it will be easier for them if their husband takes the initiative to talk with them and to plan together.”

Brethren, rise up to your responsibilities to lead your families in righteousness.

- President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, "Answers to Seven Questions from Young Married Adults," Ensign, June 2020, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/06/young-adults/answers-to-seven-questions-from-young-married-adults?lang=eng

D. Todd Christofferson, “To the Brethren of the Priesthood: Your Spiritual Leadership,” Chile multistake conference address, Aug. 26, 2018.

Strong families make the Church strong

 

“Why is the family preeminent in the Church?”

Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family. We are the spirit children of heavenly parents. The gospel plan is implemented through earthly families, and our highest aspiration is to perpetuate those family relationships throughout eternity. The ultimate mission of the Church is to help us achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom, and that can only be accomplished in a family relationship.

Church leaders and teachers should use every possible opportunity to recognize the preeminence and strengthen the position of the home and family. As the First Presidency reminded us in 1999, “The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.”

 We cannot have a strong Church whose leaders and members come mostly from weak families. Conversely, if most of the families in a ward or stake are strong, the ward or stake will also be strong.

- President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, "Answers to Seven Questions from Young Married Adults," Ensign, June 2020, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/06/young-adults/answers-to-seven-questions-from-young-married-adults?lang=eng

Answer questions with testimony

 

"Children raise questions. Answering their questions in an appropriate way is one of the most important things parents can do. When you are asked a difficult question, such as a puzzler about Church history or doctrine, be honest and positive and tell what you know. If necessary, say you don’t know. But be sure to say what you do know: “I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.”"

- President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, "Answers to Seven Questions from Young Married Adults," Ensign, June 2020, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/06/young-adults/answers-to-seven-questions-from-young-married-adults?lang=eng

 

"the best answer to any question that threatens faith is to work to increase faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Conversion to the Lord precedes conversion to the Church. And conversion to the Lord comes through prayer and study and service, furthered by loving patience on the part of the spouse and other concerned family members."

- President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, "Answers to Seven Questions from Young Married Adults," Ensign, June 2020, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/06/young-adults/answers-to-seven-questions-from-young-married-adults?lang=eng

Plan your future around personal commitments, not others' agency

"Do not rely on planning every event of your life—even every important event. Stand ready to accept the Lord’s planning and the agency of others in matters that inevitably affect you. Plan, of course, but fix your planning on personal commitments that will carry you through no matter what happens. Anchor your life to eternal principles, and act upon those principles whatever the circumstances and whatever the actions of others. Then you can await the Lord’s timing and be sure of the outcome in eternity.

"The most important principle of timing is to take the long view. Mortality is just a small slice of eternity, but how we conduct ourselves here—what we become by our actions and desires, confirmed by our covenants and the ordinances administered to us by proper authority—will shape our destiny for all eternity."

- Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Timing," BYU Speeches, https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks_timing/ 

"the ultimate treasures ... are our children"

"In light of the ultimate purpose of the great plan of happiness, I believe that the ultimate treasures on earth and in heaven are our children and our posterity."

- Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "“The Great Plan of Happiness”," General Conference, October 1993
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/the-great-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng&_r=1

Evil that used to be localized and covered like a boil is now legalized and paraded like a banner. The most fundamental roots and bulwarks of civilization are questioned or attacked. Nations disavow their religious heritage. Marriage and familyresponsibilities are discarded as impediments to personal indulgence. The movies and magazines and television that shape our attitudes are filled with stories or images that portray the children of God as predatory beasts or, at best, as trivial creations pursuing little more than personal pleasure. And too many of us accept this as entertainment.

"The men and women who made epic sacrifices to combat evil regimes in the past were shaped by values that are disappearing from our public teaching. The good, the true, and the beautiful are being replaced by the no-good, the “whatever,” and the valueless fodder of personal whim. Not surprisingly, many of our youth and adults are caught up in pornography, pagan piercing of body parts, self-serving pleasure pursuits, dishonest behavior, revealing attire, foul language, and degrading sexual indulgence."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Preparatory for the Second Coming," Ensign, May 2004

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/05/preparation-for-the-second-coming.p1?lang=eng

Ten Virgins represent the Church

"The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Preparatory for the Second Coming," Ensign, May 2004

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/05/preparation-for-the-second-coming.p1?lang=eng

"We cannot have the companionship of the Holy Ghost—the medium of individual revelation—if we are in transgression or if we are angry or if we are in rebellion against God’s chosen authorities."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Teaching and Learning by the Spirit," Ensign, Mar 1997
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1997/03/teaching-and-learning-by-the-spirit?lang=eng

"The gospel of Jesus Christ is the brightest light and the only hope for this darkened world."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Sharing the Gospel," General Conference, Oct 2001
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/sharing-the-gospel?lang=eng

Material wealth and abundant free time are spiritual impediments

"I believe that the easy way materially usually is not the best way spiritually. For many, though not all, material wealth and abundant free time are spiritual impediments."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Adversity," BYU Devotional January 17, 1995
http://speeches.byu.edu/index.php?act=viewitem&id=575

Faith in the Lord is trust in the Lord

"[F]aith in the Lord Jesus Christ is a conviction and trust that God knows us and loves us and will hear our prayers and answer them with what is best for us.

"Faith in the Lord is trust in the Lord. We cannot have true faith in the Lord without also having complete trust in the Lord’s will and in the Lord’s timing."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "The Atonement and Faith," Ensign, Apr 2010, p. 30
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/04/the-atonement-and-faith?lang=eng

Education prepares responsible, intelligent leaders

"One of the most important purposes of a university education is to prepare men and women to be responsible and intelligent leaders and participants in the lives of their families, in their Church, and in their communities. That kind of education is needed by young men and young women alike."

- Dallin H. Oaks, "Women and Education," Ensign, Mar 1975
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1975/03/insights/women-and-education?lang=eng

"Establish in the mind of a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Powerful Ideas," Ensign, Nov 1995, p. 125
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/10/powerful-ideas?lang=eng

Media portrays us as trivial creations, and too many of us accept this as entertainment

"Evil that used to be localized and covered like a boil is now legalized and paraded like a banner. The most fundamental roots and bulwarks of civilization are questioned or attacked. Nations disavow their religious heritage. Marriage and family responsibilities are discarded as impediments to personal indulgence. The movies and magazines and television that shape our attitudes are filled with stories or images that portray the children of God as predatory beasts or, at best, as trivial creations pursuing little more than personal pleasure. And too many of us accept this as entertainment."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Preparation for the Second Coming," Ensign, May 2004, p. 9
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2004/05/preparation-for-the-second-coming?lang=eng

Walking pornography

"[Y]oung women, please understand that if you dress immodestly, you are magnifying this problem by becoming pornography to some of the men who see you."

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Pornography," Ensign, May 2005 p. 90

Consider who it is you are refusing or neglecting to serve

“My brothers and sisters, if you are delinquent in commitment, please consider who it is you are refusing or neglecting to serve when you decline a calling or when you accept, promise, and fail to fulfill.”

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go,” General Conference, Oct 2002

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/i-ll-go-where-you-want-me-to-go?lang=eng

“The intensity of our desire to share the gospel is a great indicator of the extent of our personal conversion.”

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” “Sharing the Gospel,” General Conference, Oct 2001

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/10/sharing-the-gospel?lang=eng

Conversion is to do and to become

“Testimony is to know and to feel, conversion is to do and to become.”

- Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as quoted by Elder Kenneth Johnson of the Seventy in “Coming to Know for Ourselves,” Ensign, Jul 2008

http://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/07/coming-to-know-for-ourselves?lang=eng