Conversations—Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Oaks
Mon, 08 Feb 2010 This episode of “Conversations” features an interview by host Sheri Dew with Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He is joined by his wife, Kristen. They discuss their life, marriage, teachings, and ecclesiastical service.
It is always very enlightening to hear an interview with an apostle of the Lord. I listened to this about two weeks ago, and I only recall a few interesting things.
Oaks (far right) with LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson (left) and US President Barack Obama (center) in the Oval Office on 20 July 2009, presenting a personal volume of President Obama's family history as a gift from the LDS Church.
Sheri Dew is always a great interviewer. She is 56 years old (born November 21, 1953) and has written biographies on people like President Hinckley. She is also past President of the Relief Society (a women’s organization within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and currently runs Deseret Book. It is a mystery why she has never been married.
Sheri L. Dew
To me, there seemed to be a bit of tension in this interview between Sheri Dew and Sister Oaks, who married later in life to the much older Elder Oaks, who was then a widower. At one point, Ms. Dew directed a question to both of them, and when Sister Oaks mimicked her husband’s answer, Sheri called her on it.
In this interview we learn about the life of the apostle, Elder Oaks. He was raised by his mother. He learned to work at an early age. He went into law and enjoyed it. He became the President of the Brigham Young University when Sheri started school there in 1971.
Elder Oaks is known to tell people what they need to hear even if it is not very popular. With his law background he knows that members of the Church need to stand up for what they believe because we have a right to. For example, God has taught through his prophets:
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
