President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivered a landmark address on religious freedom Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral, pointing to the United States Constitution as a key tool for peacemaking and finding common ground.
“The Constitution compels a divided people to build coalitions to allow them to act together,” said President Oaks, who has spent seven decades studying the Constitution as a scholar, jurist, and religious leader. “‘Compels’ is a strong word, but it is exactly what the Constitution does. It puts what we now call ‘peacemaking’ at the heart of the Constitution’s process for achieving freedom and unity, and fairness for all.”
His remarks are the first by a Church President at Washington National Cathedral, a “house of prayer for all people,” and came on the eve of the country’s Constitution Day. The event, titled “Faith, Freedom, and the Common Good,” explored the relationship between religious faith and American democracy. The gathering was part of the cathedral’s “A Better Way” series, which encourages Americans to find common ground and move forward together in polarized times.
President Oaks said he was participating in the effort to help “embody the love of God in public life,” offering “hope for unity and a moral framework to move forward in a divided world.”
Visit Church Newsroom to read more about what the prophet shared at the Washington National Cathedral.
More articles for you:
▶ Elder Caussé makes crêpes in adorable new Primary broadcast
▶ Isaiah’s reminder that God wants to give you rest
▶ Meet the Armenian convert who’s served in the temple weekly for almost 50 years
