Powerful Ideas

By Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

From an October 1995 general conference address.

Did you know that Elder Dallin H. Oaks worked as a radio announcer when he was in high school? He was also president of a university and a judge. He teaches us about knowing who we are.

Some knowledge is more important than others. That principle also applies to what we call spiritual knowledge.

Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song “I Am a Child of God” (Hymns, no. 301). … Here is the answer to one of life’s great questions, “Who am I?” I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents. That parentage defines our eternal potential. … It can strengthen each of us to make righteous choices and to seek the best that is within us. …

When we understand our relationship to God, we also understand our relationship to one another. All men and women on this earth are the offspring of God, spirit brothers and sisters. What a powerful idea! No wonder God’s Only Begotten Son commanded us to love one another. If only we could do so! What a different world it would be if brotherly and sisterly love and unselfish assistance could transcend [rise above] all boundaries of nation, creed, and color. Such love would not erase all differences of opinion and action, but it would encourage each of us to [be against] actions rather than actors.

The eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves all his children is an immensely powerful idea. It is especially powerful when children can visualize it through the love and sacrifice of their earthly parents. Love is the most powerful force in the world.

Christ with Modern Day Children by Paul Mann