Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall | Dallin H. Oaks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ต.ค. 2012
- If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses.
speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin...
"Like the fabled Achilles, who was immune to every lethal blow except to his heel, many of us have a special weakness that can be exploited to our spiritual downfall. For some that weakness may be a taste for liquor. For some it may be an unusual vulnerability to sexual temptation or a susceptibility to compulsive gambling or reckless speculation. For others it may be a craving for money or power. If we are wise, we will know our special weaknesses, our spiritual Achilles’ heels, and fortify ourselves against temptations in those areas.
But our weaknesses are not the only areas where we are vulnerable. Satan can also attack us where we think we are strong-in the very areas where we are proud of our strengths. He will approach us through the greatest talents and spiritual gifts we possess. If we are not wary, Satan can cause our spiritual downfall by corrupting us through our strengths as well as by exploiting our weaknesses. I will illustrate this truth with a score of examples...
I need to caution myself and each of my listeners that the very nature of this message could tend to the same downfall that it warns against. This idea that our strengths can become our weaknesses could be understood to imply that we should have “moderation in all things.” But the Savior said that if we are lukewarm, he will spue us out of his mouth (see Revelation 3:16). Moderation in all things is not a virtue because it would seem to justify moderation in commitment. That is not moderation but indifference. That kind of “moderation” runs counter to the divine commands to serve with all of our “heart, might, mind and strength” (D&C 4:2), to “seek . . . earnestly the riches of eternity” (D&C 68:31), and to be “valiant in the testimony of Jesus” (D&C 76:79). Moderation is not the answer.
How, then, do we prevent our strengths from becoming our downfall? The quality we must cultivate is humility. Humility is the great protector. Humility is the antidote against pride. Humility is the catalyst for all learning, especially spiritual things.
Through the prophet Ether, the Lord gave us this great insight into the role of humility:
I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. [Ether 12:27]
We might also say that if men and women humble themselves before God, he will help them prevent their strengths from becoming weaknesses that the adversary can exploit to destroy them.
If we are meek and humble enough to receive counsel, the Lord can and will guide us through the counsel of our parents, our teachers, and our leaders. The proud can only hear the clamor of the crowd, but a person who “becometh as a child”-as King Benjamin said, “submissive, meek [and] humble” (Mosiah 3:19)-can hear and follow the still small voice by which our Father in Heaven guides his children who are receptive.
A person who engages in self-congratulation over a supposed strength has lost the protection of humility and is vulnerable to Satan’s using that strength to produce his or her downfall. In contrast, if we are humble and teachable, hearkening to the commandments of God, the counsel of his leaders, and the promptings of his spirit, we can be guided. We can be guided in how to use our spiritual gifts, our accomplishments, and all of our other strengths for righteousness. And we can be guided in how to avoid Satan’s efforts to use our strengths to cause our downfall.
In all of this, we should remember and rely on the Lord’s direction and promise:
Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers. [D&C 112:10]" - Elder Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this fireside
address was given at Brigham Young University on 7 June 1992.
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That spoke to me. I have much to reflect upon myself and change.
Humility is always the answer!!!!.
That's so hard....😩
The Spirit of the Lords meekness...a lifelong daily pursuit 😇👍
This talk is really what I needed. My parents are struggling so much with this right now. My mom thinks she’s communicating with God on a “higher and superior level” which has caused my dad to feel inferior and insecure that has led him to self righteousness and thinks everyone in the family needs to listen to everything he says bc “he’s the one who holds the priesthood”. The gospel is simple. When it’s over complicated or manipulated, its holiness is lost.
I will be sure to learn from them and make sure everything I do will show my love to God and give Him the glory. I will strive to be humble unto Him.
When it comes down to it, we can only decide how we act. I hope things go okay for you!
Just a few yrs before this talk was given, my father got caught up in several of the snares Elder Oaks warned about in this talk (antï gov views; tax evasïon & ‘charismatically’ teachïng others to do the same; forgery crimes; and more.
He struggled with narcissistic personality disorder. His deep need for ‘the praises of men’ led him down a destructive path. He became increasingly abusive and financially neglectful of his family, and he ended up losing them all (his wife and 7 kids) thru’ a bitter divorce. He then spent 6yrs or so in jail and prison during my teenage yrs. (for failure to pay child support, at a time when AZ was cracking down on that crime). All of his children have alienated him entirely, and he has lived a sad and lonely life.
The most important part of this talk begins at time stamp 31:30. Listen thru’ the end of the talk (35:45) for The Great Secret to avoiding the pride and snares that can lead us down this destructive path.
perceptive of you to notice the dyanmic
There is something for us all in this talk...
Thank you President Oaks, i really like your talk, it’s a great lesson for me to be humble.
One of my favorite talks. I love Pres. Oaks.
Geez. He dropped a hammer!
A true man of God. I love President Oaks.
Pure gold from heaven. 💛
Great talk...
Mormon 8:
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies-because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
This should be read by every member Every. Single. Day. and in every sacrament meeting Every. Single. Sabbath.
Wow!! What a mouthful!! There is so much truth in this talk!!
This is the best talk I've ever heard him give.
I wish I could memorize everything he says so that I could recall it when needed or when I would like to share it.
Amazing how much this applies today...30 years after he spoke the words.
I was thinking the same thing.
No way? So even tho this was uploaded 9yrs ago, it was given 30 years ago?
@@melepearl7916
Exactly. It was given June 1992. Still true today.
@@melepearl7916 I like to read the scriptures, as they help me too, with avoidance of mistakes. I also bought General Conference Journals that have the talks and spaces to write by the talks.
We could apply this to our local leadership too…I mean to listen to the current counsel. My stake president told us to take note of what the spirit particularly pointed out to us, personally, during stake conference. That could apply to ward conference too.
President, DallinH.Oaks,what a balanced talk,it's such that none of us can proclaim purity but Always seek to better one self.Whether it is strengths or weaknesses we all fall shot of Glory and we Only can constantly and always rely on our Savior in humility to show us the way even if we study to try to perfect our way's in this complex mortality.
This is very wise and true council. We must be careful in so many ways. One thing that really stood out is getting caught up in knowing every doctrine to the extreme and becoming more focused on that than living the Gospel and applying it. Also, to make sure to reach your goals through righteous methods. I love this talk, thank you President Oaks!
Curiosity killed the cat.. understanding principle of the gospel comes from obeying commandments, more on leap of faith.. daily prayer and humility helps us not to be destructed.. nice message .. love it Elder Oaks☺️
Great talks for our days...
Important to watch all the way through the end, when Elder Oaks reveals the key, the antidote to escape those tricky downfalls. Superb lecture!
Help me to see things with divine spirituality.. Humility to acknowledge things I need to change and courage to move my feet..
Thank you for this wonderful message president Oaks.
What a feast! Truths Doctrines Revelations Justice
Look, this talk can scare alot of us, but pretty much, all you really gotta do is create a balance with everything you do, and you should be good. I think that's his overall message.
Bingo! That was a great summary of the point he made in this talk!
“Be though humble, and the Lord, thy God, shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answers to thy prayers.” I love the restored gospel, it is perfect every which way. I have had a vision of this truth at least twice, and it leaves me in awe!
Wow. Just wow.
I LOVE Bro. Oaks 💞
This talk gave me some VALUABLE things to keep in mind. We ALWAYS need to check ourselves 🙏🏼
Such a meaningful talk about being led astray because of overreaction to the gospel truths which perverts the wholeness of the gospel.
So applicable to today.
And today
I love all your talk President Oaks. It lifts the Spirit, reminds all of us to be teachable and humble.
Excellent talk. Thank you!
Wow ! I found this talk and was it ever helpful !! Thank you so much ! Love our priesthood leaders !❤
Great way to start off my 2024 new year. Be humble!
Sometimes were just too good lol
Thank you
👍👍👍
This is a good message for myself.
Amen
He says we are commanded to love our neighbors, not to manipulate them.
I agree with this. I am guilty of this many times in life.
Great council!! I need to rethink my priorities!! Thank you!!
His voice has changed
I think it become better, a deep voice indeed!
Yes absolutely lower
Balance in all things….I have things in this talk, that I can work on.
Thou it may be in the past it's a timeless message
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
!!!!
Love and tolerance…if ye are not one, ye are not mine. How can love and tolerance become a downfall? Makes you think. Could be many ways!! We need to follow the current prophet!! If someone in a family tolerates something that is not following the prophet, they could be guilty of not taking care of personal responsibility that could carry over to one for their family. The Proclamation on the Family refers to family responsibilies. We must think of those we love. We must do like my dad used to pray for, to consider the needs of others in our families.
Wow this talk is amazing