President Oaks Talk
October 06th, 2025 by G.
I didn’t say anything publicly out of respect, so you will have to take my word for it, but after President Nelson died I have been praying a lot to the Lord that now that we have temples a-buildin’ that need fillin’ He would direct the next prophet to tackle babies and families.
I was stunned.
My daughter said her roommates in Rexburg were talking about what President Oaks said. The consensus was that they had been thinking of four to five kids, but were now thinking maybe 8.
I love the ambition.
Sixty Million Saints. . .
Six Hundred Million Saints. . .
Or to repurpose the old slogan folks used when people were complaining that the Church had too much money,
Make It a Billion.
Comments (5)
Filed under: We transcend your bourgeois categories | No Tag
Filed under: We transcend your bourgeois categories | No Tag
October 06th, 2025 05:49:24
John Mansfield
October 6, 2025
Pres. Oaks said he had prepared what he had to say on families before Pres. Nelson died. However he delivered it as the president of the church, and it felt like it. Tonally he never addressed the church like that before, admonishing as much as teaching.
Rozy
October 6, 2025
Brother John, Actually Pres. Oaks has often addressed the church “tonally” as he did on Sunday. Last year I studied all the First Presidency’s talks from the time they were called to general church leadership. It was an amazing journey to get to know them. One of the reasons some people don’t like Pres. Oaks is that he is direct and firm is preaching and defending the doctrines of the Savior. I cried tears of gratitude and joy as he spoke because it answered my prayers for a definitive statement on the family. Elder Rasband’s talk also brought me to tears. Thank God for prophets!!
Marilyn
October 6, 2025
I was just listening to a video of the temple committee director talking about how President Nelson (this was right after he become prophet) sat through a presentation on the 15-year-plan for temples, and it said to build about 4-5 temples a year for a total of around 60 in 15 years. Pres Nelson said, “I’d like this better if it had another zero on it.” (meaning 600 temples instead of 60.)
Anyway, that’s what I thought of when I read this post, except now, as you said, to FILL those temples. More babies! More saints! I love and hope it comes to pass. I only wish I could have a dozen more. (I’m hoping maybe in the millennium there will be a way? Maybe I’ll get back at least the three I lost?)
Sol
October 7, 2025
True story: I thought of you, G, as I was sitting in my living room with my family, listening to this talk. What heavenly music G must be hearing!
During the talk I also glanced sidelong at the couple in their late 20s, married for several years already, who have told us in the past that they are not yet ready for kids, although they seem to enjoy watching after ours now and then. Theirs has been a life of travel and adventure, indistinguishable from the life choices of their secular contemporaries except that they are (to their credit) married and not switching partners with the seasons.
In the middle of the talk my wife joked with them: “Now we’re done, it’s all up to you!”
Still, not from her quip, nor from my sidelong glance, nor from our subsequent conversation could I detect any sense that this young(ish) couple felt that President Oaks comments might be for them, or that their direction might change anytime soon.
I hope I’m wrong, and/or that their subsequent thinking will change their minds. But your daughter’s comments give me hope yet!
G.
October 8, 2025
I just said a prayer for your friends. Good on your wife!