Broadcast to 170 Locations in the

Philippines Area
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
November 1, 2014
(Pre-recorded in Manila, October 30, 2014)

remember my first visit to this Buendia chapel almost 30 years ago. It was a meeting
of all stake presidents in the Philippines. There were 33! Not one was a returned
missionary. Today, we have 90 stake presidents and most of them have been trained as
full-time missionaries. Then there were about 100,000 members in this nation. Today
there are over 700,000.
Now, on this great day, Kristen and I are thrilled to be back with you, ten years after
we left this beloved country and you, our beloved brothers and sisters.
I.
Ten years ago, as I concluded my service as your area president, I spoke in a special
broadcast to all Church members in the Philippines. I repeat some of those words now,
because they still represent my feelings and my beliefs about what I should say to you.
We love you and we love this nation and its people.
The first strong impression I felt on coming here was that we needed to focus
on establishing the Church in the Philippines. Through His prophets the Lord has
often commanded the Saints to establish His Church. This means to strengthen its
foundation so it cannot be moved. The Church must overcome every adversity so it
will remain through the ages to bless our posterity.
We need to strengthen the roots of our gospel tree so it can support the growth
we are experiencing. Missionaries need to teach investigators more thoroughly and
connect them more securely to Church activity. Church leaders need to give more
attention to ordaining, calling, and helping new members. Officers and teachers need
to give more emphasis to teaching children in Primary, which still needs extra help. .
. . Our children and youth are the members and teachers of the future. It is a
privilege to be called to help them.
We also need to get more young men on missions, for those young men are the
leaders and husbands and fathers of the Church in the Philippines for many years to
come. We also need more adult full-tithe payers so we can fill the additional temples
we pray the Lord will build throughout the Philippines. These are some principal
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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

ways we can truly establish the Church in this nation (Philippines Area Conference,
July 11, 2004).
Brothers and Sisters, those are still the principal ways you should seek to establish
the Church so it will remain through the ages to bless your posterity in this great nation.
II.
I continue my message from ten years ago.
Another strong impression I received on coming to the Philippines as your area
president was that we needed to teach the importance of the culture of the Church. I
have spoken of this often in the past two years. It is a challenge to Church members
in all the world. . . .
The gospel culture is a unique set of values and practices based on the plan of
salvation, the commandments of God, and the teachings of the living prophets. All
over the world this culture helps members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints serve one another and keep the commandments of God.
There are also national and ethnic cultures, which come from the traditions and
practices of men. Some of these strengthen our efforts to live the gospel culture. . . .
For example, many Philippine traditions help us keep the commandments of
God. In many ways, Philippine traditions are closer to our gospel culture than the
traditions of most countries. In most of the western world family traditions are
deteriorating, but Philippine family values are generally strong and righteous.
Similarly, in contrast to the deterioration we see in America and Europe, Filipino
people are modest. You do not expose your bodies in ways that are provocative to
others or destructful of the dignity of children of God. I pray that this nation can
hold to its high standards and resist the degrading influences of the world that are
having such an impact in many other nations (Philippines Area Conference, July 11,
2004).
Other national traditions weaken our efforts to live the gospel culture. The Apostle
Paul wrote of this when he warned: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ (Col. 2:8).
Persons who wish to be part of the gospel culture must be willing to change. The
primary message of the gospel is repent and be baptized. To repent means to change.
The Resurrected Lord taught the importance of His followers making changes and being
different from those around them.

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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose
its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on
a hill cannot be hid.
Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it
giveth light to all that are in the house;
Therefore, let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and
glorify your Father who is in heaven (3 Nephi 12:13-16; also Matthew 5:13-16).

As members of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, we must be different, like the
light of a candlestick in a dark place or the salt that gives savor. The covenants we make
at baptism commit us to live changed lives, so we can be the salt of the earth. In modern
revelation the Lord declares:
When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant,
they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men;
They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold,
it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men (D&C
101:39-40).

To perform our duty as the salt of the earth, we must change all elements of our
existing cultural practices or behaviorswhether family or nationalthat are in conflict
with gospel commandments, covenants, and culture. I will now give some examples of
needed changes. These will apply to some but not all. Please listen carefully for those
which may apply to you.
Some changes required by gospel culture affect converts in almost every nation.
Giving up alcohol and tobacco is a change that runs against the local culture in most
nations. The principles expressed in the Family Proclamation, such as the law of chastity
and parents duty to teach gospel principles to their children, are also examples of
changes many converts must make to live according to gospel culture.
Marriage practices are profoundly affected by our local cultures, and in many lands
some of these marriage practices conflict with gospel culture. A temple marriage,
witnessed by only a few recommend holders rather than a large and lavish public
wedding, is a painful cultural change required of converts in every land.
We also counsel families not to sponsor expensive hospitality for weddings, fiestas,
or other activities that require them to incur debts that will cripple their financial future
for years to come. Our gospel culture teaches us to stay out of debt except for essential
capital expenditures like a home or an education.
Our gospel culture also calls upon us to exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the first principle of the gospel. People of the world, without such faith, often
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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

despair about their poverty and the seeming hopelessness of world or national conditions.
In despair, they see no reason to try to better themselves, such as by saving money,
obtaining an education, or otherwise planning and striving to improve. With the
enlightenment of our gospel culture, we have a vision of the future and we have faith in
the Lords promises that He will bless His obedient children. We have ambition, we
work for the future, and we improve ourselves along the way.
III.
Here are some other changes required by our gospel culture. I quote again from my
message ten years ago.
Worldwide, we need more members and leaders who, like a blessed people in
the Book of Mormon, are perfectly honest and upright in all things (Alma 27:27).
The standard of perfect honesty should be followed in all of our actions and in all of
our reports and communications, in the Church, with one another, and with all men.
We must promote individual responsibility and personal effort in all that we do.
The growth required by the gospel plan only occurs in a culture of individual effort
and responsibility. It cannot occur in a culture of dependency. Whatever causes us
to be dependent on someone else for decisions or resources we could provide for
ourselves weakens us spiritually and retards our growth toward what the gospel plan
intends us to be. . . .
The gospel raises people out of poverty and dependency, but only when gospel
culture, including the faithful payment of tithing, even by the very poor, prevails over
the traditions and cultures of dependency (Liahona, Nov. 2003, p. 40) (Philippines
Area Conference, July 11, 2004).
Pay your tithing, my brothers and sisters. The payment of tithing is a commandment
of Goda commandment for rich and poor alike. And it comes with a promise that He
will open the windows of Heaven for you and your nation. Pay your tithing and it will
also open the doors of the temple where you can make the covenants and receive the
promises that will lead to eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.
My brothers and sisters, you are also commanded to pay your offeringsthe fast
offerings that care for the poor and needy. As I have studied the finances of the Church
in the Philippines, I have noticed that many have sought to be helped by fast offering
assistance and comparatively few have given fast offering donations. I counsel you to
pay your fast offerings.
I quote again from my talk of ten years ago:

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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Another important part of the gospel culture is our attitude toward work.
Mormons are known as hard workers, and many of us have obtained jobs and gotten
ahead in our employment because of that fact.
We believe in the Ten Commandments. The fourth commandment is
commonly identified by its first few words, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it
holy. But the next few words are also important: Six days shalt thou labour, and
do all thy work (Exo. 20:9). Suppose we rest completely on the Sabbath but fail to
work hard on the other six days? I suggest that we have kept only a part of the
Lords commandment. Six days shalt thou labour commands work. There is too
much idleness in this worldtoo much waiting and relying on others to do the work.
The Lord spoke of this in modern revelation when he said, Thou shalt not idle thy
time (D&C 60:13), and Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the
bread nor wear the garments of the laborer (D&C 42:42). Mormons believe in
work, we preach work, and we practice what we preach (Philippines Area
Conference, July 11, 2004).
Here are some teachings I gave 12 years ago, soon after I arrived in the Philippines.
I repeat them here because I believe they still apply to some of our members.
We see among some an attitude that men are somehow entitled to depend on
women to support them or to carry a disproportionate share of the burden of work,
including Church work. But the Lord has said, By divine design, fathers . . . are
responsible to provide the necessities of life . . . for families and mothers are
primarily responsible for the nurture of their children (The Family, A Proclamation
to the World).
We see some families who send one member abroad to work, and all the rest
even adultsare content with idleness, living off the working members earnings. I
have read press reports about this national pattern, which has over 3 million Filipinos
working abroad and sending home over 6 billion in US dollars annually. Their
absence is causing severe family problems in this nation, as nearly 10 million
Filipino children (7%) have at least one absent parent working overseas. The
problems this has created for eternal families has prompted our Area Presidency to
counsel members not to leave their families for the extended periods involved in
overseas employment (Establishing the Gospel Culture, Presidents Training
Meeting, Manila, January 25, 2003).
We see too many eternal covenants broken by the strains of such separations.
Let us put the things of eternity first in our economic decisions, and the Lord will
bless us in all the rest we must do (Philippines Area Conference, July 11, 2004).
IV.
Now to a happier subject. Ten years ago I said,
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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

This is the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Manila Temple. In

celebration of that great event, we have asked our members to qualify for temple
recommends in greater numbers and to come more frequently to worship in the
temple (Philippines Area Conference, July 11, 2004).
Now it is the 30th anniversary of the Manila Temple, and for several years we have
had a second temple in Cebu, and a third temple has been announced for Northern Luzon.
I repeat that request to qualify for temple recommends in greater numbers and to come
more frequently to worship in the temple.
V.
I know that we have many young people in this audience. As I come toward the
close of my talk, I speak to you.
You live in a world that has many influences that can draw you away from the path
of growth your Heavenly Father has prescribed for you. Fortify yourselves from
destructive actions. Avoid pornography, which always drives away the Spirit of the Lord
and leads you into evil thoughts and actions. Choose friends and associates who will not
tear you down but will encourage you in actions that will build you up and help you go
forward on the path of growth.
Plan and save for your future. You should have a bamboo bank or other savings
place to show your commitment to the future and help you provide for it. Future
missionaries and their parents must know that the time when missionaries were supported
entirely by the Church missionary fund is passed. Missionaries and their families must
now sacrifice and do all they can to support themselves before receiving help from the
missionary fund. And the commitments they make for monthly support must be kept, for
it is dishonest for us to make a commitment we do not intend to keep or have no plan for
keeping.
I mention one more counsel for our youth and our young adultsreturned
missionaries and others. Dont get your lives out of order by assuming that you wont
seek employment until you finish your schooling. Work is part of your education. Seek
part-time work while you are in school. This will force you to make careful use of your
time, and that may be as valuable as your course work. It was for me. I had part-time
work from the time I was 12 years old and it shaped my life toward the eternal principle
of self-reliance.
And dont postpone marriage until you get your education and establish yourself
financially. Marriage in the temple is part of the Lords plan for His children, and for

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Broadcast to the Philippines Area November 1, 2014 Elder Dallin H. Oaks

mature young people it should not take second place to other goals. Marriage should take
its place beside those other goalsnot behind them.
VI.
I conclude with a challenge the Spirit of the Lord whispered to my soul as soon as I
arrived here in the Philippines twelve years ago. It came in the words King Benjamin
spoke to his people at the end of a great gospel sermon recorded in the Book of Mormon:
And now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them (Mosiah 4:10).
Belief is not enough. We must act. It is not enough to know that the gospel is true.
We must act upon that knowledge. It is not enough to know that we have a prophet of
God. We must put his teachings to work in our lives. It is not enough to have a calling.
We must fulfill our responsibilities. The things taught by our inspired leaders are not just
for knowledge, not just to fill our minds. They are to motivate and guide our actions.
In revelation in these last days, the Lord told us through the Prophet Joseph Smith:
If you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare
yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you (D&C
78:7; emphasis added). And now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them!
Let us do what the Lord has commanded us. Let us be faithful in keeping His
commandments and diligent in serving Him by serving our fellowmen. This is His true
Church with the fulness of His gospel and the power of His priesthood.
I testify of Jesus Christ, and of this, His true Church. Our Savior has given us His
Atonement, His gospel, and His Church, a sacred combination that gives us the assurance
of immortality and the opportunity for eternal life. I testify that this is true. I testify of
God the Father, the Author of the plan, and of His Son Jesus Christ, the Atoning One who
has made it all possible, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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