Elder Dallin Harris Oaks is an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born in 1932 in Provo, Utah and raised by his mother after his father died of tuberculosis when he was 7 years old. He earned degrees from BYU and the University of Chicago and had a successful career as a lawyer, judge, and professor before being called as an apostle in 1984 at age 51. He has provided inspired counsel through challenging personal experiences like the death of his first wife from cancer.

1. Elder Dallin
Harris Oaks
By Janice Clark, Jessica Day, Monica Lingard, &
Kirstyn Rasmussen

2. Biography:
Born August 12, 1932 in Provo Utah he is now
80 years old
• He was raised in
Provo by his mother
after his father Died
of Tuberculosis
when he was only 7
• He Began working
at an early age
(around 11) to help
support his family

3. Education and Career
He earned a bachelors Degree in Accounting from BYU
He then earned a Law degree from University of
Chicago
He was both a lawyer
and judge, professor at
University of Chicago,
President of BYU,
and on the Utah Supreme Court

4. Marriage and Family
He married June Dixon in the Salt
Lake temple on June 24, 1952
They had 6 children
June died of cancer in 1998
Elder Oaks then married Kristen Meredith McMain in
the Salt Lake Temple on August 25, 2000.

5. Church Callings
He has served in several stake presidencies, as an
Area president in the Philippines, and Chicago stake
Mission President
He was unable to serve a mission due to serving in the
Utah National Guard during the Korean war.
He was called as an Apostle in April of 1984 at the age
of 51

6. Lessons Learned
Elder Oaks is inspiring – he has
remained strong and faithful through
personal tragedy.
“I did not know why I received a „no‟
answer to my prayers for the
recovery of my wife of many years,
but the Lord gave me a witness that
this was His will, and He gave me the
strength to accept it,” he said.
Elder Oaks married Kristen Meredith
McMain on August 25, 2000 in the
Salt Lake Temple.

7. Lessons Learned
Elder Oaks was a very successful lawyer and
judge.
He had some specific study habits that
helped make him successful.
Wake up early
Pray
Study the scriptures
Study school work

8. Learning from Elder Oaks
“God‟s love is so perfect that He
“The love of God does not
lovingly requires us to obey His
supersede His laws and His
commandments because He
commandments, and the effect
knows that only through
of God‟s laws and
obedience to His laws can we
commandments does not
become perfect, as He is. For this
diminish the purpose and
reason, God‟s anger and His
effect of His love.”
wrath are not a contradiction of
His love but an evidence of His
love.”

9. Learning from Elder Oaks
“Desires dictate our
priorities, priorities shape our
choices, and choices determine our
actions. The desires we act on
determine our changing, our
achieving, and our becoming.”
“We should remember that righteous desires cannot be
superficial, impulsive, or temporary. They must be
heartfelt, unwavering, and permanent.”

10. Hobbies and interests
Camping and fishing
He is always reading.
His family says that he
will read 3 or 4 newspapers a day.
He tackles technical things in the morning when
he is fresher, and saves lighter things for later.
But reading matter is always close at hand.
His wife says, “If he thinks he is going to be
waiting at a stoplight, he‟ will often pick up
something to read.”

11. Hobbies/Interests

12. Personal Experiences

13. Once at BYUI….

14. Another time…

15. My Experience