Elder Oaks Speaks at Johns Hopkins Univ., Says Religious Freedom is Vital for Prosperous Society
This article was originally written by Jason Swensen for Church News. The following is an excerpt.
There is growing global recognition of the need for engagement with and understanding of religion—and protecting religious freedom.
That was the message delivered by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in his February 9 address to the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
“Such efforts are likely to prove powerful in the world of ideas and politics,” he said.
Elder Oaks introduced himself as a lawyer and former law professor and judge. But he emphasized that his lifelong advocacy of religious freedom is grounded in his religious faith. As an Apostle, it is his duty to teach and testify of Christ’s doctrine and divinity.
God, he said, inspired the Constitution of the United States. And the free exercise of religion by all citizens is foremost among the Constitution’s fundamental principles.
Read the full article at LDS.org.
