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This devotional address entitled The Desires of Our Hearts was given on October 8th of

1985 by Dallin H. Oaks.

Then a member of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My brothers and sisters, I ask that President Holland not give me the usual introduction.

I did this so that I could introduce myself in terms relevant to my subject.

I have been baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.

In my lifetime, I have done many things that are right, and I have done a few things that are wrong.

I know that I can be forgiven of my sins.

I have a testimony that a loving Father in heaven has provided a means

through the atoning sacrifice of his son for all mankind to be saved by obedience to the laws

and ordinances of the gospel. The qualifications I have just recited for myself also apply to almost all of the men and women in this audience.

These qualifications are vital. Their real importance far exceeds the so-called accomplishments usually mentioned in introductions.

We begin on this common ground.

In addition, each of us desires the ultimate blessing of exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

Even when we fall short, we desire what is right.

That is the subject of my talk, the desires of our hearts.

I am interested in this subject because it highlights a critical contrast between the laws

of God as revealed in the Scriptures and what I will call the laws of men, as set out in the national

and state laws with which I was concerned in my 30 years in the legal profession.

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