President Dallin H. Oaks urges members to broaden spiritual horizons at LDS General Conference
President Dallin H. Oaks delivered his keynote address during the Sunday closing session of the Church’s 196th semiannual General Conference on October 4, 2026, urging Latter‑day Saints to keep secular learning from restricting their spiritual horizons.
Oaks emphasized that members facing doubts, scientific questions, or personal struggles should turn to Jesus Christ and the covenant path for answers. He said, "Whatever they are, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ," and warned that a narrow view of learning can hinder faith development.
"There are two methods of gaining needed knowledge: the evolving disclosures of man discovered by the scientific method and the truths disclosed by the spiritual method, which begins with faith in God and relies on scriptures, inspired teaching and personal revelation," Oaks explained.
He affirmed that God knows all truth and expects members to learn through both approaches, noting a Pew Research Center finding that 86 % of U.S. members with a bachelor’s degree or higher attend church weekly, compared with 59 % of those without a college diploma.
The morning session also featured General Authority Seventy Ciro Schmeil, who reminded listeners that covenants, not physical temple building, forge a strong relationship with the Savior. He quoted the Israelites, "From this day will I bless you," and urged members to consider their ways and keep covenants.
General Authority Seventy Alfred Kyungu warned against harsh language, encouraging believers to replace demeaning remarks with respectful phrasing that honors differences. He called for prayer for peaceful communication regardless of opinion.
"Let us pray for peaceful communication among us, regardless of the difference in our opinions," Kyungu said.
Apostle Quentin L. Cook linked happiness to integrity and virtue, citing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and stressing that crude conduct violates Christ’s teachings. He urged members to live with integrity, virtue, and ongoing repentance.
Presiding over the morning session, President Henry B. Eyring thanked church helpers and reflected on personal lessons learned from his parents about gratitude and service.
General Authority Seventy Edward Dube recounted a sign reading “Trespassers will be prosecuted” at his 1987 mission gate, suggesting it be removed to avoid exclusion, and invited all to come unto Christ despite personal shortcomings.
Seventy James G. O. Fantone highlighted service as the practical outworking of taking upon oneself the name of Jesus, sharing stories of Filipino missionaries who persisted through loneliness and hardship to serve others.
Apostle Neil L. Andersen warned that discipleship today requires courage amid technology, misinformation, and AI, sharing a recent experience in Spokane, Washington, where fire‑affected families found strength through faith.
Elder Christian C. Chigbundu, speaking Saturday afternoon, urged members to build "spiritual immunity" through daily scripture study, prayer, sacrament, and covenant keeping, describing these practices as the armor of God.
The conference closed with a reminder that members of diminishing faith are loved by both church leaders and the Savior, and that continued obedience to covenants will guide them forward on the covenant path.
