President Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Kristen M. Oaks shared perspectives on family and faith during an episode of the Church News podcast released Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The discussion, which occurred while the couple participated in a family reunion, touched upon the president's personal history, including details shared during his October 2025 general conference message regarding his father's death and the influence of his grandparents.
Personal and Spiritual Reflections
During the podcast episode, President Oaks and Sister Oaks spoke with Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen about their own family dynamics and the general concept of God's plan. President Oaks used the opportunity to share his testimony concerning Heavenly Father's plan for His children and the blessings his family has experienced through missionary service.
The Doctrine of Eternal Families
The president emphasized the importance of personal agency and the spiritual purpose of family gatherings. He stated that the purpose of participating in a family reunion is to further belief in God and His eternal plan of salvation. He noted that the objective of human existence is to further growth toward becoming eternal beings as children of eternal heavenly parents.
A Legacy of Teaching
The discussion provided a deeper look into the personal life of a leader who has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since being sustained on April 7, 1984. While President Oaks has spoken extensively on the doctrine of the eternal family throughout his tenure, the podcast offered a more personal connection to these teachings.
Century of Family Traditions
The podcast also highlighted a long-standing family tradition. President Oaks' extended family has met together every other year for more than a century. In his nine-plus decades of life, the president has missed only a few of these scheduled family reunions.
Podcast Details
The episode, titled Episode 318, was hosted by Jon Ryan Jensen and Mary Richards. The Church News series provides interviews with Church leaders, members, and writers from the Church News team to offer behind-the-scenes stories regarding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Conclusion
The discussion connected the president's personal experiences to the broader religious doctrine that Church doctrine is rooted in the concept of family. This connection between personal heritage and religious belief served as a central theme of the conversation.
The episode was released on October 27, 2026, and has a total runtime of 22 minutes.
