President Dallin H. Oaks and his wife, Kristen M. Oaks, watch as his daughter, Jenny Oaks Baker, plays the violin at the Washington National Cathedral. Oaks Baker performed "Amazing Grace" after her father's address. (Courtesy of Church Newsroom)
President Dallin H. Oaks spoke Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral, focusing on the United States Constitution and how its divinely inspired principles provide a foundation for peacemaking, fairness and unity.The event, titled “Faith, Freedom and the Common Good,” was part of the cathedral’s “A Better Way” series, which focuses on promoting thoughtful civic discourse within a polarized world. The program featured musical performances, President Oaks’ address and a panel discussion with other religious and political leaders.“In these remarks, I do not speak for any political party or pressure group,” President Oaks said. “I speak for the United States Constitution, which I've studied for 70 years.”
The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The Cathedral is considered an intersection between the sacred and the civic. (Alyssa Lewis)
He said the Constitution was created by people of varying nationalities and beliefs, and its existence encourages us to navigate our differences peacefully.“The Constitution compels a divided people to build coalitions that allow them to act together for the common good,” he said.President Oaks also described the challenges early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced after they were expelled from Missouri and forced to settle in the West.“We have become peacemakers and advocates of freedom and unity by necessity,” President Oaks said.He then said the Constitution is based on divinely inspired principles, and those principles can help us move forward in a divided world.“We should make every effort to understand the experiences and concerns of others, especially when they differ from our own,” President Oaks said. He added that those in attendance should resolve those differences without compromising our core values. As an example of what peacemaking looks like, President Oaks described the Utah Compromise of 2015, a dispute between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups that ultimately ended through mediation and compromise on both sides, rather than litigation. President Oaks said resolving conflict through legislation, like that of the Utah Compromise, is "less contentious" than solving it through litigation.
From left to right, Representative Ryan Wilcox, Riverton Councilman Andy Pierucci and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy smile for a photo inside the Washington National Cathedral on Sept. 16, 2026. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis were also in attendance. (Courtesy of Rep. Ryan Wilcox)
Ryan Wilcox, a member of the Utah House of Representatives, attended the cathedral's program. He said the Constitution requires people to engage with each other and forge common ground, "not just occupy the same space." He said that does not mean everyone has to be the same. "By institutional design we unite through action, not uniformity." “Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a divine vision of the worth of all others and the will and ability to rise above prejudice and racism,” President Oaks said.
President Dallin H. Oaks addresses the audience at the Washington National Cathedral. He explained what it means to be a peacemaker, especially with so much division.
Ryan Jensen, editor of Church News, said President Oaks’ guidance should not be limited to conversations on a grand scale. Peacemaking begins in the home, he said.“If we can’t figure out how to work through the challenges that we have in our homes, we’re probably going to have a really hard time working through challenges that affect a billion people,” Jensen said. “Starting at home and saying, 'How do I want to resolve this matter with my children, with my spouse? Is that a matter of prayer, is that a matter of study?'”Jensen said there is value in finding common ground with those around us, regardless of whether or not we agree with them.“When we don't listen to each other, we can’t possibly come to any mutual compromise or common ground,” Jensen said. “You can't find common ground with someone whose ground you haven’t seen or taken a chance to even consider.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, Kristen M. Oaks and members of the panel discussion stand together for a photo inside the Washington National Cathedral. Their messages were driven by a desire to emulate God's love in civic discourse. (Courtesy of Church Newsroom)
Following President Oaks’ address, Melody Barnes, executive director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia; the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; and Rabbi David Saperstein, former U.S. ambassador-at-large for religious freedom, participated in a panel discussion moderated by Jeffrey Rosen, CEO emeritus of the National Constitution Center.Questions during the panel discussion expounded on President Oaks’ address, exploring how the Constitution encourages us to seek common ground and how churches and places of worship can help create more civil dialogue.Bishop Budde said people have become accustomed to seeing each other critically — especially those with whom they disagree. She said shared values within religious contexts can help ease this friction.Bishop Budde said every human deserves dignity, "simply be being a human being," and she said treating others with that dignity requires "a certain level of curiosity and openness."Barnes emphasized the value of being open by highlighting the strength that can come when we shift our perspective on these differences.
The Washington National Cathedral's Gothic crossing walls and vaulted ceiling are illuminated. There were nearly 3,000 people in attendance, and more than 100,000 watched via live stream. (Courtesy of Church Newsroom)
“We can't use our differences as a cudgel. They can’t be a sword. They can’t be a way of just othering other people, of marginalizing other people,” Barnes said. “We have to be willing to sit and to listen to better understand why those differences exist."She said when we practice the “give and take” of listening to one another, we can then move forward together.A common observation throughout the discussion was that civil discourse is not always easy, but it is through those conversations that unity and justice can be reached.“The desire to work towards justice — the complexity, the challenge, the angst, the friction — and then the necessity of listening and engaging with one another will continue to drive people to come up with solutions,” Barnes said.Saperstein ended the discussion by emphasizing the significance of the conversations that occurred throughout the program.“We have to model in the way we work together in interfaith, multi-faith efforts to transform America, all recognizing that we’re not the prisoners of a bitter and remitting past,” Saperstein said. “We can be, we must be, we will be the shapers of a better and more hopeful future.”Jensen said he hopes the significance of this event will not be overlooked, especially because this is the first time a president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been invited to speak at the Washington National Cathedral."To see leaders of those churches come together and say we have a message that can help our people, our believers, to have better, more peaceful experiences in their life — that is something that we can’t miss in this," he said.
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"Faith, Freedom and the common good"
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