“When a contentious issue arises, one filled with major conflicts, we ought to see this as an opportunity to listen and to learn, both about the issues at hand and about those who differ from us.”On the eve of Constitution Day, President Dallin H. Oaks, president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke at the Washington National Cathedral about the Constitution, peacemaking, and pluralism.The event was part of the Cathedral's "A Better Way" series, which is designed to promote civil discourse and human dignity. "This cathedral sits at the intersection of the sacred and the civic here in our nation's capital," the Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith, said as he opened the event. "We believe there is a better way to live together as Americans, a better way to learn from each other, a better way to disagree with each other, and a better way to find a path forward in ways that protect the integrity of our democracy."President Oaks's keynote address followed in a similar vein as he spoke on compromise and pluralism. has studied the Constitution for over sixty years. taught law at the University of Chicago, served as President of BYU, and sat on the Utah Supreme Court, got the 2013 Canterbury Medal from the Becket Fund for Religious LibertyAs a long time student of the US Constitution, he emphasized that he "[did] not speak for any political party or pressure group". Rather, he spoke for the Constitution itself."The Constitution requires us to deal constantly with people who disagree with us. It compels a divided people to build coalitions that allow them to act together for the common good." He went on to explain his home state's unique perspective on the issue."What became the United States was founded andbuilt by people of different nationalities, charities, and beliefs. Its unifying purpose was not to establish a particular religion or to perpetuate any of the diverse cultures or tribal loyalties of the old countries. Our founding generaiton whome we honor in this 250th annniversary sought to be unified by a new constitution and laws.""We need to work for a better way forward, a way to resolve the differences without compromising core values. We should seek fairness for all.""The Constitution compels a divided people to build coalitions to allow them to act together. Compel is a strong word, but it is exatly that the Constittuion does. It puts what we now call peacemaking at the heart of the Constitution's process for achieving freedom and unity and fairness for all."Quoting Martha Mow, Dean of the Harvard Law school, he remarked "Accommodation and negotiation can identify practical solutions where abstract principles sometimes cannot."President Oaks' remarks were followed by a panel discussion featuring Jeffrey A. Rosen (CEO Emeritus at the National Constitution Center), Bishop Maryanne Buddy (Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington), Melody Barnes (Executive Director of Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia), and Rabbi David Sapperstein (former US Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom).Watch the full event recording here.Watch an abbreviated version with President Oaks' comments here.
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