How tall is elder oaks

Supreme Court and continues to influence American jurisprudence. Turley was in a position to draw on his own experience. He has worked closely with President Oaks for more than 30 years, including their joint efforts overseeing parts of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. In fact, President Oaks himself asked Turley four years ago to write his biography.

Turley shows how President Oaks set a course for himself to focus his church talks on doctrine before he was called out of the upper echelons of the legal profession to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April That focus was cemented by his relationship with and the death of Elder Bruce R. McConkie, another apostle known for his focus on church doctrine, serious mien at the pulpit and happy demeanor away from it.

President Oaks was asked to fill those shoes by a senior apostle. His legal background also contributed to his efforts to write clear, deep, concise talks on a single doctrinal subject at a time. Turley explained more in a question-and-answer interview published below. Throughout the book, Turley shows and provides space for others to describe President Oaks not only as determined and fearless but humorous, happy, open-minded and soft-hearted.

He also is seen as meek, a great listener and transparent. In an excerpt from one letter shared in the book, President Oaks responded to someone who did not appreciate one of his talks, which regularly go through 10 to 15 drafts. Turley is himself a prodigious author and a former Assistant Church Historian and Recorder who recently retired as managing director of the Church Communications Department. Here is our interview with him, which has been edited for length and clarity.

Rick Turley: President Oaks called me into his office a little over four years ago, and he told me that he wanted to have a biography and wanted to know if I would be willing to write it. He did not put pressure on me.

I was excited to do it. Turley: There are biographies of the senior leaders of the church. Typically as our members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve grow older, biographies are written about them, and he had of course reached an age in his mids, where it certainly seemed like it was time.

He has spoken before on the topic of planning your life. Turley: I think if they really want to understand President Oaks in full and not just one dimensionally as a speaker, they should read the book. Deseret News: You clearly illustrate what a prodigious worker he is throughout the book. You also show that across the legal, academic, public service and ministerial eras of his life, he has been known for his ability to distill complex topics to their essence.

The biography itself is similar. How much of that is your writing style or something that you sought to do for this book? Turley: I decided very early on that I wanted the biography to reflect his voice, and I also wanted the biography to be accessible to the general public. I think that in reading the book, most people will also hear his voice, which I wanted them to hear.

He is a native of Provo, Utah, and born August 12, He and his late wife, June Dixon Oaks, are the parents of six children. She died 21 July On 25 August , he married Kristen M. McMain in the Salt Lake Temple. On June 24, , Oaks married June Dixon. On July 21, , she died of cancer. Oaks and musician Jenny Oaks Baker. Search for:. Biography October 4, 0. Share on Facebook Share.

Share on Twitter Tweet. Share on Pinterest Share. Then Oaks pointedly said — possibly alluding to the Jan. And by working cooperatively, we can Oaks has stated that Americans' loyalties should be to the U. Constitution above any particular politician or party. Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time. Then, members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities.

This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election. There are many political issues, and no party, platform or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences. These were key points, Christine Durham said.