As followers of God, who loves all his children, we cannot remain indifferent to the experiences of those who live outside our own communities; true discipleship invites us to be uncomfortable enough to listen when we’d rather look away.
In a world where polarization seems to be increasing daily, followers of Christ can easily retreat into their known communities. We may feel that because we possess the fullness of the gospel, we have no need to look outward for perspective or understanding. In his address titled “Racism and Other Challenges,” President Dallin H. Oaks reminds us that exclusively engaging with people similar to us creates walls, not bridges, and that we are called to replace that complacency with a commitment to build bonds of cooperation.
Photo by Manish Dhodi
In his address, President Oaks confronts the heavy reality of racism, urging us to root out prejudice wherever it exists. He emphasizes that “God does not love one race more than another,” and that favoring one group over another is entirely inconsistent with the revealed word of God. Instead, he challenges us to view society’s current unrest not just as political noise, but as “cries for help”—profound invitations to show up, listen, and offer compassionate care.
Accepting these invitations demands a shift in our generation’s approach to discipleship; true faith requires more than passive belief. By actively cultivating “the mind of Christ,” we are compelled to step outside our comfort zones, listen to the experiences of those outside our immediate communities, and respond with immediate, Christlike compassion. Ultimately, true discipleship invites us to be uncomfortable enough to listen when we’d rather look away.
President Oaks invites us to become more Christlike as we practice empathetic curiosity. We might try this by initiating conversations with those whose background, culture, or life experience differs from our own. As we listen to understand someone’s story, rather than to debate their perspective, we can actively bridge the gap between our comfort zone and our neighbor’s reality. In my own friendships with those from different backgrounds, practicing this genuine curiosity has helped me break out of my bubble and become a more authentic, empathetic friend. It’s time to break down the walls of exclusivity and start building the bridges of understanding, compassion, and connection that God expects us to construct.
To explore the theological framework for bridging these divides, read President Dallin H. Oaks’s full address, “Racism and Other Challenges.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Natalie Fernsten, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY VILIUS KUKANAUSKAS
Find more insights
Read and reflect on the official Church resources regarding “Racial and Cultural Prejudice,” which provide a clear doctrinal foundation for why we must value diversity and root out bias.
Watch and learn from Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s BYU address “Banners for Discipleship” where he outlines essential tools for navigating polarized conversations.
Take a look at the BYU Kennedy Center’s feature “Confronting Racism” to see how members are actively working to build bridges of cooperation rather than walls of segregation in their communities.