President Dallin H. Oaks' Constitution Day remarks weren't just about the founding document — they were a call to seek and share Christ's light through everyday peacemaking. Here's what stood out.
In 1955, the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned the U.S. Congress to declare the week of September 17–23 every year as Constitution Week. In celebration of this inspired document and President Oaks' landmark message, we'll share articles related to the Constitution and peacebuilding.
President Oaks offered a blueprint for loving those we disagree with
At the close of the workday on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, on the eve of Constitution Day, members of the college staff gathered with Dean Laura Padilla-Walker to hear President Oaks speak from the Washington National Cathedral.
The setting felt especially meaningful for a college that values constitutional study and the counsel of a living prophet. To witness a prophet of God speak with expertise and conviction on the U.S. Constitution was a remarkable convergence of faith and scholarship.
Listening to President Oaks make a case for peacemaking as a divine calling caused me to reflect on this year's BYU theme. Below are five principles and excerpts from President Oaks' speech that can help as we focus on "Seeking and Sharing His Light."
(Read, print, or listen to the full address here.)
Unity is a Christlike calling
"Far from being a weakness, reconciling adverse positions through respectful negotiation and coalitions is a virtue. As Jesus taught, 'Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God'" (Matthew 5:9).
"The Constitution compels a divided people to build coalitions to allow them to act together."
"As a practical basis for unity, all of us should accept the reality that we are fellow citizens who need each other. This requires all of us to obey some laws we dislike and to live peacefully with some persons whose values differ from our own. We should make every effort to understand the experiences and concerns of others, especially when they differ from our own."
View others as children of God rather than enemies
Quoting Professor Robert P. George of Princeton University, President Oaks said, "We need to remind ourselves that our fellow citizens with whom we disagree — even deeply disagree about fundamental matters of justice and the common good — are not our enemies."
"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."
"The Lord has taught me that it is possible to obey and seek to improve our nation's laws and also to love our adversaries. While not easy, what makes it possible is the help of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He gave this command to love, and He promised His help as we seek to obey it."
Seek fairness for all
"Where there is genuine conflict on the effect of constitutional rights, contesting positions need to be balanced legally and negotiated politically in a way that upholds all essential rights to the greatest extent possible. We need to work for a better way forward — a way to resolve differences without compromising core values. We should seek fairness for all."
Resist the urge to seek total victory
"We should be especially careful not to seek total dominance for all our own positions. Even though the First Amendment obviously guarantees the right to exercise or practice religious beliefs, that vital right is not absolute. Advocates for absolute religious freedom should yield to the reality that in a nation with citizens of many different religious beliefs or disbeliefs, the government must sometimes limit the right of some to act upon some of their beliefs when it is necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all."
Service is a bridge
"When our volunteers bring help, people in distress do not ask for their beliefs. Likewise, the volunteers help everyone, not just fellow believers. ... What is important is giving help and getting help, people-to-people."
"It is an effort that brings peace to people who are in distress. But it also teaches us the power that comes when individuals put aside their differences and work together to find common ground."
Conclusion
Listening to President Oaks reminded me that my journey to becoming a peacemaker will consist of deliberate, daily choices to see others as children of God, to seek fairness over victory, and to engage in service as a bridge across differences. As I try this year to seek and share Christ's light, these daily choices can start small: a phone call to a family member during which I listen and learn, a conversation with a stranger approached from curiosity instead of assumption, a hand extended without internally judging what someone believes.
In the spirit of Constitution Week, I've decided to print a paper copy of the Constitution. With a bucket of colored pencils, I'll highlight my favorite sections, draw pictures in the margins, and hang a page each day on my bathroom mirror. It's the same spirit in which I hung my kindergartner's crayon drawings on the refrigerator — a way of saying, "Thank you for making this. I see it. I value it."What’s a fun and meaningful way you’d like to show a little love for the Constitution this week? I’d love to hear from you. Email: maleahwarner@byu.edu
And watch for more articles here about the Constitution and the work of peacebuilding.
You can print a PDF copy of the U.S. Constitution at constituioncenter.org.