During his years in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Oaks gave thousands of talks in diverse settings to audiences totaling many millions. People came to know him as a doctrinal speaker, boldly addressing groups in formal settings, often on serious subjects, without heed to public opinion. But he also reached out directly and more quietly to individuals in need of help through a personal ministry of letters.

In addition to their public ministries, which are highly visible to Latter-day Saints, and include addressing large groups, many of the Church's general authorities carry on quiet personal ministries, reaching out to individuals in need. President Thomas S. Monson, for example, began ministering to widows in his ward while serving as a young bishop, and continued that private ministry throughout his life. From the beginning of Elder Dallin H. Oaks' service as a general authority, he ministered to others by writing letters to people who might benefit from his counsel, guidance, or expressions of gratitude and support.

As a general rule, Church leaders have encouraged members not to write to general authorities, but instead to counsel with their local leaders. When letters from members raised matters best discussed at the local level, Elder Oaks generally referred them back to their local leaders for aid or guidance. In matters that were not of that type, however, he spent long hours writing letters that ministered to those in need.

Aiding him in the work over the years were several capable secretaries, none whose service outshone or outlasted that of Margie McKnight. In 2020, she celebrated 50 years of Church employment, the last 22 as senior executive secretary to Elder Oaks. She superbly managed his busy schedule, his extensive files, and, most of all, his voluminous written work, including typically 10 to 15 drafts of each talk and thousands of letters. He felt she was “an extension of my personality and working methods,” a high compliment from someone with his exacting standards. His family members also came to love and appreciate her for her helpfulness to them.

The responsibility of an apostle of the Lord to try to be helpful to the followers of Christ is a very heavy one. I share an experience that helped develop my feelings about that subject.

Thirty-six years ago, on the day after I was called to the Quorum of the Twelve and sustained in general conference, I was alone in my home in Provo, contemplating the significance of that calling. Our youngest daughter, Jenny, then only eight years old, entered the room. As I looked at her with all the love I felt for her, I realized that she was only one of hundreds of thousands of little girls throughout the world, also children of our Heavenly Father, whom I was now responsible to try to help as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Contemplating that reality, I could not contain my feelings and did something I have rarely done in my adult years. I wept.

My brothers and sisters of the rising generation of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, I love you. I want to help you. Since I cannot meet with you individually as I would love to do, I must try to help you through teaching correct principles and trying to help you follow them.

Anger is the way to division and enmity. We move toward loving our adversaries when we avoid anger and hostility toward those with whom we disagree. It also helps if we are even willing to learn from them.