In BYU’s Tuesday Devotional, Elder Oaks covered many topics, including race relations. While speaking about racial tensions in the U.S. Elder Oaks made the bold statement “black lives matter,” and in an equally bold move, used the dictionary to define racism. 

Later on in his devotional, many thought that he was repeating the earlier phrase when Oaks said, “bald lives matter.” More questions were raised as he continued to explain how the discrimination he and many of the apostles have faced as bald men makes them more empathetic to others.

“Being told that my bare head ‘shines brighter than the celestial glories’ allows me to feel a fraction of the pain my brothers and sisters feel from racist policies and actions”

Oaks continued to say that this will help everyone, but especially racial minorities and bald people, to “be one.”

Reactions from Latter-day Saints have been mixed.

On Instagram, @Dal_harris said, “I for one, think it’s great that someone is finally saying something about this.”

Self-proclaimed member of “Zion’s Nation” Jeth Cannon disagreed saying, “Of course I believe that black lives matter, but I’m not gonna give up my right to call someone a chrome-domed egghead just because Marxists have taken over BYU.”