By Jared Jones
Becoming united, dedicated and committed was a major theme of Maurice L. Stocks'' message at Tuesday, Nov. 2, Patriot''s Day devotional.
'There are three underlying pillars, three bedrocks if you will, that are present in everything I will discuss,' said Stocks, assistant dean in the Marriott School of Management. 'They are unity, dedication and commitment.'
Stocks based his devotional message on experiences he has had and lessons he has learned during his service in the Air Force.
'You should know that one event which took place during my Air Force career dwarfs all others in terms of importance,' said Stocks. 'That is my introduction to and baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.'
Stocks said he and his wife became interested in the LDS Church while attending the University of Oklahoma.
Stocks said it was the example of another student in his graduate program that sparked his interest.
'We never spoke of religion, but his belief in and dedication to his religion spoke more loudly in his actions than his words ever could have,' said Stocks. 'I remember thinking, as we graduated from the program, that it would be nice to have as much conviction to something as this young man had to his church.'
Seven months after leaving the University of Oklahoma, Stocks and his wife were baptized into the Church.
'I will be eternally grateful to that young man in Oklahoma and to the missionaries and members who worked so diligently to give us our chance to accept the marvelous message of the restored gospel,' said Stocks. 'I can testify to you that our friends and colleagues want what we have. They want the contentment and hope that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings into their lives.'
Stocks said his career in the Air Force was greatly influenced by his membership in the church.
'People are watching us, and they expect us to live by the standards of the gospel,' said Stocks. 'They expect us to be honest, committed and dedicated.'
Stocks said one of his greatest leadership challenges in the Air Force came to him because he was a member of the church.
He was assigned to be a squadron commander in a unit that had deep integrity and morale problems.
As Stocks began his assignment, he said he began by organizing the unit like a church mission with supervisors, district meetings and reporting rules.
The unit turned into a team and eventually won the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
'It was a wonder to me that the same principles we teach in our church work in our secular lives as well,' said Stocks. 'Unity, commitment and dedication - are as necessary in the workplace as they are in the church.'
Stocks said the attributes of unity, commitment and dedication are what define great leaders-especially in times of war.
'Moroni is the model for every Latter-day Saint soldier, sailor and airman,' said Stocks. 'In fact the world would be a much better place if he were a model for every nation''s soldiers, sailors and airmen. He was a man who was committed to his people, who was dedicated to his God and who unified all around good and noble causes.'
During the Persian Gulf War, Stocks said he remembered many military officers say they would rather have Mormons under their command than anyone else because of their strong belief in God and their religion.
Stocks said he loves the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ because they teach that men and women of all nations are brothers and sisters.
'The emphasis in every one of our lives ought to be celebrating our similarities, and not going to war over our differences,' said Stocks. 'I despise and renounce evil in any form, including evil perpetrated among nations, but I love my brothers and sisters of every race, color and creed.'