PROVO, Utah-Thursday, President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was honored for his lifelong work promoting the values of God, family, freedom and country.

Pres. Oaks, the first counselor in The First Presidency of the Salt Lake City-based faith, received this award at the Utah Valley Convention Center in downtown Provo by America’s Freedom Festival at Provo,  a local nonprofit.

The 88-year-old Pres. Oaks has served as a member of The Quorum of Twelve Apostles since May 3, 1984 and has been in The First Presidency since January 14, 2018.

Pres. Oaks is renowned for giving addresses at various platforms advocating for religious freedom.

After accepting the award, Pres. Oaks, a native of Provo, spoke briefly concerning the importance of upholding the United States Constitution, notwithstanding its imperfections.

Pres. Oaks continued, saying the award is reflective of the attainments of others, specifically Deity.

Pres. Oaks has received numerous honors concerning religious freedom. Among them are the Becket Fund’s prestigious Canterbury medal in 2013.

He has previously practiced law in Chicago and taught for 10 years at the University of Chicago Law School.

He was the president of Brigham Young University from 1971-1980 and served as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court from 1980-1984.

Also honored at this event Thursday were Leonard Bagalwa, a native of The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the founder of the Utah Valley Refugee Foundation. The five Puro sisters were also honored, native Utahns who each served in the military.