Arthur Oakman

  Works of Arthur Oakman - An Apostle in the RLDS Church

Arthur Alma Oakman was a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1938 to 1964.  Oakman was born in Ponders End, Middlesex, England.  He received his education from Graceland College and graduated in 1930.  He was married to Elva T. Sturges on January 1, 1937.  Oakman was born and raised in the RLDS Church and in 1915 was baptized at the age of ten.  In 1928, he was ordained to the office of Priest and two years later was ordained to the office of Elder.  In 1934, he was ordained to the office of Seventy and in 1936, he was ordained a High Priest.  In 1938, he was ordained an Apostle and served in the Council of Twelve as mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants section 137:2.  In 1964, he was released from the Council of the Twelve and was ordained an Evangelist.

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• Oakman authored the following works
• O Worship the King (with F. Weddle) (1952 - 203 pages) - a manual of helps for ministers of music and others who assist in worship.
• Resurrection and Eternal Life (1959 - 256 pages)
• God's Spiritual Universe (1961 - 188 pages)
• He Who Is (1969 - 136 pages)
• Belief In Christ (1964 - 187 pages)
• The Call of Christ in an Age of Dilemma (1964 - 64 pages)
• My People Will I Preserve
• As It Was in the Days of Noah...
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• The following six lectures were presented to a group Melchisedec Priesthood of the stakes of Zion in the Center Place in October 1966.  The average nightly attendance was 403.  It has been unofficially referred to as the Endowment Series. Hyperlinks open the text to play and read.
•   Our Spiritual Universe
•   Spiritual View of History
•   The Holy Spirit and the Church
•   The Gifts of the Sprit
•   Angelic Ministry
•   Toward Spiritual Endowment
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• Other Audio Sermons by Oakman
• The Meaning of the Crucifixion
• The Burden of Sin
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• Short Radio Messages
• The Christian Universe 01
• The Christian Universe 02
• The Christian Universe 03
• The Christian Universe 04
• The Christian Universe 05
• The Christian Universe 06
• The Christian Universe 07
• The Christian Universe 08
• The Christian Universe 09
• The Christian Universe 10
• The Christian Universe 11
• The Christian Universe 12
• The Christian Universe 13
• The Christian Universe 14
• The Christian Universe 15
• The Christian Universe 16
• The Christian Universe 17
• The Christian Universe 18
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From the back of Arthur A. Oakman: Themes from His Radio Sermons (Volume 2) Edited and compiled by Stephen A. Gregson, 1984.

Arthur Alma Oakman, possibly as much as any popular theologian, has influenced the theological thinking of ministers in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Born in Ponder's End, England, his early life was characterized by a love for music. This was evidenced by the awarding of first place to him as a baritone soloist in a contest sponsored by the British Broadcasting Corporation. He also received first place as a baritone soloist in a contest in the United States shortly after his arrival here in 1928.

He received general church appointment in 1930 and soon began developing his theological and preaching talents. He served as presiding elder of the Stone Church in Independence from 1936 to 1938. Ordained as a member of the Council of Twelve in 1938, his first assignment as an apostle was to his native England and continental Europe. His devotion was exemplified in that when the war broke out in Europe he chose to stay, serving as apostle to people who were experiencing the ravages of war.

Brother Oakman's theological contribution drew great appreciation for his Melchisedec priesthood lectures, "Christus Veritas," which later were expanded in one of his five books. These five books, widely used in the church, are God's Spiritual Universe, He Who Is, Resurrection and Eternal Life, O Worship the King, and The Call of Christ in an Age of Dilemma.

People in the central area of the church appreciated his radio ministry which he gave unreservedly. His sermons originated at the Stone Church in the 1930s over KMBC. In the later years of his life his Morning Devotions were heard over KXTR-FM. The theology and dynamic preaching of Brother Oakman, which has influenced so many members of the church, reached out to touch the lives of those in the Greater Kansas City Area.

Brother Oakman died on December 26, 1975. Following his death, his more recent radio sermons were collected and edited for this book.