BORN:
15 June 1952
PLACE
OF BIRTH: Oakland, California, United States
FATHER:
Anthony George Bednar
MOTHER: Lavina Whitney Bednar
ELDER DAVID A. BEDNAR
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Key Doctrines:
Solutions to the adversary’s attacks come through prayer with faith in the Atonement. “Our physical bodies make possible a breadth, a depth, and an intensity of experience that simply could not be obtained in our premortal existence.”
“ Thus, our relationships with other people, our capacity to recognize and act in accordance with truth, and our ability to obey the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ are amplified through our physical bodies . . . we experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain, and even the challenges of physical limitations in ways that prepare us for eternity.”
“Simply stated, there are lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, as the scriptures describe, “according to the flesh” (1 Nephi 19:6;Alma 7:12–13).”
“As we look beyond mortality and into eternity, it is easy to discern that the counterfeit companionship advocated by the adversary is temporary and empty. . . . Love increases through righteous restraint and decreases through impulsive indulgence.” (Emphasis mine.)
“Obedience to the law of chastity will increase our happiness in mortality and make possible our progress in eternity.” [2]
Elder Bednar often speaks about prayer and sincerely trusting and having faith in the Savior. I have noticed and quoted many of his talks over the last few years and taught from them in lessons. I especially love his talk, "Things As They Really Are and the youth video made from it."
He carefully and thoroughly explains doctrines, definitions, and standards related to Heavenly Father’s central plan—“the overarching context . . . of happiness for His children” that provides for and enables all to progress to become more like our Heavenly Father “to help [us] become happy, and to bring [us] safely home to Him with resurrected, exalted bodies . . . to be together in the light and filled with hope,” and pronounces the intent of the adversary: “Lucifer labors to make the sons and daughters of God confused and unhappy and to hinder their eternal progression. The overarching intent of the father of lies is that all of us would become ‘miserable like unto himself’ (2 Nephi 2:27). Lucifer wants us ultimately to be alone in the dark and without hope. Satan relentlessly works to distort the most important elements of the Father’s plan. . . . Lucifer seeks to frustrate our progression by tempting us to use our bodies improperly. . . . The very tool he does not have is thus the primary target of his attempts to lure us to spiritual destruction.” [1]
I learned:
Elder Bednar’s father was a tool and die maker, and was very organized. Elder Bednar has degrees in communications and organizational behaviors. Order was a priority to his father and was a significant influence in Elder Bednar's character. His father joined the church when David was a married adult living far away. Elder Bednar was called on Wednesday to ask if he would baptize, and confirm his father on Saturday. He says of that experience, “I honestly believe that is why I was born . . . to assist him in learning about the restored gospel.
His constant faith and humble gratitude and acknowledgement of God's help and blessings, and his trust in the Lord help Elder Bednar do "extraordinary" things, like guiding BYU-I through the transition from a 2 year to a 4 year college. Sister Bednar says, “People that know him well would say that he is tough but tender. He’s driven yet discerning. He’s faithful and fearless. He has the capacity to lead and the wisdom to follow.”
His constant faith and humble gratitude and acknowledgement of God's help and blessings, and his trust in the Lord help Elder Bednar do "extraordinary" things, like guiding BYU-I through the transition from a 2 year to a 4 year college. Sister Bednar says, “People that know him well would say that he is tough but tender. He’s driven yet discerning. He’s faithful and fearless. He has the capacity to lead and the wisdom to follow.”
He teaches:
“ Thus, our relationships with other people, our capacity to recognize and act in accordance with truth, and our ability to obey the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ are amplified through our physical bodies . . . we experience tenderness, love, kindness, happiness, sorrow, disappointment, pain, and even the challenges of physical limitations in ways that prepare us for eternity.”
“Simply stated, there are lessons we must learn and experiences we must have, as the scriptures describe, “according to the flesh” (1 Nephi 19:6;Alma 7:12–13).”
“As we look beyond mortality and into eternity, it is easy to discern that the counterfeit companionship advocated by the adversary is temporary and empty. . . . Love increases through righteous restraint and decreases through impulsive indulgence.” (Emphasis mine.)
“Obedience to the law of chastity will increase our happiness in mortality and make possible our progress in eternity.” [2]
[1] Elder DAVID A. BEDNAR of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, “We Believe in Being Chaste,”
183rd Annual General Conference, Saturday afternoon, 6 April 2013
[2]
Ibid.
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