Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Saturday afternoon session of October 2021 general conference. He promised listeners that honoring covenants through ordinances will arm them with righteousness and the power of God. The following is a summary of what he said.
Notable quotes from Elder Bednar
“I have witnessed faithfulness, courage, perspective, persistence and joy that extend far beyond mortal capacity — and that only God could provide.”
“He invites us to look to Him, come unto Him, learn of Him and bind ourselves to Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel.”
“I testify and promise that honoring covenants arms us with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”
Summary of Elder Bednar’s talk
Missionary work and temple and family history work are complementary, interrelated aspects of one great work focusing upon the sacred covenants and ordinances that enable Latter-day Saints to receive the power of godliness and return to the presence of Heavenly Father.
“We take the Savior’s yoke upon us as we learn about, worthily receive and honor sacred covenants and ordinances. We are bound securely to and with the Savior as we faithfully remember and do our best to live in accordance with the obligations we have accepted.”
The Lord’s covenant people are armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory, as seen by Nephi (1 Nephi 14:14). “I have witnessed faithfulness, courage, perspective, persistence and joy that extend far beyond mortal capacity — and that only God could provide.”
Covenant promises and blessings are possible only because of the Savior Jesus Christ. “He invites us to look to Him, come unto Him, learn of Him and bind ourselves to Him through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel. I testify and promise that honoring covenants arms us with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”
About Elder Bednar
- Elder David A. Bednar has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for nearly 16 years. He was ordained and set apart on Oct. 7, 2004.
- He served as a full-time missionary in Germany.
- He and his wife, Sister Susan Bednar, were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975. They are the parents of three sons.
Elder Bednar in the news
- With his Sept. 3-12 travel to the Europe Area, Elder Bednar became the first senior Church leader to travel in person on an international assignment since last year’s COVID-19 onslaught.
- Elder and Sister Bednar hosted a Face to Face event in September, emphasizing the pattern “ask, seek, knock” as young adults around the world shared personal experiences of finding answers to questions through the Holy Ghost.
- During an MTC devotional in August, Elder Bednar invited missionaries to find “the power of godliness” in covenants and ordinances.
Elder Bednar’s recent social posts
- On Aug. 2, Elder Bednar posted on Facebook about how the simple pattern “love, share and invite” brings greater focus to all aspects of the Lord’s work.
- Elder Bednar posted a video on Instagram on May 22 of welcoming Sudanese officials to Salt Lake City and the importance of such visits.
He tweeted a quote on May 4 from his April 2021 general conference talk on principles of the gospel. “With all the energy of my soul, I invite all of us to learn, live, and love principles of righteousness,” he wrote.
