Latter-day Saint apostle David A. Bednar addresses members of the National Press Club at a luncheon in Washington on Thursday, May 26, 2022. He pointed to out-migration from parts of the western United States and in-migration from Mexico and Central America. Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivers a speech during the G20 Interfaith Forum in Chiba, Japan, on Saturday, June 8, 2019. Never again must the fundamental right to worship God be trivialized below the ability to buy gasoline. And When He Came to Himself . I was struck by the simplicity and comprehensiveness of his answer. And, COVID-19 CrisisA Wake-Up Call for Religious Freedom, When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. In the midst of crisis, the prodigal son in the biblical parable came to himself and began the long journey back to his home. Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-1, 250lb (185cm, 113kg) . I express these thoughts in the name of Him whom I serve, whom I love, and whom I represent, even Jesus Christ, amen. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online. Governments and policy experts can win allies in a common struggle against health or other serious risks by acknowledging the essential place of religion in peoples lives, he said. Jesus Christ touched people, embraced them, healed them, ministered to them. My call is for respect, accommodation and cooperation for creative solutions that mitigate the threat of COVID-19 while not cutting people off from an essential part of their lives, said Elder Bednar, who remotely participated in a virtual panel discussion from a studio in the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City. The goal is to allow religious communities and experts to help shape the G20s global policy agendas. [i] This young man wasted his substance with riotous living.[ii] When he had squandered all of his resources, a mighty famine arose in that land, and he began to be in want.[iii]. He served as a full-time missionary in Southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree in organizational communication in 1977. Photo by Michelle Tessier, Responsible religious communities did not seek to disregard the risks of COVID-19 or disregard public policy to mitigate its spread, but religious freedom under international law cannot be abrogated, even in an emergency: To deny such freedom is to deny something fundamental to a believers soul, Elder Bednar said. I dont think it will ever go away. Also see, By Small and Simple Things Are Great Things Brought to Pass (, That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us, Gather Together in One All Things in Christ, Look unto Me in Every Thought; Doubt Not, Fear Not, Understanding the Importance of Scripture Study, Receiving, Recognizing, and Responding to the Promptings of the Holy Ghost, I am the Light Which Shineth in the Darkness. This 1,392 square foot home is the last known address for David. I believe we must always remember a key principle: specifically, religion should not be treated less favorably than analogous secular activities. I use the word strive because we dont do that perfectly. The Churchs April 2020 General Conferencea celebration of the bicentennial of the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smithhad to be broadcast to a global audience from a small auditorium with only a handful of people attending instead of from our large conference center with a congregation of more than 20,000 people. COVID-19 has alerted us to our dependence upon foreign nations for many of our essential medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, and a wide variety of other strategically important products. Download a photo or video by clicking or tapping on it. The following examples highlight some of the things we may now see and hear more distinctly because of the demands and constraints imposed upon us by COVID-19. The following address was given at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Nor should we prioritize secular interests above religious ones. The first issue date is April 27, 2021. The rest of the panel was made up of high-ranking members of the Vatican and the United Nations, a senior Saudi health official and Alissa Wahid, the founder and national director of theGusdurian Network Indonesia, which promotes interfaith dialogue, democracy and human rights. But often religious organizations and their services were simply deemed nonessential, even when their activities could be conducted safely. All rights reserved. Bednar has served in the LDS Church as a bishop (Fayetteville Ward, 1987), twice as stake president (Fort Smith Arkansas Stake, 198791 and Rogers Arkansas Stake, 199195), regional representative (199495), and area seventy (19972004). Religious leaders can be helpful in the fight against the coronavirus.. Gathering, in short, is at the core of faith and religion. To a question about whether there will ever be a female president of the church, Bednar said, We follow the pattern of the ancient church. As I now come to the end of my message, I joyfully exercise what for me, personally, is one of the greatest religious liberties. COVID-19 has alerted us to many attacks on the freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly. [10], Bednar served as the president of Ricks College/BYUIdaho in Rexburg, Idaho, from July 1, 1997 to December 1, 2004. De Jongs journey to this point featured a laundry list of twists. Second, the young mans wake-up call led him to come to himself. This poignant phrase suggests to me a process of examining aspects of his life that previously had been unexamined, resulting in a piercing personal realization of his present circumstances and what he had become. This vision of gathering has been a driving motivation for the Latter-day Saints since the Churchs earliest days and inspired our members to assemble first in Ohio and then in Missouri and Illinois. 13 fun facts about Elder David A. Bednar. September 12, 2021 Face to Face. Elder Bednar is known for his optimism and fearless faith in the Savior. Elder Bednar will remain president of BYU-Idaho until a new president is named. [12], In 2016, Bednar attracted media attention when he claimed the church doesn't discriminate against gay and lesbian people because "there are no homosexual members of the church." This vision has inspired our building of holy temples, where through sacred ordinances and covenants we eternally gather our families to God. That liberty draws from and in turn reinforces the other rights protected by the First Amendmentthe right to speak freely, to make use of a free press, to peaceably gather with others, and to petition the government to redress grievances. He outlined many of the churchs humanitarian efforts to bring post-disaster relief, to aid refugees, to provide immunizations, and to supply assistance wherever it can. Religious Freedom and the Right to Gather with the Faithful. All Rights Reserved, Elder Bednar: Lack of respect for faith leads to crisis of legitimacy in COVID-19 response, Elder Bednar to G20 forum: Understanding religion as essential reflections on the COVID-19 crisis and the place of religion, Latter-day Saint apostle says pandemic is a wake-up call about the fragility of religious freedom, The relationship between faith groups and government leaders is broken. Indeed, if the faithful are not gathering, sooner or later they will begin to scatter. Bednar Government has a just role in fostering a moral environment in which people can live good and honorable lives. [8][9], From 1980 to 1984, Bednar was an assistant professor of management at the University of Arkansas College of Business Administration (now Sam M. Walton College of Business). Washington, D.C. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to the National Press Club about how The Church of Jesus Christ of There, among the swine, he remembered. If you would like to stay on the page you are viewing please click Cancel. Panelists discuss a question posed by Kirsten Laursen Muth, top left, during a G20 Interfaith Forum plenary session on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. Bednar speaking at university commencement, Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the. [xii] And I believe public officials have most often sought to do the right things to protect the public from the virus. I am grateful to participate with you in the Religious Freedom Annual Review at the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University. For example, the orders of one state barred Catholic priests from anointing a parishioner with holy oil in the performance of last riteseven if the person was not sick with COVID-19, even if the priest and parishioner were protected with masks and gloves, and even if the oil was applied with a swab. WebIt is my hope and prayer that government officials and faith leaders can collectively respond to COVID-19 in ways that protect both physical and spiritual health. Team: Pittsburgh Pirates (majors) Born: October 10, 1994 in Pittsburgh, PA us Draft: Principals and Presidents of Brigham Young UniversityIdaho, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "New interim president to take helm at BYU-Idaho", "Bednar's 2nd calling still comes as surprise", "Mormons dedicate first temple in Wyoming", "A historic first: All 15 top Latter-day Saint leaders will be in Rome for temple dedication this weekend", "Mormon leader claims church has no homosexual members", "Devotion and despair: The lonely struggle of a gay Mormon", "Neon Trees' lead singer slams Mormon church in solo single over LGBT stance", "Elder David A. Bednar: Going Forward in the Strength of the Lord", General Authorities and General Officers: Elder David A. Bednar, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_A._Bednar&oldid=1136345129, American general authorities (LDS Church), Presidents of Brigham Young UniversityIdaho, Short description is different from Wikidata, Latter Day Saint biography Infobox with missing parameters, Pages using infobox Latter Day Saint biography with unsupported parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994), This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 22:18. Elder David A. Bednar speaks about the importance of social media during the annual Campus Education Week at the Marriott Center at BYU, Tuesday, August 19, 2014. The Salt Lake Tribune, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity and contributions are tax Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company. At one point I asked Elder Hales, You have been a successful husband, father, athlete, pilot, business executive, and Church leader. I dont know how some guys around the league dont pitch with that attitude, but I know its one thats never going to leave me. A former educator, Bednar was president of Brigham Young UniversityIdaho (BYUIdaho) from 1997 to 2004. But whatever else government officials may be called upon to do, we the people must never allow them to forget that their offices and powers exist to secure our fundamental freedoms and the conditions for exercising those freedoms. Disclaimer: Reference to these media outlets or TV shows should not be construed to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of Spokeo or its products. This example and many more like it illustrate a profound devaluing of religion. [4] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is recognized by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. If you dont laugh, you cry. Constitutions, representative government, checks and balances, and the rule of law help constrain the tendency of government to exercise unlimited power. Elder David A. Bednar was born on June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California. He was shaken awake from the customary patterns of his lifestyle by an increasing realization of his inability to fulfill his most basic needs. The Norris Trophy winner missed five straight games Thus, despite the obvious need for a proper response to COVID-19, we must not become accustomed to sweeping assertions of governmental power. For Elder Hales, the limitations that were the natural consequence of advancing age, in fact, had become remarkable sources of spiritual learning and insight. I am not for a moment saying that religious freedom can be unlimited in the middle of a pandemic. Of course, Latter-day Saints are hardly alone in this need to gather as a religious community. People have stereotypes, they have biases and prejudices, but we strive to love everybody., In answer to a question about the churchs reported $100 billion in investment reserves, Bednar joked, If you look at the stock market, I dont think its $100 billion anymore., Having a substantial sum in savings is a good idea, he said. Now is the Time to Show, Repeat Over Againthe Same Things as Before, God Shall Consecrate Thine Afflictions for Thy Gain, Your Whole Soul as an Offering to Him Omni 1:16, An Evening with a General AuthorityElder Bednar Discussion, Europe area member devotional (selected quotes). The following is excerpted from the Church News. You are now leaving a website maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chase De Jong finds stability in Pirates' bullpen The following address was given June 17, 2020, for the digital-only 2020 BYU Law School Religious Freedom Annual Review. COVID-19 has alerted us to the importance of defending the borders between personal liberty, constitutional rights, and governmental authority. February 2020. We welcome all and strive to love them, he said. Europe area member devotional (selected quotes) January 23, 2022 Bednar was born in Oakland, California to Lavina Whitney Bednar and Anthony George Bednar. As I now conclude my message, I joyfully do what for me is essential. Thus, constraints and limitations can be remarkable blessings, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. Inability to do many things directed his focus to a few things of greatest importance. Uncover David's photos, videos, and more . It safeguards the right to think for oneself, to believe what one feels to be true, and to exercise moral agency accordingly. Protecting a persons physical health from the coronavirus is, of course, important, but so is a persons spiritual health. [11], Bednar attended the 2019 dedication of the Rome Italy Temple with all 15 of the LDS Church apostles. The COVID-19 crisis has presented us with a unique opportunity to reaffirm and shore up religious freedom. Limited stamina clarified his priorities. Bednar
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