Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaks at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2018. Living even for a brief few weeks under the restrictions imposed on religious activity by COVID-19 is a stark reminder that nothing is more precious to people of faith than the freedom to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience[xiv] and to openly and freely live according to our convictions. As we have just experienced, religious freedom can quickly be swept aside in the name of protecting other societal interests. In the name of protecting physical health and security or advancing other social values, government often acted without regard to the importance of protecting spiritual health and security. From an emphasis on binding oneself to the Savior through covenants and ordinances to relating oneself to Lehis experience of being filled with the Spirit as the Book of Mormon prophet discovered records and genealogy on the brass plates, the 2023 Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Bednar served as an Area Seventy, Area Authority Seventy, Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop. After completing his education, Elder Bednar was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and at the University of Arkansas. He was an assistant professor of management at Texas Tech University from 1984 to 1986. Position: Pitcher Bats: Left Throws: Right 6-1, 250lb (185cm, 113kg) . You can read in the Old Testament about seven years of famine and seven years of plenty. When the needs of society are great, officials should still ask whether there is some way of addressing those needs other than by burdening or banning the exercise of religion. One story in particular epitomizes how far De Jong has come. As this natural calamity unleashed its negative effects, I presume his inheritance was gone. 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. I also imagine that many of the friends who enjoyed his companionship while he had plenty of money had long since told him goodbye. One key realization is that for most faith communities, gathering for worship, ritual, and fellowship is essential; it is not merely an enjoyable social activity. Blanket bans on religious gatherings risk strong connections to family, religious beliefs and faith communities that are associated with better mental, emotional and physical health, he said, adding that experts have documented rises in depression, physical and emotional abuse and suicide during social lockdowns and isolation. But more fundamentally, I think he also realized that he had forgotten who he was. As I now come to the end of my message, I joyfully exercise what for me, personally, is one of the greatest religious liberties. We found 8 phone numbers and email addresses. It is essential.. We can and must do better. We are confident that the best answers will not be found without listening to religious voices, and to sensitive experts often well placed to help translate religious insight into practical policy initiatives, said Cole Durham, president of the G20 Interfaith Forum Association, in a welcome letter to this weeks forum. [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]. [3] There, he oversaw and managed the transition of the school from, what was at the time, the largest private junior college in the United States, Ricks College, to a four-year university, BYUIdaho.[7]. Ive always appreciated Chase for that.. Therein lies the unquantifiable value that De Jong provides to the Pirates, value that extends beyond his pitching ability to put up zeros. David Franzen, MDiv, ThM, DMin, Pastoral Counselor, Durham, NC, 27707, (919) 561-6118, My highest priority is to respect the integrity, faith and values of each person. Like the prodigal son who came to himself in the midst of crisis, our own time of being in want invites us to carefully reflect on fundamental principles that perhaps we have long taken for granted. WebIlyssa Haunreiter Bednar (Credential# RN61142724) is a health care provider licensed by State of Washington, Department of Health. We dont like it, but we dont spend all of our time trying to respond to it.. WebBy Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Our Muslim friends gather in their mosques. After all, the COVID-19 virus is not attracted uniquely to religious people. Our friends in the Buddhist, Sikh, and other faith traditions likewise have sacred places to gather and worship together. Donate to the newsroom now. Thus, despite the obvious need for a proper response to COVID-19, we must not become accustomed to sweeping assertions of governmental power. What I am saying is that we can no more disregard the valid claims of religious freedom in a time of crisis than we can disregard the valid claims of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, or freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. He goes, Dang, if you were staying in Tacoma, we were going to ask you to throw to [Daniel Vogelbach] in the Home Run Derby and try to get both of you guys some work, De Jong said. [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." Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks via remote feed from the Church Office Building in Salt Lake City to the G20 Interfaith Forum in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. We have been mischaracterized since 1830, when the church was established. It secures the space necessary to live with faith, integrity, and devotion. He was like, Youre giving up a lot of homers, maybe Vogey can do that off of you. It was very funny. No other event in our lifetimeand perhaps no other event since the founding of this nationhas caused quite this kind of widespread disruption of religious gatherings and worship. To download media files, please first review and agree to the Terms of Use. [10], Bednar served as the president of Ricks College/BYUIdaho in Rexburg, Idaho, from July 1, 1997 to December 1, 2004. [7] He received a doctorate degree in organizational behavior from Purdue University in 1980. In 2016, Bednar dedicated the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, the LDS Church's 154th temple. A health crisis should not become an excuse for a religious freedom crisis. Wednesdays event is the seventh interfaith forum held before the annual Group of 20 Summit for political and banking leaders from 19 countries and the European Union. Its my own little slice of heaven, De Jong said. I express these thoughts in the name of Him whom I serve, whom I love, and whom I represent, even Jesus Christ, amen. There, among the swine, he remembered. This time of restriction and confinement has confirmed for me that no freedom is more important than religious freedom. [11], Bednar attended the 2019 dedication of the Rome Italy Temple with all 15 of the LDS Church apostles. It could be a group of guys, or it could be you, personally, but Chase does a very good job of creating a good environment, whether youre down and you need a little pick-me-up or riding that nice high wave and hell bring you back down to earth a little bit. The COVID-19 crisis has presented us with a unique opportunity to reaffirm and shore up religious freedom. Because of this, Bednar pours cold water on the ideas of change and reform. And When He Came to Himself . Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, greets guests after speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 26, 2022. Credit: Joshua Roberts, for the Deseret News WASHINGTON, D.C. If any of De Jongs teammates want to escape their hotel, theyre welcome to swing by and enjoy a home-cooked meal. In the question-and-answer session, he was quizzed about an array of issues: On declining membership in a number of places, Bednar said, If you look at the church in the aggregate, it is growing, which, in the climate we find today [when most churches are shrinking], is rather newsworthy.. This 1,392 square foot home is the last known address for David. Clearly, governments have an affirmative duty to protect public health and safety. Of course, liberty has limits. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. The following address was given at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, May 26, 2022. That starts with him, and he does a good job of keeping everybody level-headed., Chase has an incredible amount of feel for any environment, any place hes in, said Duane Underwood Jr. He has an innate ability to feel the room out and see where you are. Ji Hwan Bae got the Pittsburgh Pirates off to a fast start against the Baltimore Orioles, but it proved to be their only run. My prayer and my blessing is that we will be guided, comforted and helped in our important work, and that victims, families and nations might be granted the peace that surpasses all understanding the peace that comes from Jesus Christ.. The very factors that may have appeared to limit his effectiveness became some of his greatest strengths. He believes in accountability, but he prides himself on being an advocate for mental health and is willing to lend an ear if needed. Gathering, in short, is at the core of faith and religion. The Importance of Small and Simple and Ordinary Things, Exceedingly Valiant For Courage (Alma 53:20), Brigham Young University-Idaho: A Disciple Preparation Center (DPC), Ricks Building & Gardens Dedication Remarks, Whos on the Lords Side? I work His mother came from a long line of Latter-day Saints, but his father did not join the church until Bednar was in his late twenties. Two of Elder Bednars colleagues in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke at the previous two interfaith forums. COVID-19 has alerted us to many attacks on the freedoms of religion, speech, and assembly. Photo by Michelle Tessier, It safeguards the right to think for oneself, to believe what one feels to be true, and to exercise moral agency accordingly. At each stage, government and mobs combined to persecute and scatter our members until they eventually found a place of gathering outside the United Statesin what later became the state of Utah. It protects communities of faith and the rich and sacred relationships they make possible. That we may do so is my hope and my earnest prayer. He told the G20 plenary session on COVID-19 that he applauded government officials sincere efforts to protect people from the coronavirus, saying that religious activities should be carefully limited when truly necessary to keep people safe. But we cannot deny and we should not forget the speed and intensity with which government power was used to shut down fundamental aspects of religious exercise. Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. Doing so in the midst of COVID-19 sharpens our focus. Before his flight took off, Pat Listach, Tacomas then-manager, made sure De Jong at least went home laughing. ". WebDavid A. Bednar has not only testified extensively of the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but has embodied it. He may have been homeless. Instagram is a free photo sharing app which allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it on multiple social networking services. WebDr. Bednar explained how the denomination has grown from a handful in the 19th century to nearly 17 million worldwide, spread through the work of its volunteer missionary force, which now numbers 91,000 (more than 54,000 full-time proselytizers and 36,000-plus service missionaries). 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. 2 records for "David Bednar" in "Durham County". 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. For Elder Hales, the limitations that were the natural consequence of advancing age, in fact, had become remarkable sources of spiritual learning and insight. Content licensed under CC BY 4.0 unless otherwise noted. 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. Reflections on the Nature of Government and the Importance and Fragility of Religious Freedom. [6] His mother came from a long line of Latter-day Saints, but his father did not join the church until Bednar was in his late twenties. The Norris Trophy winner missed five straight games Other panelists included the president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and the assistant general director of antimicrobial resistance at the World Health Organization. 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. Nor should we prioritize secular interests above religious ones. Europe area member devotional (selected quotes) January 23, 2022 He was ordained an apostle on October 7, 2004, by church president Gordon B. Hinckley. Bednar and Dieter F. Uchtdorf were called to fill the vacancies created by the July 2004 deaths of quorum members David B. Haight and Neal A. Maxwell. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is accepted by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. De Jongs journey to this point featured a laundry list of twists. And because gathering lies at the very heart of religion, the right to gather lies at the very heart of religious freedom. David resided in this 2,692 square foot home. [x] He taught, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.[xi]. COVID-19 and Unprecedented Restrictions on Religious Exercise. This is a most opportune time to consider together the importance of religious freedom. The Pirates placed Bednar on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with low-back inflammation. [4] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is recognized by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. David has resided in Wallowa, OR in a residential with Victor. [2][3], Bednar was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on October 2, 2004, the youngest man named to that body since Dallin H. Oaks in 1984. COVID-19 has alerted us to the importance of defending the borders between personal liberty, constitutional rights, and governmental authority. Through that gathering, we believe God will establish a people who are of one heart and one mind, who dwell together in righteousness and peace, and who love and care for each other so completely that no poor, spiritually or physically, are found among them. Elder Bednar will remain president of BYU-Idaho until a new president is named. Elder Bednar said religion is a defining core identity for billions who rely on faith for strength, consolation and hope. Bednar speaking at university commencement, Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the. I dont think it will ever go away. And we believe we are called to do as He did. With goodwill and a little creativity, ways can almost always be found to fulfill both societys needs and the imperative to protect religious freedom. Of course, Latter-day Saints are hardly alone in this need to gather as a religious community. We provide the link to this third party's website solely as a convenience to you. Ive worked my whole life to have this shred of job security. He returned to the University of Arkansas in 1987, serving as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Sam M. Walton College of Business until 1992, and was then the director of the Management Decision-Making Lab from 1992 to 1997. In the midst of crisis, the prodigal son in the biblical parable came to himself and began the long journey back to his home. 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. Constitutions, representative government, checks and balances, and the rule of law help constrain the tendency of government to exercise unlimited power. But often religious organizations and their services were simply deemed nonessential, even when their activities could be conducted safely. Second reflection: Religious freedom is paramount among our fundamental rights. In many instances, the lack of such respect has backfired, creating suspicion toward government and the undermining of its legitimate efforts to control the pandemic, he added. But it did not allow a clergyperson to administer to a persons religious needs, even when the risk of all these activities was essentially the same. See this page for a summary and photos from the event. WebElder Bednar is generally low in openness and agreeableness traits, or at least his public persona is low. February 2020. Religion plays a primary role in that comprehensive totality of healing, he said. Elder Bednar outlined several basic guidelines that should be followed as Latter-day Saints use social media to convey gospel messages. The following is excerpted from the Church News. The following address was given June 17, 2020, for the digital-only 2020 BYU Law School Religious Freedom Annual Review. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. (541) 401-.css-1y2reja{color:transparent;position:relative;z-index:12;text-shadow:0.1rem 0.1rem 0.6rem #089FE4;}HIFR. 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. * Historical, vital, and court records and search results may require an additional purchase. The first issue date is April 27, 2021. First reflection: Government power can never be unlimited. Thus, constraints and limitations can be remarkable blessings, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear. A presentation slide used when Elder David A. Bednar announced an intermission during his Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, devotional at the University of Utah Our world has seemingly been filled recently with strong wake-up calls. I have to pitch to keep my job, De Jong said. He married Susan Kae Robinson in the Salt Lake Temple in 1975, and they are the parents of three sons. 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. David A. Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and they are the parents of three sons. Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Bednar served as an Area Seventy, Area Authority Seventy, Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop. Elder Bednar suggested governments and officials would benefit from an appreciation for the totality of the human being in healing. He said everyone has an interest in protecting religious freedom because it is fundamental to societal well-being, a subject he returned to earlier this month in an international Latter-day Saints general conference. 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. Uncover David's photos, videos, and more . In the same state, my Church could not perform baptisms even under the safest of conditions. He and his wife are currently living in the Salt Lake area. Term ended by removal of apostleship; was later excommunicated. WebAn Evening with a General AuthorityElder Bednar Discussion. The bullpen is such a tight-knit group, and we all look out for each other, said Bednar. This example and many more like it illustrate a profound devaluing of religion. The Pirates placed Bednar on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with low-back inflammation. In our political system, the government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed, to quote the Declaration of Independence. De Jong has been searching for his own little slice of heaven for quite some time. Now is the time for us to heed the wake-up call, to remember, and to act. Several years ago, I spent a Sunday afternoon in the home of my apostolic associate, Elder Robert D. Hales, as he was recovering from a serious illness. He referred to empirical evidence dispelling the myth that religion inherently leads to violence, saying religion instead provides inspiration, discipline, transcendence, faith, hope and goodwill. He currently commutes between Rexburg and Salt Lake City to fulfill church assignments and attend meetings. He said religious communities offer unique connections between international and local organizations and contribute to peace. 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. 13 fun facts about Elder David A. Bednar. [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). I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. Page last updated 30 Sep 2021. After his 30-minute speech Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington, Latter-day Saint apostle David Bednar tackled a tally of questions about declining membership growth in the Utah-based church, LGBTQ issues, female leaders, and the faiths depiction in recent popular media, including the current FX/Hulu series Under the Banner of Heaven.. And the list goes on. Physical restrictions expanded his vision. Hes pitched for seven different organizations -- one being the Sugar Land Skeeters, who at the time were an expansion team of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league. The goal is to allow religious communities and experts to help shape the G20s global policy agendas. If you know my career, you know how much this means to me, he said. Bednar became the first official high-ranking church leader to address this respected group of journalists in more than two decades, when, in 2000, then-President Gordon B. Hinckley gave a similar speech. And this same truth applies to all of us today as we wrestle with the effects of a pandemic. What lessons have you learned as you have grown older and been constrained by decreased physical capacity?, Elder Hales paused for a moment and responded, When you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most.. Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke in 2018 at the G20 Interfaith Forum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Government has a just role in fostering a moral environment in which people can live good and honorable lives. 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. And I appreciate the invitation to share a few of my thoughts with you. Our faith is more than just important to our dignity as human beings, he said. But the just powers of government cannot be unlimited, because they exist most fundamentally to secure the God-given rights of life and liberty, so that each of us can exercise our moral agencythe ability to act for [ourselves] and not to be acted upon[xiii]and be accountable before God for our choices and actions. 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. Maxwell. Third reflection: Religious freedom is fragile.