Jump to content

David A. Bednar: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Kslarsen (talk | contribs)
214 edits
No edit summary
m Reverted 1 edit by PillowWatermelon (talk) to last revision by Jonathan Deamer
 
(509 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American educator and religious leader}}
[[Image:BednarDavid.jpg|thumb|David A. Bednar]]
{{Infobox Latter Day Saint biography
'''David Allan Bednar''' (born [[June 15]], [[1952]]) was sustained on [[October 2]], [[2004]] as a member of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] of The [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the youngest man named to that body since [[Dallin H. Oaks]] in [[1984]]. He was ordained on [[October 7]], [[2004]] by President [[Gordon B. Hinckley]]. He fills the vacancy occasioned by the death of Elder [[David B. Haight]] in July 2004.
| name = David A. Bednar
| image = David A. Bednar (47194657161).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Bednar speaking in 2018
| birth_name = David Allan Bednar
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|06|15}}
| birth_place = [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[California]], [[U.S.]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[Brigham Young University]]&nbsp;([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Master of Arts|MA]])<br />[[Purdue University]]&nbsp;([[PhD]])
| spouse = Susan Kae Robinson<small><br>(1975–present)</small>
| children = 3
| portals = LDS
| position_or_quorum1 = [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]
| president1 = [[Gordon B. Hinckley]]
| start_date1 = {{start date|2004|10|02}}
| end_date1 = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| end_reason1 =
| reorganization1 =
| position_or_quorum2 = [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|LDS Church]] [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostle]]
| president2 = Gordon B. Hinckley
| start_date2 = {{start date|2004|10|07}}
| ordination_reason2 = Death of [[David B. Haight]].<ref>See [https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/12/22/24006931/how-apostles-are-called-looking-back-current-15-apostles} this article, which clearly states that Bednar's call was due to the death of Haight.]</ref>
| political_office1 = [[List of presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho|14th President]] of [[Brigham Young University–Idaho]]
| term_start1 = July 1, 1997
| term_end1 = December 1, 2004
| office_successor1 = [[Kim B. Clark]]
| list_notes = A former president of [[Brigham Young University-Idaho]].
}}
'''David Allan Bednar''' (born June 15, 1952) is a member of the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church). A former educator, Bednar was [[List of presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho|president]] of [[Brigham Young University–Idaho]] (BYU–Idaho) from 1997 to 2004.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Biography:President David A. Bednar|url=http://www2.byui.edu/President/presbio.html|publisher=BYU-Idaho|access-date=18 March 2014}}</ref><ref name="Heaps">{{cite news|last=Heaps|first=Julie Dockstader|title=New interim president to take helm at BYU-Idaho|url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2004-11-20/new-interim-president-to-take-helm-at-byu-idaho-26321|access-date=18 March 2014|newspaper=[[Church News]]|date=20 November 2004}}</ref>


Bednar was [[Common consent (Mormonism)|sustained]] as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on October 2, 2004. At 52 years old, he is the youngest man named to that body since [[Dallin H. Oaks]] in 1984. He was ordained an [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|apostle]] on October 7, 2004, by [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|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]].<ref>{{citation |first= Gordon B. |last= Hinckley |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2004/11/condition-of-the-church |title= Condition of the Church |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=November 2004 |page= 4 }}</ref> As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is recognized by the church as a [[prophet, seer, and revelator]]. He is currently the sixth most senior apostle in the church.<ref>Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]] and the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]. Seniority is determined by date of ordination, not by age or other factors. If two apostles are ordained on the same day, the older of the two is typically ordained first. See [[President of the Church (LDS Church)#Succession to the presidency|Succession to the presidency]] and {{cite journal |last= Heath |first= Steven H. |url=https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V20N02_46.pdf |title=Notes on Apostolic Succession |journal=Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=44–56 |date=Summer 1987 |doi= 10.2307/45216003 |jstor= 45216003 |s2cid= 254390532 }}.</ref>
==Prior employment and church work==
Formerly a church bishop, a [[stake president]], and regional representative in [[Arkansas]] while he was an associate dean at the [[University of Arkansas]], in [[1997]] Elder Bednar became president of what was then Ricks College and is now [[Brigham Young University-Idaho]] (BYU-I). At the same time, he was named to the Fifth [[Quorums of the Seventy|Quorum of the Seventy]]. In 2002, while serving as President of BYU-I, a prominent new building on the BYU-I campus was named after President Gordon B. Hinckley. In the history of Ricks/BYU-I, no building had ever before been named in honor of a currently serving Church President.


==Life and career==
<--! This doesn't seem objective like an encyclopedia article should be! In the short period of time since his calling to the Council of the Twelve, Elder Bednar has already become quite reknowned for his conference talks. Using skills he doubtlessly honed as a university teacher—skills that earned him repeated excellence in teaching awards—his talks display a methodical, crystal-clear teaching style accented with intentional repitition of key phrases. They are appreciated by all who look for a greater comprehension of Gospel Doctrine and will doubtlessly become future "Gospel Classics." Links to his conference talks are given below.
Bednar was born in [[Oakland, California]] to Lavina Whitney Bednar and Anthony George Bednar.<ref>{{cite web |title= prophets and apostles |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets/bio/david-a-bednar?lang=eng&| publisher= LDS Church| access-date= 18 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=David A. Bednar |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/david-a-bednar?lang=eng |access-date=2024-01-11 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref> 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. He served as a full-time [[Mormon missionary|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.<ref name=Stack>Stack, Peggy Fletcher. [https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/utah/ci_2421046 "Bednar's 2nd calling still comes as surprise"], ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'', 3 October 2004. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.</ref> He received a [[doctorate degree]] in [[organizational behavior]] from [[Purdue University]] in 1980.<ref>{{citation |first= Patrice M. |last= Buzzanell |url= http://www.cla.purdue.edu/Communication/documents/reddingtradition.pdf |title= The Teacher-Scholar Model of the Redding Tradition }}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= http://www.cla.purdue.edu/news/magazine/documents/2005Spring.pdf |title= Liberal Arts Magazine, Volume 11 No. 2 }}</ref>


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]]). He was an assistant professor of management at [[Texas Tech University]] from 1984 to 1986. 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 1994, he was recognized as the outstanding teacher at the University of Arkansas and received the Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was twice the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award in the College of Business Administration.<ref>Keogh, Rochelle. [http://www.uatrav.com/news/article_b7521b01-bccb-589d-b56f-aa87c35df665.html "Former UA Professor is Apostle"], ''Arkansas Traveler'', 6 October 2004. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.</ref>
As succession to the presidency is by seniority as an Apostle and Elder Bednar is more than eleven years younger than any of the others, there is some speculation that he may become President of the Church at a future date, barring illness or injury. -->


Bednar served as the president of [[Ricks College]]/BYU–Idaho in [[Rexburg, Idaho]], from July 1, 1997, to December 1, 2004.<ref name="Heaps"/> 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, BYU–Idaho.<ref name=Stack />
==Published Works==


==LDS Church service==
* {{Book reference |
Bednar has served in the LDS Church as a [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]] (Fayetteville Ward, 1987), twice as [[Stake (Mormonism)#Stake officers|stake president]] (Fort Smith Arkansas [[Stake (LDS Church)|Stake]], 1987–1991 and Rogers Arkansas Stake, 1991–1995), [[regional representative of the Twelve|regional representative]] (1994–95), and [[area seventy]] (1997–2004).
Author=Donald D. White, David A. Bednar |

Year=1991 |
In 2016, Bednar dedicated the [[Star Valley Wyoming Temple]], the LDS Church's 154th temple.<ref>Noble, Mariah. [https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=4525288&itype=CMSID "Mormons dedicate first temple in Wyoming"], ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'', 14 November 2016. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.</ref>[[File:Kerr graduation.JPG|thumb|right|Bednar at the April 2008 [[BYU]] Commencement with [[Cecil O. Samuelson]], [[Elaine S. Dalton]], and [[W. Rolfe Kerr]]]] Bednar attended the 2019 dedication of the [[Rome Italy Temple]] with all 15 of the LDS Church apostles.<ref name="Noyce">Noyce, David. [https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/03/08/historic-first-all-top/ "A historic first: All 15 top Latter-day Saint leaders will be in Rome for temple dedication this weekend"], ''[[The Salt Lake Tribune]]'', 8 March 2019. Retrieved on 22 March 2020.</ref> This is believed to be the first time the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were in the same location outside the United States.<ref name="Noyce" />
Title=Organizational Behavior: Understanding and Managing People at Work |

Publisher=Allyn & Bacon |
Bednar addressed the [[National Press Club (United States)|National Press Club]] in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/elder-bednar-national-press-club-speech | title=Transcript of Elder David A. Bednar at the National Press Club | date=26 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.deseret.com/faith/2022/5/26/23143245/elder-bednar-responds-to-questions-about-under-the-banner-of-heaven-church-finances-lds-mormon-press | title='Under the Banner of Heaven?' Elder Bednar says Latter-day Saints have been mischaracterized since 1830 | date=26 May 2022 }}</ref>
ID=ISBN 0205128513

===Controversy===
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." He stated that being gay or lesbian is not the primary identity of individuals, but rather that each individual is first a child of God.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-02 |title=Mormon leader claims church has no homosexual members |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/mormon-leader-david-bednar-claims-no-homosexual-members-church-a6907146.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Lauren Jackson,special to |date=2016-07-16 |title=Devotion and despair: The lonely struggle of a gay Mormon |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/16/living/gay-mormon-struggle/index.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Neugebauer |first=Cimaron |date=2016-04-29 |title=Neon Trees' lead singer slams Mormon church in solo single over LGBT stance |url=https://kutv.com/news/local/tyler-glenn-of-neon-trees-slams-mormon-church-in-solo-album-over-lgbt-stance |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=KUTV |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in the [[Salt Lake Temple]] on March 20, 1975. The Bednars have three sons.<ref name="Stack" />[[File:Graduation procession.JPG|thumb|right|Bednar at the April 2008 BYU graduation ceremony]]
[[File:Susan Robinson & David A. Bednar (47142908162).jpg|thumb|Bednar with his wife, Susan, in 2018 at a BYU Devotional.]]

==Works==
;Books
*{{citation
|first1= Donald D.
|last1= White
|first2= David A.
|last2= Bednar
|year= 1991
|title= Organizational Behavior: Understanding and Managing People at Work
|publisher= [[Allyn & Bacon]]
|isbn= 0-205-12851-3
}}
}}
*{{citation
* {{Book reference |
|first1= Ronald R.
Author=Ronarld R. Sims, Donald D. White, David A. Bednar (compiler) |
|last1= Sims
Year=1992 |
|first2= Donald D.
Title=Readings in Organizational Behavior |
|last2= White
Publisher=Allyn & Bacon |
|first3= David A.
ID=ISBN 0205128572
|last3= Bednar
|year= 1992
|title= Readings in Organizational Behavior
|publisher= Allyn & Bacon
|isbn= 0-205-12857-2
|url-access= registration
|url= https://archive.org/details/readingsinorgani0000unse
}}
*{{citation
|first1= David A.
|last1= Bednar
|year= 2011
|title= Increase in Learning
|publisher= [[Deseret Book Company]]
|isbn= 978-1-60908-943-6
}}
}}
*{{citation
|first1= David A.
|last1= Bednar
|year= 2012
|title= Act in Doctrine
|publisher= [[Deseret Book Company]]
|isbn= 978-1-60907-227-8
}}
*{{citation
|first1= David A.
|last1= Bednar
|year= 2014
|title= Power to Become: Spiritual Patterns for Pressing Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ
|publisher= [[Deseret Book Company]]
|isbn= 978-1-60907-859-1
}}
*{{citation
|first1= David A.
|last1= Bednar
|year= 2017
|title= One by One
|publisher= [[Deseret Book Company]]
|isbn= 978-1-62972-382-2
}}
;Academic articles
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{citation |first1= David A |last1= Bednar |first2= David W |last2= Roach |title= The Theory of Logical Types: A Tool for Understanding Levels and Types of Change in Organizations |journal= Human Relations |volume= 50 |issue= 6 |year= 1997 |pages= 671–699 |publisher= [[SAGE Publications]] |oclc= 437562507 |doi=10.1177/001872679705000603|s2cid= 145575927 }}
* {{citation |first1= Carol A |last1= Reeves |first2= David A |last2= Bednar |title= Keys to Market Success -- A Response and Another View |journal= Journal of Retail Banking |volume= 18 |issue= 4 |year= 1996 |page= 33 |location= Arlington, VA |publisher= Consumer Bankers Association in cooperation with the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia |oclc= 91490898 }}
* {{citation |first1= David A |last1= Bednar |first2= Carol A |last2= Reeves |first3= R Cayce |last3= Lawrence |title= The Role of Technology in Banking -- Listen to the Customer |journal= Journal of Retail Banking |volume= 17 |issue= 3 |year= 1995 |page= 35 |location= Arlington, VA |publisher= Consumer Bankers Association in cooperation with the McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia |oclc= 91801203 }}
* {{citation |first1= Carol A |last1= Reeves |first2= David A |last2= Bednar |title= Quality as Symphony |journal= The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly |volume= 36 |issue= 3 |year= 1995 |pages= 72–79 |location= Ithaca, NY |publisher= School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University |oclc= 87629925 |doi=10.1177/001088049503600323|s2cid= 154158411 }}
* {{citation |first1= Carol A |last1= Reeves |first2= David A |last2= Bednar |title= Defining Quality: Alternatives and Implications |journal= [[Academy of Management Review]] |date=July 1994 |volume= 19 |issue= 3 |pages= 419–445 |oclc= 482675183 |jstor= 258934 |doi=10.5465/amr.1994.9412271805}}
* {{citation |first1= Donald D. |last1= White |first2= David A. |last2= Bednar |title= Locating problems with quality circles |journal= National Productivity Review |volume= 4 |issue= 1 |pages= 45–52 |date=Winter 1984 |oclc= 4663049108 |doi= 10.1002/npr.4040040106 }}
* {{citation |first1= David A. |last1= Bednar |first2= William P. |last2= Curington |title= Interaction Analysis: A Tool for Understanding Negotiations |journal= [[Industrial and Labor Relations Review]] |volume= 36 |issue= 3 |date=April 1983 |pages= 389–401 |oclc= 424819759 |jstor= 2523018 |doi=10.2307/2523018}}
* {{citation |first= David A |last= Bednar |title= Relationships between Communicator Style and Managerial Performance in Complex Organizations: A Field Study |journal= Journal of Business Communication |volume= 19 |issue= 4 |pages= 51–76 |date=Fall 1982 |oclc= 424921115 |doi=10.1177/002194368201900404|s2cid= 146548462 }}
{{refend}}


==References==
==Awards==
*Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uark.edu/depts/facsen/FacHonors/burlingtonhonors.html|title=- University of Arkansas|website=Uark.edu|access-date=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=Stack />


==See also==
* [http://www.lds.org/newsroom/biography/0,15609,3959-1----63,00.html Official Biography]
{{Portal|Latter Day Saint movement}}
* [http://www.byui.edu/president/presbio.html Biography at BYU-Idaho]
* [[Council on the Disposition of the Tithes]]
* {{Book reference |
Author=Eyring, Henry B. |
Year=Mar. 2005 |
Title=[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/2005.htm/ensign%20march%202005.htm/elder%20david%20a.%20bednar%20%20going%20forward%20in%20the%20strength%20of%20the%20lord.htm?fn=document-frameset.htm$f=templates$3.0 Elder David A. Bednar: Going Forward in the Strength of the Lord] |
Publisher=''Ensign'' |
ID=p. 17
}}


== References ==
==Conference Talks by Elder David A. Bednar==
{{Reflist}}


==Further reading==
* [http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,49-1-559-15,00.html Becoming a Missionary]
*{{citation |url= https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/leader-biographies/elder-david-a-bednar |title= Elder David A. Bednar |work= Newsroom |publisher= LDS Church }}
* [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/2005.htm/ensign%20may%202005.htm/the%20tender%20mercies%20of%20the%20lord.htm?fn=document-frameset.htm$f=templates$3.0 The Tender Mercies of the Lord]
*{{citation |url= http://www.byui.edu/president/presbio.html |title= Biography: David A. Bednar |work= Past Presidents |publisher= BYU-Idaho |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080511043637/http://www.byui.edu/president/presbio.html |archive-date= 2008-05-11 }}
* [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/2004.htm/ensign%20november%202004.htm/in%20the%20strength%20of%20the%20lord.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0 In the Strength of the Lord]
*{{citation |first= Henry B. |last= Eyring |author-link= Henry B. Eyring |url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2005/03/elder-david-a-bednar-going-forward-in-the-strength-of-the-lord |title= Elder David A. Bednar: Going Forward in the Strength of the Lord |journal= [[Ensign (LDS magazine)|Ensign]] |date=March 2005 |page= 17 }}


==External Resources==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/leader/david-a-bednar?lang=eng General Authorities and General Officers: Elder David A. Bednar]
*[https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets-testimonies?lang=eng Bednar on ''Special Witnesses of Christ'']


{{start box}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|mo}}
{{series box |
{{succession box
title= [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] |
| title = [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]]
years= [[October 7]], [[2004]]&mdash; |
| years = October 2, 2004 –
before=[[Dieter F. Uchtdorf]] |
| before = [[Dieter F. Uchtdorf]]
after= &mdash; |
| after = [[Quentin L. Cook]]
}}
}}
{{end box}}
{{s-aca}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Steven D. Bennion]]|as=President of Ricks College}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho|President]] of [[Brigham Young University–Idaho]]|years=August 10, 2001 – December 1, 2004}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Robert M. Wilkes]]<br><small>''as interim President (2004–05)''</small>|after2=[[Kim B. Clark]]|as=President of Brigham Young <br>University–Idaho (2005–2015)}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho|President]] of [[Ricks College]]|years=July 1, 1997 – August 10, 2001 }}
{{s-end}}
{{Qof12}}
{{LDSApostles}}
{{Brigham Young University-Idaho presidents}}


{{Authority control}}
{{LDS-stub}}


[[Category:1952 births|Bednar, David A.]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bednar, David A.}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Bednar, David A.]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints|Bednar, David A.]]
[[Category:20th-century Mormon missionaries]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saint leaders|Bednar, David A.]]
[[Category:American general authorities (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:American Mormon missionaries in Germany]]
[[Category:Apostles (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Area seventies (LDS Church)]]
[[Category:Brigham Young University alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Presidents of Brigham Young University–Idaho]]
[[Category:Purdue University alumni]]
[[Category:Regional representatives of the Twelve]]
[[Category:Texas Tech University faculty]]
[[Category:University of Arkansas faculty]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from California]]
[[Category:Latter Day Saints from Arkansas]]

Latest revision as of 15:25, 29 August 2024

David A. Bednar
Bednar speaking in 2018
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 2, 2004 (2004-10-02)
LDS Church Apostle
October 7, 2004 (2004-10-07)
ReasonDeath of David B. Haight.[1]
14th President of Brigham Young University–Idaho
In office
July 1, 1997 – December 1, 2004
SuccessorKim B. Clark
Personal details
BornDavid Allan Bednar
(1952-06-15) June 15, 1952 (age 72)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Alma materBrigham Young University (BA, MA)
Purdue University (PhD)
Spouse(s)Susan Kae Robinson
(1975–present)
Children3

David Allan Bednar (born June 15, 1952) is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A former educator, Bednar was president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) from 1997 to 2004.[2][3]

Bednar was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve on October 2, 2004. At 52 years old, he is the youngest man named to that body since Dallin H. Oaks in 1984. 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.[4] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is recognized by the church as a prophet, seer, and revelator. He is currently the sixth most senior apostle in the church.[5]

Life and career

[edit]

Bednar was born in Oakland, California to Lavina Whitney Bednar and Anthony George Bednar.[6][7] 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. 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.[8] He received a doctorate degree in organizational behavior from Purdue University in 1980.[9][10]

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). He was an assistant professor of management at Texas Tech University from 1984 to 1986. 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 1994, he was recognized as the outstanding teacher at the University of Arkansas and received the Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was twice the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award in the College of Business Administration.[11]

Bednar served as the president of Ricks College/BYU–Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, from July 1, 1997, to December 1, 2004.[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, BYU–Idaho.[8]

LDS Church service

[edit]

Bednar has served in the LDS Church as a bishop (Fayetteville Ward, 1987), twice as stake president (Fort Smith Arkansas Stake, 1987–1991 and Rogers Arkansas Stake, 1991–1995), regional representative (1994–95), and area seventy (1997–2004).

In 2016, Bednar dedicated the Star Valley Wyoming Temple, the LDS Church's 154th temple.[12]

Bednar at the April 2008 BYU Commencement with Cecil O. Samuelson, Elaine S. Dalton, and W. Rolfe Kerr

Bednar attended the 2019 dedication of the Rome Italy Temple with all 15 of the LDS Church apostles.[13] This is believed to be the first time the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were in the same location outside the United States.[13]

Bednar addressed the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 2022.[14][15]

Controversy

[edit]

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." He stated that being gay or lesbian is not the primary identity of individuals, but rather that each individual is first a child of God.[16][17][18]

Personal life

[edit]

Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975. The Bednars have three sons.[8]

Bednar at the April 2008 BYU graduation ceremony
Bednar with his wife, Susan, in 2018 at a BYU Devotional.

Works

[edit]
Books
  • White, Donald D.; Bednar, David A. (1991), Organizational Behavior: Understanding and Managing People at Work, Allyn & Bacon, ISBN 0-205-12851-3
  • Sims, Ronald R.; White, Donald D.; Bednar, David A. (1992), Readings in Organizational Behavior, Allyn & Bacon, ISBN 0-205-12857-2
  • Bednar, David A. (2011), Increase in Learning, Deseret Book Company, ISBN 978-1-60908-943-6
  • Bednar, David A. (2012), Act in Doctrine, Deseret Book Company, ISBN 978-1-60907-227-8
  • Bednar, David A. (2014), Power to Become: Spiritual Patterns for Pressing Forward with a Steadfastness in Christ, Deseret Book Company, ISBN 978-1-60907-859-1
  • Bednar, David A. (2017), One by One, Deseret Book Company, ISBN 978-1-62972-382-2
Academic articles

Awards

[edit]
  • Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994)[19][8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ See this article, which clearly states that Bednar's call was due to the death of Haight.
  2. ^ "Biography:President David A. Bednar". BYU-Idaho. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  3. ^ a b Heaps, Julie Dockstader (20 November 2004). "New interim president to take helm at BYU-Idaho". Church News. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  4. ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (November 2004), "Condition of the Church", Ensign: 4
  5. ^ Apostolic seniority is generally understood to include all ordained apostles (including the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Seniority is determined by date of ordination, not by age or other factors. If two apostles are ordained on the same day, the older of the two is typically ordained first. See Succession to the presidency and Heath, Steven H. (Summer 1987). "Notes on Apostolic Succession" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 20 (2): 44–56. doi:10.2307/45216003. JSTOR 45216003. S2CID 254390532..
  6. ^ "prophets and apostles". LDS Church. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  7. ^ "David A. Bednar". www.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  8. ^ a b c d Stack, Peggy Fletcher. "Bednar's 2nd calling still comes as surprise", The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 October 2004. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  9. ^ Buzzanell, Patrice M., The Teacher-Scholar Model of the Redding Tradition (PDF)
  10. ^ Liberal Arts Magazine, Volume 11 No. 2 (PDF)
  11. ^ Keogh, Rochelle. "Former UA Professor is Apostle", Arkansas Traveler, 6 October 2004. Retrieved on 27 March 2020.
  12. ^ Noble, Mariah. "Mormons dedicate first temple in Wyoming", The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 November 2016. Retrieved on 26 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b Noyce, David. "A historic first: All 15 top Latter-day Saint leaders will be in Rome for temple dedication this weekend", The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 March 2019. Retrieved on 22 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Transcript of Elder David A. Bednar at the National Press Club". 26 May 2022.
  15. ^ "'Under the Banner of Heaven?' Elder Bednar says Latter-day Saints have been mischaracterized since 1830". 26 May 2022.
  16. ^ "Mormon leader claims church has no homosexual members". The Independent. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  17. ^ Lauren Jackson,special to (2016-07-16). "Devotion and despair: The lonely struggle of a gay Mormon". CNN. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  18. ^ Neugebauer, Cimaron (2016-04-29). "Neon Trees' lead singer slams Mormon church in solo single over LGBT stance". KUTV. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  19. ^ "- University of Arkansas". Uark.edu. Retrieved 8 October 2018.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David A. Bednar.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints titles
Preceded by Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
October 2, 2004 – 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded byas President of Ricks College President of Brigham Young University–Idaho
August 10, 2001 – December 1, 2004 		Succeeded by
Robert M. Wilkes
as interim President (2004–05)
Kim B. Clark
as President of Brigham Young
University–Idaho (2005–2015)
President of Ricks College
July 1, 1997 – August 10, 2001
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_A._Bednar&oldid=1242934987"