Elder David A. Bednar was in Lethbridge this weekend providing training to bishops and stake presidencies from the region. He also spoke to the general membership of the Lethbridge Alberta Stake this morning.
Here are a few things that stuck out to me. These are not direct quotes.
Conference talk topics are not assigned; although, the time alloted to the talks are. Any orchestration of common themes between talks is done in heaven. We determine the subjects of the talks by how we conduct ourselves. For example, if we are tired of hearing about tithing, we need to pay our tithing.
When listening to the conference talks, we should seek to identify the doctrine of the gospel, look for invitations to act, and look for the promised blessings.
He talked about the Apostasy, the Restoration, and the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times
Focusing on the gospel as being a celestial checklist discourages us from gathering all things together in one in Christ. Checking the boxes does not produce spiritual strength. In the War in Heaven, Lucifer didn’t lose; he rebelled. He called Lucifer’s rebellion the first something-for-nothing scam.
Agency is more than choosing; it is the power and capacity of independent action (see 2 Nephi 2). Agency is serving God and our fellow beings. Once we have made the baptismal covenant, we no longer have the choice to break the commandments. Parents need to teach children to exercise agency in the bounds the Lord has set; no force or coercion. Obedience is honouring the terms and conditions of the covenants
We should seek the companionship of Holy Ghost, exercise agency, and bless and serve others. We should not focus on running programs and worrying about numbers instead of peeople.
As we ponder Ephesians 1:10, we will have eyes to see what we’ve not seen, ears to hear what we’ve not heard, spiritual vitality, spiritual direction to give us added purpose, and spiritual protection.
The thing that appeals to me about Bednar is that he seems to fairly consistently focus on underlying principles rather than specific applications.
I agree with jjackson – when I lived in AZ, he spoke to our stake and explained to our Stake President that we would not have a problem with Home/Visiting Teaching if we understood the principle of stewardship.
The Stake President taught us the principle of stewardship in the next stake conference, and it has definitely changed my outlook on visiting teaching and fellowshipping in general.
I’m really grateful for this approach.
That’s neat-he was just in San Antonio last month, and he visited my stake. It was great!
That’s what I like about him as well.
Did Elder Bednar ask that he not be quoted on blogs. I was at a recent similar meeting where Elder Oaks specifically asked us not to post his remarks, but to go back to our wards and teach the doctrines discussed.
Nope, although there was one point when he repeated something, and told us not to write it down, but to embed it into our minds instead.
“Agency is more than choosing; it is the power and capacity of independent action”
I have been having this argument for years – thank goodness somebody whose opinion counts is saying it. I have high hopes for gc this April.
I would have liked to have gotten his talk in black and white
Kim,
What ward do you attend? I served my mission up there (in Lethbridge 1st/2nd wards in 2004) a while ago. Great blog by the way.
Lethbridge First Ward actually.
Ha! How long have you lived in the ward? I think it was Bishop Hasegawa serving while I was there.
We moved into First Ward in 2002. Mark Hasegawa was bishop of Second Ward. First Ward had Ron Tanner for the first half of 2004 and Steve Kutanzi for the second half.
Right. I knew all three. Steve Kutanzi’s wife has lots of family in my home neighborhood in South Jordan, UT. Well, sorry if I forgot you from when I was there. I served with Elders Thacker, Criddle if any of those ring a bell.
Who’s the bishop these days?
Bryan Renaud is bishop now. He was EQP in Second Ward around 2004.
I was in the YM programme in 2004, so I didn’t know the missionaries well then.
Cool hehehe I was there I loved it. It was fun.