| David A. Bednar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | |
| October 2, 2004 (2004-10-02) | |
| LDS ChurchApostle | |
| October 7, 2004 (2004-10-07) | |
| Reason | Death ofDavid B. Haight.[1] |
| 14th President ofBrigham Young University–Idaho | |
| In office | |
| July 1, 1997 – December 1, 2004 | |
| Successor | Kim B. Clark |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Allan Bednar (1952-06-15)June 15, 1952 (age 73) Oakland,California,U.S. |
| Alma mater | Brigham Young University (BA,MA) Purdue University (PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Kae Robinson (1975–present) |
| Children | 3 |
David Allan Bednar (born June 15, 1952) is a member of theQuorum of the Twelve Apostles ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). A former educator, Bednar waspresident ofBrigham Young University–Idaho (BYU–Idaho) from 1997 to 2004.[2][3]
Bednar wassustained 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 sinceDallin H. Oaks in 1984. He was ordained anapostle on October 7, 2004, bychurch presidentGordon B. Hinckley. Bednar andDieter F. Uchtdorf were called to fill the vacancies created by the July 2004 deaths of quorum membersDavid B. Haight andNeal A. Maxwell.[4] As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Bednar is recognized by the church as aprophet, seer, and revelator. He is currently the fifth most senior apostle in the church.[5]
Bednar was born inOakland, 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-timemissionary in SouthernGermany and then attendedBrigham Young University, where he received aBachelor of Arts degree in communication in 1976 and aMaster of Arts degree inorganizational communication in 1977.[8] He received adoctorate degree inorganizational behavior fromPurdue University in 1980.[9][10]
From 1980 to 1984, Bednar was an assistant professor of management at theUniversity of Arkansas College of Business Administration (nowSam M. Walton College of Business). He was an assistant professor of management atTexas 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 ofRicks College/BYU–Idaho inRexburg, 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]
Bednar has served in the LDS Church as abishop (Fayetteville Ward, 1987), twice asstake president (Fort Smith ArkansasStake, 1987–1991 and Rogers Arkansas Stake, 1991–1995),regional representative (1994–95), andarea seventy (1997–2004).
In 2016, Bednar dedicated theStar Valley Wyoming Temple, the LDS Church's 154th temple.[12]
Bednar attended the 2019 dedication of theRome 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 theNational Press Club in Washington, D.C., on May 26, 2022.[14][15]
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]
Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in theSalt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975. The Bednars have three sons.[8]
.jpg)
—— (2001),"In the Strength of the Lord", BYU Speeches —— (2005),"Quick to Observe", BYU Speeches —— (2007),"Reservoir of Living Water", BYU Speeches —— (2009),"Things as They Really Are", BYU Speeches —— (2010),"Watching with All Perseverance", BYU Speeches —— (2011),"The Spirit of Revelation", BYU Speeches —— (2012),"That They Might Have Joy", BYU Speeches —— (2013),"Meek and Lowly of Heart", BYU Speeches —— (2014),"Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease", BYU Speeches —— (2015),"Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing", BYU Speeches —— (2016),"Learning to Love Learning", BYU Speeches —— (2017),"Walk in the Meekness of My Spirit", BYU Speeches —— (2019),"Watchful unto Prayer Continually", BYU Speeches —— (2020),"Look unto Me in Every Thought; Doubt Not, Fear Not", BYU Speeches —— (2022),"Consider the Wondrous Works of God", BYU Speeches —— (2024),"The Wonderful Flood of Light", BYU Speeches —— (2025),"The World Shall Stand", BYU Speeches
| 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 ofBrigham Young University–Idaho August 10, 2001 – December 1, 2004 | Succeeded byas President of Brigham Young University–Idaho (2005–2015) |
| President ofRicks College July 1, 1997 – August 10, 2001 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
