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(5/1/05)
"We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's
tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy
of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and
protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet
live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the
joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that
which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield
adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of
life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to
produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are
so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of
the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance (see 1
Nephi 1:20)." - David A. Bednar, "The
Tender
Mercies of the Lord," General Conference, April 2005
3/24/06
"Recall how the Savior instructed His Apostles that He would not
leave them comfortless. Not only would He send 'another Comforter'
(John 14:16),
even the Holy Ghost, but the Savior said that He would come to
them (see John
14:18). Let me suggest that one of the ways whereby the
Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender
mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in
our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal
confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples
of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of
sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of
the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to
press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and
spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the
Lord." - David A. Bednar, "The
Tender Mercies of the Lord," Ensign (CR), May 2005
11/4/06
"Understanding that the Church is a learning laboratory helps us
to prepare for an inevitable reality. In some way and at some
time, someone in this Church will do or say something that could
be considered offensive. Such an event will surely happen to each
and every one of us—and it certainly will occur more than once.
Though people may not intend to injure or offend us, they
nonetheless can be inconsiderate and tactless.
"You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other
people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember
that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can
choose not to be offended." - David A. Bednar, "And
Nothing Shall Offend Them," Ensign, November 2006
4/10/07
"We are instructed to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,
and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness' (Moroni
10:32), to become 'new creature[s]' in Christ (see 2
Corinthians 5:17), to put off 'the natural man' (Mosiah
3:19), and to experience 'a mighty change in us, or in our
hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do
good continually' (Mosiah
5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these
verses is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental
change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what
we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails
a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made
possible through our reliance upon 'the merits, and mercy, and
grace of the Holy Messiah' (2
Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to
be changed—to be spiritually reborn." - David A. Bednar, "Ye
Must Be Born Again," General Conference, April 2007
11/4/07
"We will not attain a state of perfection in this life, but we can
and should press forward with faith in Christ along the strait and
narrow path and make steady progress toward our eternal destiny.
The Lord's pattern for spiritual development is 'line upon line,
precept upon precept, here a little and there a little' (2
Nephi 28:30). Small, steady, incremental spiritual
improvements are the steps the Lord would have us take. Preparing
to walk guiltless before God is one of the primary purposes of
mortality and the pursuit of a lifetime; it does not result from
sporadic spurts of intense spiritual activity." - David A. Bednar,
"Clean
Hands and a Pure Heart," General Conference, 7 October 2007
5/4/08
"I long have been impressed with the truth that meaningful prayer
requires both holy communication and consecrated work. Blessings
require some effort on our part before we can obtain them, and
prayer, as 'a form of work, ... is an appointed
means for obtaining the highest of all blessings' (Bible
Dictionary, "Prayer,"
753). We press forward and persevere in the consecrated work of
prayer, after we say 'amen,' by acting upon the things we
have expressed to Heavenly Father." - David A. Bednar, "Ask
in Faith," General Conference, April 2008
6/2/08
"The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with
direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal
journey. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through
meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of
Christ, diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring
of covenants, and through virtue, humility, and service. And we
steadfastly should avoid things that are immodest, coarse, crude,
sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy
Ghost." - David A. Bednar, "That
We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us," CR April 2006
10/27/08
"The most meaningful and spiritual prayers I have experienced
contained many expressions of thanks and few, if any, requests. As
I am blessed now to pray with apostles and prophets, I find among
these modern-day leaders of the Savior’s Church the same
characteristic that describes Captain Moroni in the Book of
Mormon: these are men whose hearts swell with thanksgiving to God
for the many privileges and blessings which He bestows upon His
people (see Alma
48:12). Also, they do not multiply many words, for it is
given unto them what they should pray, and they are filled with
desire (see 3
Nephi 19:24). The prayers of prophets are childlike in their
simplicity and powerful because of their sincerity." - David A.
Bednar, "Pray
Always," General Conference, October 2008
4/12/09
"We are instructed to 'come unto Christ, and be perfected in
him, and deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness' (Moroni
10:32), to become 'new creature[s]' in Christ (see 2
Corinthians 5:17), to put off 'the natural man' (Mosiah
3:19), and to experience 'a mighty change in us, or in
our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do
good continually' (Mosiah
5:2). Please note that the conversion described in these
verses is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental
change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what
we are. Indeed, the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails
a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made
possible through our reliance upon 'the merits, and mercy,
and grace of the Holy Messiah' (2
Nephi 2:8). As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to
be changed—to be spiritually reborn." - David A. Bednar, "Ye
Must Be Born Again," CR April 2007
7/8/09
“Taking ‘the Holy Spirit for [our] guide’ (D&C
45:57) is possible and is essential for our spiritual growth
and survival in an increasingly wicked world. Sometimes as
Latter-day Saints we talk and act as though recognizing the
influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives is the rare or
exceptional event. We should remember, however, that the covenant
promise is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. This
supernal blessing applies to every single member of the Church who
has been baptized, confirmed, and instructed to ‘receive the Holy
Ghost.’” - David A. Bednar, “That
We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign (CR)
May 2006
10/3/09
“Cured cucumbers are packed into sterilized jars and heat
processed in order to remove impurities and to seal the containers
from external contaminants. The boiling-water-bath procedure
enables the pickles to be both protected and preserved over a long
period of time. In a similar way, we progressively become purified
and sanctified as you and I are washed in the blood of the Lamb,
are born again, and receive the ordinances and honor the covenants
that are administered by the authority of the Melchizedek
Priesthood.” - David A. Bednar, “Ye
Must Be Born Again,” CR, April 2007
11/7/09
“As we strive to make our prayers more meaningful, we should
remember that ‘in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is
his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all
things, and obey not his commandments’ (D&C
59:21). Let me recommend that periodically you and I offer a
prayer in which we only give thanks and express gratitude. Ask for
nothing; simply let our souls rejoice and strive to communicate
appreciation with all the energy of our hearts.” - David A.
Bednar, “Pray
Always,” (CR) October 2008
12/11/09
“The relationship between testimony and appropriate action is
emphasized in the Savior’s instruction to the Saints in Kirtland:
‘That which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye
should do’ (D&C
46:7). Our testimony of gospel truth should be reflected
both in our words and in our deeds. And our testimonies are
proclaimed and lived most powerfully in our own homes. Spouses,
parents, and children should strive to overcome any hesitancy,
reluctance, or embarrassment about bearing testimony. We should
both create and look for opportunities to bear testimony of gospel
truths—and live them.” – David A. Bednar, “More
Diligent and Concerned at Home,” Ensign (CR) November 2009
8/15/10
"Giving a man a fish feeds him for one meal. Teaching a man to
fish feeds him for a lifetime. As parents and gospel instructors,
you and I are not in the business of distributing fish; rather,
our work is to help our children learn 'to fish' and to become
spiritually steadfast. This vital objective is best accomplished
as we encourage our children to act in accordance with correct
principles—as we help them to learn by doing. 'If any man will do
his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God' (John
7:17). Such learning requires spiritual, mental, and
physical exertion and not just passive reception." - David A.
Bednar, "Watching
with All Perseverance," Ensign (CR) May 2010
1/16/11
We should not be surprised by Satan’s efforts to thwart or
discredit temple worship and work. The devil despises the purity
in and the power of the Lord’s house. And the protection available
to each of us in and through temple ordinances and covenants
stands as a great obstacle to the evil designs of Lucifer. - David
A. Bednar, "Honorably Hold a Name and Standing," Ensign (CR)
April 2009
10/15/11
I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and
experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to
search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform
proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see
D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify
their family histories. - David A. Bednar, "The
Hearts of the Children Shall Turn," Ensign (CR) October
2011