Elder David A. Bednar was born June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California, and has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since October 7, 2004.
After serving as a young full-time missionary in southern Germany and attending Brigham Young University, he met a young woman while playing flag football during family home evening. He and Susan Robinson were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and they became the parents of three sons.
Elder Bednar earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and a doctorate in organizational behavior from Purdue University. He was a professor of business administration at Texas Tech University and the University of Arkansas, and then served as president of Brigham Young University-Idaho (formerly Ricks College) from 1997 to 2004.
In honor of Elder Bednar’s 74th birthday today, here are nine quotes from Elder Bednar over the past year.
1. The Savior’s Grace and the Power of the Holy Spirit
“Over time, the grace of the Savior and the power of the Holy Spirit help remove the innate human traits within each of us: self-centeredness, selfishness, and self-doubt that limit our ability to rise up.”
— BYU Women’s Conference, May 1, 2026
2. Blessings come as love for God grows.
“As our love for the Lord grows stronger and deeper, we are blessed with a spiritual perspective, His empowering grace, and a joy so great and indescribable.”
— “All Who Endured Bravely,” April 2026 General Conference
3. Plant and nourish seeds
“Plant this seed, do the work of nurturing it, and I promise it will change your heart in ways you cannot imagine.”
— Church News Video, January 14, 2026
4. The prophecy was fulfilled
“A stone cut out of the mountain without human hands is rolling out. It is the restored church of Jesus Christ, filling the earth.”
— Ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, March 15, 2026
5. “We are our own judges.”
“Ultimately, we judge ourselves. No one needs to tell us where to go. In the presence of the Lord, we can acknowledge our choices in mortality and know for ourselves where we should be in eternity.”
— “They Are Their Own Judges” October 2025 General Conference
6. Restoration is in progress
“I am witnessing that a restoration is underway. It is happening today. It happened yesterday. It will happen tomorrow, every day, every week, every month, and every year until the Savior comes again.”
— BYU – Pathway Worldwide Devotional, October 31, 2025
7. A season to watch
“We are living in a remarkable time in the history of the Church, and I hope you will absorb it and enjoy it. I pray that this time will stay with you forever and help you understand yourself and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
— Provo Missionary Training Center Devotional, November 4, 2025
8. Acceleration and haste of work
“This work is hastened, facilitated, and directed by the living Lord Jesus Christ. I testify that He lives. I testify that He is our Savior and our Savior. I also testify that the Father and the Son appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, and that this was the beginning of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this latter-day dispensation.”
– Dedication in the Sacred Grove of Palmyra, New York, September 21, 2025
9. Consultation in Parliament
“Consultation with the Holy Spirit and counseling under the influence of the Holy Spirit can and should be a revelatory experience. . . . We strive to be ‘one’ and faithful servants, allowing the Lord to inspire and work through us to accomplish holy works.”
— 2025 Seminar for New Mission Leaders, June 20, 2025
