David A. Bednar

David A. Bednar

1952 (73 years) Living

Hometown: San Leandro, California

Biography

David A. Bednar is an apostle who has served since 2004. At age 52 at the time of his calling, he was the first apostle born after World War II and represents a generational shift in church leadership. Bednar served as president of BYU-Idaho before his call.

Known for his precise, analytical teaching style, Bednar emphasizes doctrinal accuracy and spiritual patterns. His approach is notably different from more emotional speakers—methodical and systematic. His concept of “line upon line” learning and “patterns” in the gospel characterizes his teaching.

Bednar has been associated with strict interpretations of church standards and has emphasized that members should not expect experiences identical to others’. Some members find his approach challenging or rigid, while others appreciate his intellectual rigor.

He has addressed the role of technology in spiritual development, the nature of revelation, and the importance of covenant keeping. His books on spiritual topics, including “Increase in Learning” and “Act in Doctrine,” expand his conference messages.

Given his relative youth among apostles, Bednar is often mentioned as a future church president.

Served Under

Church presidents during this leader's apostolic service:

Gordon B. Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley 1910–2008 (97 years) Thomas S. Monson Thomas S. Monson 1927–2018 (90 years) Russell M. Nelson Russell M. Nelson 1924–2025 (101 years) Dallin H. Oaks Dallin H. Oaks 1932 (93 years)

Wives (1)

#NameMarriage DateHer AgeHis AgeAge DiffChildren
1 Susan Kae Robinson Mar 20, 1975 202223

Children (3)

With Susan Kae Robinson (3 children)

Related Posts (20)

Related Images

”Now in terms of how do our covenants help us if someone is wandering? ... Church leaders have talked about a pull — a bit of a spiritual tug, if you will. Orson F. Whitney referred to it as “the divine tentacles of providence.” It is not the case that the faithfulness of parents can save a wayward child, but the faithfulness of the parents in honoring covenants exerts a bit of a spiritual tug. Now I don’t know how that works, but it’s a part of the covenant connection.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 31, 2025 | wasmormon.org ”Now in terms of how do our covenants help us if someone is wandering? ... Church leaders have talked about a pull — a bit of a spiritual tug, if you will. Orson F. Whitney referred to it as “the divine tentacles of providence.” It is not the case that the faithfulness of parents can save a wayward child, but the faithfulness of the parents in honoring covenants exerts a bit of a spiritual tug. Now I don’t know how that works, but it’s a part of the covenant connection.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 31, 2025 | wasmormon.org As the Savior concluded the Sermon on the Mount, He emphasized the eternal truth that “only by doing the will of the Father is the saving grace of the Son obtainable.” ... Our understanding of this episode is enlarged as we reflect upon an inspired revision to the text. Significantly, the Lord’s phrase reported in the King James Version of the Bible, “I never knew you,” was changed in the Joseph Smith Translation to “Ye never knew me.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, “If Ye Had Known Me”, General Conference, October 2016 | wasmormon.org “When people say, well, what do you do with all that money? Well, there's an episode in the Old Testament about Joseph, who interpreted a dream for the Pharaoh that there were seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. And in the years of plenty, you better prepare for the years of famine. So people want to speculate about the size of the reserve and all that kind of stuff... I think it would be imprudent and unwise not to have a reserve.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle & Ryan Smith, Qualtrics/Utah Jazz Owner Silicon Slopes Summit, September 28, 2023 'What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?' Church Video, February 27, 2025 | wasmormon.org “They're not passing a plate, or collecting money in local congregations. That's all done through the tithes that the members of the church pay all over the world. But you've got fixed costs in the maintenance, the utilities, all of those things for all of those buildings... You don't have to be an accountant to figure out those are some big dollars.” - “[To] the people who want to tell us how to spend the money, I would just emphasize one undergirding principle. The assets of the church are primarily income consuming; they are not income producing.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle & Ryan Smith, Qualtrics/Utah Jazz Owner Silicon Slopes Summit, September 28, 2023, 'What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?' Church Video, February 27, 2025 | wasmormon.org What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money? [Regarding the leaked Ensign Peak Advisors managed reserves of surplus tithing amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars] You're getting a lot of heat for people telling you how to spend the money of the church. How do you think about that or how can others really understand the scale of this? “I think it would be imprudent and unwise not to have a reserve.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle & Ryan Smith, Qualtrics/Utah Jazz Owner, Silicon Slopes Summit, September 28, 2023, 'What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?' Church Video, February 27, 2025 | wasmormon.org “[To] the people who want to tell us how to spend the money, I would just emphasize one undergirding principle. The assets of the church are primarily income consuming; they are not income producing.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle & Ryan Smith, Qualtrics/Utah Jazz Owner Silicon Slopes Summit, September 28, 2023 'What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?' Church Video | wasmormon.org "The Book of Mormon is not primarily a historical record that looks to the past. Rather, this volume of scripture looks to the future and contains important principles, warnings, and lessons intended for the circumstances and challenges of our day. Hence, the Book of Mormon is a book about our future and the times in which we do now and will yet live." - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 2024 | wasmormon.org "The Book of Mormon is not primarily a historical record that looks to the past." - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, October 2024 | wasmormon.org I don’t want to try to tell you how to do this, but I would recommend you don’t try to write down things that any of us say. I would suggest to you that that totally misses the mark. - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, Missionary Devotional, 2021 | wasmormon.org “I don’t want to try to tell you how to do this, but I would recommend you don’t try to write down things that any of us say. I would suggest to you that that totally misses the mark. What you should write down are the things that only you hear that are being delivered to you very specifically by the power of the Holy Ghost.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, Missionary Devotional, August 26, 2021 | wasmormon.org "We have been mischaracterized since 1830, when the church was re-established. That's always been the case. I don't think it will ever go away. We don't like it, but we don't spend all of our time trying to respond to it." - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle “Labels are invented to foster feelings of segregation and competition. Serious seperations results when labels are utilized with the intent to demean... If we allow nicknames to be used or adopt or even sponsor those nicknames ourselves, [The Savior] is offended.” - Russell M. Nelson vs “To be offended is a choice we make... One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the offensive actions of others. Choosing to be offended is a symptom of a much deeper and more serious spiritual malady.” - David A. Bednar | wasmormon.org “To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation. In many instances, choosing to be offended is a symptom of a much deeper and more serious spiritual malady.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, And Nothing Shall Offend Them, October 2006 General Conference | wasmormon.org “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. One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others. A thing, an event, or an expression may be offensive, but you and I can choose not to be offended.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, And Nothing Shall Offend Them, October 2006 General Conference | wasmormon.org “It ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, And Nothing Shall Offend Them, October 2006 General Conference | wasmormon.org “We live in a world where everybody is offended about almost everything. We don't take offense, we just ask people to respect what, to us, is very sacred. The name of the church was revealed. We didn't have a task force and test it with focus groups, it was revealed by the head of the church, who is Jesus Christ. And we simply are asking people to respect that, and call us what we are.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, Addresses the National Press Club, 2022 | wasmormon.org “I think that President Russell M. Nelson will be known forever as a man of remarkable courage, to say, we will no longer use a nickname pejoratively attached to our church, by our enemies, anymore. We're inviting other people to call us what we are called, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, Addresses the National Press Club, 2022 | wasmormon.org "I hear people say, oh that's a small temple. There's no such thing as a small temple – they're just temples. There's no such thing as small covenants or small ordinances. That, to me, reflects this fixation on it's the building. Who cares what the size is, if you have access to the same covenants and ordinances!" - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle: Church News - April 27, 2023 | wasmormon.org “Do you have the faith not to be healed?” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, 2013 | wasmormon.org “Do you have the faith not to be healed? If it is the will of our Heavenly Father that you are transferred by death in your youth to the spirit world to continue your ministry, do you have the faith to submit to His will and not be healed?” - David A. Bednar, LDS Apostle, 2013 | wasmormon.org