Hello, all! I realized this late last night, but I forgot yesterday to note the birthday of Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. As the most recent apostle to be called without having previously served as a General Authority, I saw the mantle of apostleship settle on him the moment he gave his first talk in October 2004.
Now, as we are nearing the month when he will mark 13 years in the apostleship, he has steadily risen in the ranks as many senior to him have passed away. In just under those 13 years, he has gone from being the junior apostle (15th in seniority) to being the most junior apostle in the senior half of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and he has also become the most senior apostle of the junior half. In terms of the 15 apostles, his former seatmate, President Uchtdorf, is right in the middle in terms of apostolic seniority, and of the junior seven, Elder Bednar is the most senior.
Elder Bednar marked his 65th birthday yesterday. In view of the fact that he was called at age 52, it is significant that he is now just a heartbeat away from being among the senior apostles. While it is still far too early to tell what will happen with apostolic deaths, and while we do have 3 apostles senior to Elder Bednar that are either showing signs of old age or health issues (President Monson, Elder Ballard, and Elder Hales), and while we also know that President Nelson is almost 3 years older than President Monson despite coming to the apostleship 31 after he did, no one, especially not myself, knows what the Lord's succession plan might entail in the future.
While I do believe President Nelson has a good chance of succeeding President Monson at some point, with Elder Oaks being next, and either Elder Holland or Elder Bednar serving as Church President around the 200th anniversary of the restoration, the Lord is still in full control of the succession process, and He knows who He needs in the presidency, when He needs those changes to happen, and who received an apostolic call that will someday become Church President.
As another side note, I wanted to reiterate again how fully I disagree with those who have perpetuated the idea of some kind of emeritus status for apostles and prophets. Part of the package deal of becoming an apostle is that service is rendered until the Lord calls each apostle home. And, as Elder Bednar himself observed in his wonderful October 2015 general conference address, highlighting the final addresses that were given by the six apostles that had passed away since his own apostolic calls. I fully concur with President Hinckley's statement about the need for men of maturity at the head who will not be blown about by every wind of doctrine.
There are excellent reasons why an emeritus designation should not and never will be enacted for Church presidents and apostles. And any man or woman who suggests otherwise cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called a faithful Latter-day Saint. That applies even more so for those who are gathering every six months to vocally voice their opposition to sustaining the apostles. In my opinion, if anyone who has problems with Church doctrines, policies, and procedures, and if they are not willing to resolve their concerns through the proper channels, they are in very real danger of apostatizing, and will do so. Previous prophetic statements have indicated as much.
I for one will always unequivocally sustain those who have been called of God, because I have received my own witness that every apostolic call is divinely inspired. And I have continued to pray for and have received manifestations that their words are what the Savior wants all of us to hear.
If any of you who read this have any doubts about the inspired nature of these callings, I urge you to seek to acquire your own witness. In the meantime, I always have and always will stand with the Brethren, and I will continue to sustain them with all my heart.
That was more of a side note than I meant it to be. Sorry about that. Getting back to Elder Bednar and his birthday, perhaps the greatest gift we could give him would be to take some time to review some of the counsel he gave during these almost 13 years. I could not adequately summarize his ministry thus far in the time and space I have to do so, but I will say he has covered a wide variety of topics that should be important to any Latter-day Saint who sustains him. You can review any of those you like
here. Unless I have miscounted, he has addressed us 26 times. And that has just been in General Conference sessions, not even counting talks he gave in other settings. His ministry has truly encompassed so much imparted wisdom, such extensive travel, involvement in temple dedications (including one at which he presided), and so much more.
So, to Elder Bednar, I would say, thank you for your willingness to teach correct principles. Thank you for being a man in whom the spirit of God is. Thank you for the breadth of your ministry. Happy birthday! May the Lord allow you to continue to share your wisdom and inspiration with us for many years to come. And may all of us continue to follow not only Elder Bednar's counsel, but that of is 14 other colleagues.
As we do so, the Lord will continue to bless us all. Of all these things I testify with all my heart, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
