Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles held a devotional on Friday, March 7, 2025, in the John W. Hart Auditorium for four YSA stakes in the Rexburg area. Because this wasn't a typical devotional, Bednar introduced what he called his "magic iPad" and provided students with a phone number. With this number, students could submit questions to him, his wife, Sister Susan K. Bednar, Elder Steven R. Bangerter and Elder Bradley S. Bateman.

1. What is your advice on coping with change?

Elder Bednar said everything about the Lord’s gospel is about learning, improving, growing and changing.

Bednar emphasized that change is essential for eternal growth and shouldn’t be resisted. The natural man and woman hate change and want things to stay the same. Bednar described how the modern world pushes us to accept people as they are, but Heavenly Father wants individuals to grow and change for the better.

“The Savior did not offer his infinite and eternal atoning sacrifice so you and I can just stay the same,” said Elder Bednar.

We are supposed to embrace change and allow ourselves to grow.

Sister Bednar added onto Elder Bednar’s remarks to assure the audience to not fear change.

“When we embrace change, it doesn't ruin things," said Sister Bednar. "It makes them better. And when our hearts change, it doesn't ruin us, it makes us better. Learn to love change; don’t avoid it, don’t recoil against it. It’s an opportunity to learn new things.”

2. Will the Lord tell me through the Holy Ghost whether I should or should not marry a certain person?

Elder Bednar was clear when answering this question.

“I have known young men who would say to a young woman, ‘I have received a revelation that you are to be my wife,’” Elder Bednar said. “I have a suggestion to every young woman who ever encounters a young man like that: run”.

Bednar said no man, even with the power of the priesthood, has the right to receive revelation for anyone else. His advice as to how to know for sure if someone is the right person is through the power of the Holy Ghost, but it will be manifested differently for every single person.

He then told the students to read D&C Section 80, which talks about a man named Stephen Burnett. Bednar told everyone to place their name in as if they were Burnett. In this chapter, Burnett is called by God and is told that as he desires a companion, he will receive one.

“If you are being a good boy and a good girl, and you’re doing your best to live the gospel, you’re being guided all the time and you have no idea that it’s taking place,” Elder Bednar said.

3. Is there a type of session to prioritize when worshipping in the temple? Should I cycle through the different ones every week?

Elder Bangerter of the Seventy gave his advice to students, having served in the church’s temple department for a number of years.

He explained that all of the ordinances are meant to bring us closer to God, and one is not more important than the other.

“In the midst of ordinances, we make covenants, and all of the covenants are related but different,” said Elder Bangerter. “So which one is most important? Yes, and they all come together at the altar, and it’s beautiful.”

All of the revelations Joseph Smith received about temple covenants came as one.

Elder Bednar added to Elder Bangerter’s remarks, challenging everyone to choose a day to do every single ordinance in the temple. He said that until we do this, “You will never see all of the ordinances gathering together in one in Christ”.

Elder Bednar continued, “You are in the Lord’s house on that day for that purpose, to see how all of those things begin to tie together.”

4. My fiancé and I are getting married in a month, and it's been harder to protect the boundaries we set. What advice would you give to resist temptation and prepare for married life?

Elder Bednar turned to a scripture to help people see how they can avoid temptation.

2 Samuel 11:1-2 says, “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.”

Elder Bednar said David, a king, was supposed to be in battle with his men but instead was in Jerusalem. He was in a place he wasn’t supposed to be, which led him to temptation and sin.

“The problem only occurs if you’re in a place where it can occur. So don’t let that happen,” Elder Bednar added.

5. How do we focus more on conversion and people rather than numbers?

Elder Bangerter said, “A lot of times we get into the old mindset of home teaching where we have to visit in a certain way a check off a box.”

He added that when we begin thinking about the people that we serve, as Jesus Christ is always thinking of us, then the numbers and the checkboxes go away. Learning to see people as Christ would and will convert us to him, and we will be able to bring others closer to him as well.

“Love motivates all people, and as we love them, they will feel Jesus Christ’s love through us," said Elder Bangerter. "Then the work of salvation will be able to move forward, and great things will happen.”

6. How long does it take to be temple-worthy after committing a sin?

Elder Bednar immediately told the audience that this was the wrong question. It’s not a matter of time that we should look at regarding sin.

He said committing a sin isn’t like going to jail and doing time; it’s about our heart and our intentions. Many people have waited a long time and haven’t repented. When we feel and receive the Holy Ghost again that is when we are ready.

“You know you’re forgiven as you begin to gradually feel the influence of the Holy Ghost in your life," Elder Bednar said. "That’s when you’re temple worthy, not when you’ve waited six months. So don’t focus on time; it’s not procedural; it’s spiritual, and it’s in the heart.”

7. How can I know if I'm on the right path that God has for me?

Elder Bednar said the answer to this question lies in the Lectures on Faith. It explains the three things that men and women need to have faith in God unto salvation.

1. “Accept the idea that God exists."
2. “A correct understanding of the nature and attributes of God”
3. “A sure knowledge of the path you are pursuing in life."

Bednar referenced Stephen Burnett’s revelation in D&C 80, where Burnett was instructed to keep moving forward without worry, trusting that as long as he remained faithful, he would ultimately end up where he was meant to be.

He said that all of our prayers may not end up giving up an overpowering or overwhelming spiritual manifestation. He recalled when he had to decide to move their family to Arkansas, and they felt okay about it and pressed forward with it. Now, looking back, he can see that the decision was inspired by God.

Elder Bednar says we will know we are on the right path when we come unto Christ, learn from Christ, walk in the meekness of his spirit and receive the covenants of the gospel

8. For those preparing to serve missions, how do we put our faith in God during our missions and lose ourselves in the work?

Elder Bateman, a member of the Seventy, was asked to answer this question.

Elder Bateman said that when we focus on the Savior and prioritize studying and trying to understand the scriptures, he’ll help and bless us in ways we can’t imagine.

Elder Bateman said choosing to be happy on the mission helped him to not think of himself and to focus on the work.

It's a missionary's goal to represent Jesus Christ and it is the happiest work to participate in.

9. How can I feel okay about bringing kids into the world in the future?

Sister Bednar gave her thoughts on this by quoting The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

“Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the family is central to the creator’s plan”.

She explained that every generation has hardships and doubts, but every generation can be blessed by bringing children into the world no matter the circumstances. Life will be hard, but through Jesus Christ, we can have the strength to do all things.

“God put us on this Earth and have us temples so that we could unite families and so we could perpetuate our covenants, not only between marriage partners, but to those who are to come after, and part of that perpetuation is to have children.” Sister Bednar said, “So don’t be afraid, because it will be the most exhilarating and the most enjoyable thing that you can ever do, but it’s also going to be one of the hardest things that you can do.”

10. Where should I go when I'm seeking answers to questions about the ordinances of the house of the Lord?

Elder Bangerter encouraged students to look to the words of prophets, seers and revelators when in need of an answer pertaining to ordinances.

He also gave students advice to return to the temple often to understand more fully the purpose and reason behind the covenants.

“Participate in ordinances over and over as it is the greatest resource of all,” Elder Bangerter said. “It’s a witness of the Holy Spirit and His teachings where they are most purely felt, but it takes a consistent, honest and faithful effort.”

11. Have I truly been forgiven?

“I don't know, but what I do know is that the Lord will forgive you long before you forgive yourself,” Elder Bednar said. “Don't confuse your own uncertainty with the Lord's unwillingness to forgive.”

Elder Bednar wanted students to know that they don’t have to dwell on their past sins after they have repented.

”The Lord said, ‘I will forgive whom I will forgive, and I will remember your sins no more,’” Elder Bednar described. “Many members of the Church think that because they have haunting memories about sins that they've committed that they haven't been forgiven, the verse doesn't say that you or I will forget. The Lord says he will forget.”

12. How long after marriage should we have or plan to have a child?

Elder Bednar said that no one can give an answer to this question, but there is a way for people to find the answer for themselves.

“You have to ask in faith, which means you have to do some homework and study it out in your own mind," Elder Bednar said. "Here's my recommendation. Read the teachings, beginning with President Spencer W. Kimball, about families and having children. Begin with President Kimball, and then President Benson, and continue and read the teachings of the prophets. And once you have done that homework and study, then you are in a position to ask in faith.”

13. How can I feel like I have an important purpose when I feel like everything I'm doing is mundane?

Elder Bateman shared his experience with what he felt were mundane things. In college, he felt like everything he was doing was dull and lacking any kind of purpose.

“I graduated from college, I got married, I got a job and it's mundane. It seems that way, but I've reflected back upon the experiences with how the spirit has guided my life," said Elder Bateman. “Brothers and sisters, the mundane has gone away because I have focused myself on always trying to find what the Spirit wants me to do.”

Elder Bateman explained that the adversary wants us to feel like our lives are dull and pointless. But in reality, the purpose of life is to learn to become like Heavenly Father. He encouraged the audience to look past the daily tasks and see the bigger picture.

14. With so much conflict and hatred in our country and the world, how can we exemplify Christ-like love?

Elder Bednar answered this question saying, “One by one.” He then recounted 3 Nephi 11, where the Savior invited thousands of people to come to him, one by one, to feel the wounds in his hands, feet and side. Elder Bendar said that we can all be like the Savior and do things for the individual one at a time to show love and that we truly care.

“We exemplify Christ-like love, through the small and simple things as disciples of Jesus Christ, one by one, line upon line,” Elder Bednar said. “Be not weary from well doing, for you are laying the foundation of the great work. And out of small things proceeded that which is great.”

15. Hit us hard with the Law of Chasity, especially with making out and breaking the Law of Chasity.

Elder Bednar again quoted 2 Samuel 11:1-2 regarding David giving in to temptation. He told students to be where they are supposed to be and not be seduced by the doctrine of devils that entices us to misuse the sacred power of creation.

Elder Bednar said the devil doesn’t have a body, so he tries to tempt individuals to abuse their bodies.

“Satan relentlessly attacks the fact that we have a body and the fact that we can marry because it is essential to the Father’s plan,” Elder Bednar explained. “The Father and Son’s work is to create. We are given a small portion of that power. Don’t sacrifice that power for a few seconds of ‘rumping’ around”.

At the conclusion of the devotional, Elder Bednar told each speaker to come up with a question they wished had been asked and to answer it.

How do I know that God Loves Me?

Elder Bateman asked, "How do I know that God Loves Me?" He answered by saying this question is often answered in the most simple and small ways, and it’s through the “tender mercies of the Lord.”

He said we can look for the small moments of our lives where we can see God’s hand and know that he is there and that he loves us.

Elder Bateman explained that as we try to look for these “tender mercies of the Lord” in our life, we can more easily recognize his blessings.

If the Lord were here tonight and he were sitting beside me, what would he want me to know?

Elder Bangerter told the students that the Lord would want each of them to know that they have been in the presence of one of his disciples and apostles. He told students that the Lord had been with each of them throughout the night.

He said, “He would want you to know that tonight matters if you decide tonight matters”.

How do I know whether something is from God or if it’s just a coincidence?

Sister Bednar was sure to make the audience know that “nothing happens by coincidence” and that everything happens for a reason. She testified that God knows each one of us one by one and is willing to help us in our lives.

“God has a wonderful plan for each one of us," said Sister Bednar. "We are blessed to live in a day and time where the gospel is on the world.”

She explained that we can be guided by God as we pray to him and seek with real intent, and in doing so, he will direct our lives in the way they are supposed to go.

Do you know in a way different from I know? Or do you know in a way different than I can know?

Elder Bednar said that the answer to this question is "No."

He said that many members of the Church think that something special happens to the people who are called with specific callings, but that simply isn’t true. He explained that every Church member has the Holy Ghost, which can guide and communicate with them, allowing everyone to receive a personal witness of Christ.

“The witness that qualifies me to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ, I received long before I became a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles,” Elder Bednar said. “It’s the same witness that you can receive.”

Featured Photo: Sister Bednar, Elder Bednar, Elder Bateman and Elder Bangerter at Friday night’s devotional. Photo Credit: Emily Ormston