Elder Bednar Teaches Come Unto Christ in England
Contributed By Joshua Perkey, Church Magazines
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During two days in Reading, England, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed missionaries, young single adults, and the general membership in several meetings and conferences in the Reading England Stake Center.
He was accompanied by his wife, Susan, as well as by Elder Gérald Jean Caussé of the Seventy and his wife, Valérie.
On Saturday, September 3, 2011, Elder Bednar and Elder Caussé met first with missionaries from the London South Mission. Later in the day they both conducted a multistake priesthood leadership meeting with bishops and stake presidents.
During that priesthood meeting Elder Bednar shared “the single most important thing” he has learned: We are trying to influence people to come unto Christ. Coming unto Christ is what Elder Bednar called the “pearl of conversion.”
“If we focus on conversion unto Christ, magnifying priesthood, and revelation, we have devoted our time to essential elements of that pearl,” he said.
Their third meeting of the day was a multistake young single adult conference. Approximately 900 young single adults living in and around the area filled the Reading stake center to overflowing. During the meeting they had the opportunity to ask Elder Bednar direct questions.
Elder Bednar invited those in attendance to live so they could receive personal revelation, guidance, and answers. He said that these might not come quickly, but they definitely would come over time.
“We’ve talked, listened, and discussed,” he summarized. “Hopefully it causes you to dig, to thirst, to ask, to seek, to knock. It’s not from anyone else you will get the answer—it’s from our loving Heavenly Father.”
The following day, Sunday, September 4, Elder Bednar presided at the Reading England Stake conference, again accompanied by Sister Bednar and Elder and Sister Caussé. More than 1,000 members attended the conference, which was held in a local theater to accommodate the large crowd.
Addressing nonmembers first, Elder Bednar reviewed the Church’s history, the origin of its name, and its source of authority.
Then he addressed the members directly, emphasizing the blessing of agency and the Atonement.
“‘In his strength I can do all things,’” Elder Bednar said, quoting Alma 26:12. “That does not just apply to the elders quourm president, bishop, [or] stake president. … God trusts you to learn the lesson in mortality that will prepare you for eternity.”