This morning we had a special workforce devotional with Elder Bednar who is visiting the Europe Central Area for the next 2 weeks for the annual Area Review. He is a wonderful and insightful leader.
Here are the notes I took, compiled with the notes of a few others:
Workforce Devotional with Elder Bednar
Frankfurt, 14 February 2025
We had a nice musical number by our workforce choir with about 8 men and 8 women. Then the Palmers each spoke for a few minutes. She asked, “To whom or to what will I give my life? She talked about how she feels peace in knowing. He talked about the on-going Restoration, and how it is still happening and will continue to unfold. He said there is only one place where we can receive all the ordinances necessary to return to God–the temple. There are many good people and good churches throughout the world. He bore testimony of that apostles and prophets are called of God. Their hearts are pure and their only desire is to serve Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ and to do Their will. They both shared heart-felt testimonies.
Then Sis Bednar spoke briefly. She said we live in an amazing world where we can be connected by technology. We are no more strangers, but fellow citizens (Eph 2:19). She said that 20 years ago when Elder Bednar was called, she had No idea how this would change her life too, traveling with him throughout the world. She expressed love for the people in all the places she’s visited with him and the love that she’s felt.
Then it was Elder Bednar’s turn, and he went to work. He was relaxed and not as formal as usual, and that was nice.
Echoed the appreciations of others.
Two years ago, the Phoenix Haus was a shell of an office. Look at it now!
Greetings from the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12. This is NOT a trite statement. Pres. Nelson implores the apostles to travel in his place and be his eyes and legs because he can’t travel anymore. (My legs can no longer take me there.”) AI says “implore” means to beg or plead earnestly and desperately for something. It conveys a sense of urgency or deep emotion.
The Apostles are assigned by the prophet to hold all the keys. But only the prophet is authorized to exercise all the keys. He implores the Apostles to greet people for him. In other words, greetings from the prophet are a real thing and a big deal.
Appreciate the time in which we live–this is an exciting and incredible time to be alive. Don’t miss what’s happening. Don’t get caught up in all the commotion.
What’s happening in the fulness of times?
In the early days we were asked to come, to gather. Why? The Saints needed to gather to bring resources to build Houses of the Lord. This was the purpose of gathering.
Gathering in every age has been to provide temple blessings.
Do we appreciate the moment in which we live?
It is a privilege to live in this day with the emerging restoration.
15-20 new temples are announced every conference.
All keys are restored by new things being revealed all the time.
When he was young, he attended the Oakland Temple dedication with his mother (Temple #13 in 1964). Now there are 100s of temples.
Directive given by Pres Kimball in the 1970s: don’t leave your country to gather to Zion (the temples). Build up Zion where you live.
The number of Temples increased dramatically in the 1970s. (Interesting coincidence in timing.)
Now we have temples where we are, temples are being taken to the members.
The prosperity of the Church is for this purpose—to build Houses of the Lord.
“Y’aint seen nothing yet!” (referring to the number of temples being built).
We are witnessing the acceleration of the restoration and the building of temples.
“I am excited beyond belief!”
He said that when he was BYU Idaho’s President for several years, speakers every week told the kids they were the “chosen generation, saved for these last days.” He got tired (sick) of hearing that.
He said that this is a generation where “Much is Required.”
When you pick up stick, you get both ends–those saved for the last days (us) are those for whom much is required.
This is a Joyous time! Appreciate the day in which we live. The pace is accelerating.
New temples will be announced. Things never before revealed will be revealed.
“Get you juiced!” (they say that in California).
Then he read about 6 submitted workforce questions about work and life balance. He said he was going to answer each question, but we might not find his answer to be what we expected.
The answer to each question was:
“Cleave unto charity. Charity faileth not.”
This is the Celestial answer to ALL temporal problems.
We have access to celestial answers.
D&C 121:29: “All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
What does it mean to “Endure valiantly?” He gave several definitions of endurance like hanging on with all your might (like hanging from a bar), gritting it out, struggling to the end, not giving up, sludging through, gritting teeth, etc. These are telestial answers or descriptions.
To “endure valiantly” means to carry on with bravery, determination and boldness. Think celestial. Not a dogged determination, or just plowing through. It’s a joyous quest of pressing forward in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, trusting him, becoming like Him.
He told the story of being a grad student in a program with 5 others. Only he was married and had a child. Lots of demands. He was called to teach early morning seminary. The others had plenty of time to study and do research. It was a hard time. In the end, he was the only one to finish the program. Why? He was given capacity beyond his own. ANYONE can have that through covenants. Covenants bind us to the Father and to the Son through the power of the Holy Ghost. We are given strength beyond our own, our capacity is magnified.
D&C 76 describes those who are not valiant.
Endure = Not to yield, to carry on, to remain firm, brave and true.
(Compared to someone hanging on for dear life.)
Do this: as you study the scriptures, every time you read “endure to the end” replace that with, “cleave unto charity, for charity faileth not.”
AoF #4: We believe the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. And then we Endure to the End.
Christ endured all things because He was full of charity, His pure love.
Moroni 7:44-47 “celestial enduring” is done only with charity, meekness
v. 44: must needs have charity . . .
v. 45: endureth all things
v. 46: cleave unto charity
Charity is a spiritual gift; it comes from God. We do not earn or develop it.
No spiritual gift is ever given for self-aggrandizement (self-help), only to bless others.
We don’t “develop it” or other “attributes of Christ.” They are given to us as Gifts.
We don’t “call down powers of heaven.”
We yearn for it; we don’t demand it.
We are not going to gain charity by seeking it. It’s bestowed by a loving Father. It’s a GIFT.
We have to do our very best, but it will never be enough. We receive these blessings in spite of our inadequacies.
Do not strive to “develop Christ-like attributes.” That’s not the way it works.
It’s not a check list for self-improvement. Not SELF. Focus on loving OTHERS.
Yearn for charity.
vs. 47: “and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
Charity. Possessed of it.
You don’t go get it. It’s given. It’s Not earned. It’s Unmerited, not deserved.
Moroni 8:16-17; 25-26
Sometimes it’s because of prayers of others. He told the story of having knee surgery. Before the surgery he was given a blessing that he would be able to heal rapidly. As he went home after having the surgery, he seemed to be able to do things much more quickly than anyone thought. (He got on the elliptical a day or two later.) He wondered why it seemed so easy. In his mind came the words, “because of the prayers given in your behalf.” He said he had not merited it, nor deserved it. God was answering the prayers of others.
Don’t ever accuse God of not answering your prayers.
He answers every prayer. Not always in the way we hope or expect or (demand).
Pray celestially (with full purpose of heart).
You pray for charity so you can help others. (The focus is on them, not you.)
Pray for it, desire it but not in self-help way.
Revelation is never an explanation.
It’s always a conclusion.
He’s only found one exception in scripture: it is better that one man perish than a nation dwindle in unbelief. He gave an explanation this time because the loss of a life was involved. If you do receive an explanation, it will knock you to your knees.
Moroni 8 infant baptism
V. 16 Wo unto those who pervert ways of lord
“I speak with boldness, having authority from God.” Valiant “I am filled with charity.”
25-26 perfect love endureth
Endure valiantly, with faith, prayer, boldness and fortitude.
Enduring comes from charity.
The 4th Article of Faith is a celestial issue, not a telestial one.
AoF 13: “We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things and hope to be able to endure all things.
Enduring to the end has a telestial meaning attached to it. Make it celestial. Replace endure with have charity. Cleave unto charity
Whenever you read about the Doctrine of Christ, replace “endure to the end” with “is possessed of the pure love of Christ.”
Examples from Nephi, Alma, 3 Nephi.
Not hanging on to a bar, gritting it out, getting by
Cleaving to charity is a joyous quest, a spiritual transformation.
Come Follow Me and endure to the end are bookends.
Passover: Jesus loved them unto the end
Moroni: war: loved them all day long
Atonement cleanses, strengthens
See all things through Christ. Each day we put on a remembrance of Him. Think, feel and speak of Him. Gather in one in Him, striving towards a celestial level of living.
The Savior’s Atonement enables us to do more than we could without it.
Say “House of the Lord” instead of temple. It’s like making the change from “Mormon” to “Church of Jesus Christ.” It says what it is. “Temple” is an ambiguous term. “House of the Lord” is clear about what it really is.
Atonement
He told a story about volunteering to lead a group of 25 pastors from an antagonistic denomination through the temple open house in Arkansas. At the baptismal font, he asked, “How can He be the Savoir of all humankind if only a handful of people know about him?” He told them, “No one has the answers unless they have the Book of Mormon.” Then asked if they had any questions. The head preacher had the courage to ask, “you keep using the word ‘Atonement,’ what does that mean? Elder Bednar told them the Book of Mormon teaches pure doctrine about the Atonement:
Jesus paid a debt he did not owe.
We owe a debt we cannot pay.
Our capacity is expanded and magnified beyond our own through the covenants we make with the Father and the Son. We are connected to Them. The connection comes by power of the Holy Ghost and Christ’s atonement.
We have strength beyond our own, but it’s hard work–it’s not supposed to be easy.
Relationship = telestial
Covenant Connection= celestial
Think about the word endure, pray about it, study about it. Connect the dots.
“I Witness . . ..” (testimony of many things he spoke about today).
The Restoration is an ongoing process.
Apostolic blessing to understand the important role of charity.
Our Frankfurt Germany Mission 