David A. Bednar - Religious Freedom Library

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

David A. Bednar was born on June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California. He served as a full-time missionary in Southern Germany and then attended Brigham Young University, where he received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. He also received a doctoral degree in organizational behavior from Purdue University.

David A. Bednar married Susan Kae Robinson in the Salt Lake Temple on March 20, 1975, and they are the parents of three sons.

Prior to his call to the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Bednar served as an Area Seventy, Area Authority Seventy, Regional Representative, twice as a stake president, and as a bishop.

After completing his education, Elder Bednar was a professor of business management at Texas Tech University and at the University of Arkansas. He then served as the president of Brigham Young University–Idaho (formerly Ricks College) from 1997-2004.

Understanding Religion As Essential— Reflections on the COVID-19 Crisis and the Place of Religion

… how secular officials understand religion and religious people deeply influences how they treat religious institutions and believers in a time of crisis. The deeper and more respectful the understanding, the more legitimate and effective public policy responses can be.

David A. Bednar

G20 Interfaith Forum – Oct 14, 2020

And When He Came to Himself

The COVID-19 crisis has presented us with a unique opportunity to reaffirm and shore up religious freedom.

David A. Bednar

BYU Religious Freedom Annual Review hosted by the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, BYU Law School – Jun 17, 2020

The Divinely Designed Pattern of Marriage

One of the great tasks of our time — one on which our diverse faith communities should be united — is to help people understand the true meaning and purpose of marriage.

David A. Bednar

Humanum Colloquium – Mar 9, 2017