Elder David A. Bednar (Apr. '21): "The Principles of My Gospel"

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 About a month before he was sustained as an apostle, Elder Bednar-- then a member of the Seventy-- presided at our stake conference and during a priesthood leadership meeting, he discussed the difference between doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel.  I have referred back to what I learned that day repeatedly in determining my own course of action and to guide my priesthood service and leadership.  As a result, this talk has special meaning for me. 

The Activity:

  1. Make sure everyone has access to a copy of the talk in either physical or digital form.
  2. Before class, write the following questions on the board:
    1. What is (not) a gospel principle?
    2. Who do gospel principles apply to?
    3. When do gospel principles apply?
    4. Where do gospel principles come from?
    5. How does a gospel principle look in action?
    6. Why does Father work through principles?
    7. What blessings come from principles?
  3. Ask the class members to search Elder Bednar's talk from passages that answer each of these questions.
    1. Possible answers below (although there are most likely multiple answers for many, or all, of these questions).
      1. Par. 5 "Stated succinctly, a . . . the covenant path"
      2. Par. 31 "Gospel principles are . . . they have testified?"
      3. Par. 15 "He explained, 'I . . . their related principle.'"
      4. Par. 5 "Stated succinctly, a . . . the covenant path."
      5. Par. 15 "He explained, 'I . . . their related principle.'"
      6. Par. 11 "Learning, understanding, and . . . experiences of mortality."
      7. Par. 11 "Learning, understanding, and . . . experiences of mortality."
  4. As an answer is found, discuss as a class and encourage the class members to continue looking for other places that also answer the question.  

Using the Activity:

This activity is really designed to push the class members back to the talk and Elder Bednar's exact words.  The power of this teaching can extend to not only how we act in our own lives, but also the ways in which we judge others and their choices.  So, I hope that this deep dive into what might be considered the minutiae of the topic can be a springboard into a deep understanding and application to our lives.

God bless, and I hope that this activity proved to be helpful.   

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