Example of Education

Elder Bednar attended Brigham Young University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree I communication in 1976 and a Master of Arts degree in organizational communication in 1977.  He then received a Doctorate in organizational behavior from Purdue University in 1980.

Professional Resume

From 1980 to 1984, Bednar was the assistant professor of management in the Sam M. Walton College of Business (then College of Business Administration) at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas.   He became assistant professor of management at Texas Tech University  from 1984 to 1986. He then moved back to the University of Arkansas as the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the Sam M. Walton College of Business from 1987 to 1992 and was then the director of the Management Decision-Making Lab from 1992 to 1997. In 1994, he was recognized as the outstanding teacher at the University of Arkansas and received the Burlington Northern Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has twice been the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award in the College of Business Administration.

Bednar then served as the president of Ricks College/Brigham Young University–Idaho from 1997 to 2004 in Rexburg, Idaho. There, he oversaw and managed the transition of the school from, what was at the time, the largest private junior college in the United States, Ricks College, to a four year university, Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Called to Serve

David A. Bednar has dedicated his life to service.

 

1987- Bishop of the Fayetteville Ward

1987-1991- Stake President of the Fort Smith Arkansas Stake

1991-1995- Stake President of Rogers Arkansas Stake

1994-1995- Regional Representative

1997-2004- Area Seventy

 

Almost 9 years ago on October 7, 2004
David A. Bednar was ordained and set apart as a member of the
 Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   

 

This picture captures the emotions of  Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf as they took their seats among the Quorum of the Twelve after they were named apostles.

 

Elder Bednar said he recalled a "Sesame Street" song as he sat alongside his fellow apostles in the Conference Center for the first time.

"As the names were presented (for sustaining vote), I Iistened to Hinckley, Monson, Faust, Packer and Perry . . . Those all seemed to fit together until they got to Bednar. And that's the name that seems like was the one 'not like the others.' "