Elder Bednar addresses BYU following student’s fall
Susan Bednar and David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speak with one another before David Bednar gives a devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
BYU President Kevin J Worthen pauses while speaking about an attempted suicide on campus during the introduction for Elder David A. Bednar's devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
A Brigham Young University student prays during Elder David A. Bednar's devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Students enter the Marriott Center for David A. Bednar's, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, devotional on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gives a devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Attendees of David A. Bednar's devotional sing "Joy to the World" at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
The Brigham Young University's Men Chorus performs during Elder David A. Bednar's devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gives a devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
From left, Susan Bednar, Elder David A. Bednar, Peggy S. Worthen, and BYU President Kevin J Worthen speak with one another after Bednar's devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gives a devotional at the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Susan Bednar enter the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Provo.
David A. Bednar noted the somber mood at Brigham Young University Tuesday afternoon following a student’s attempted suicide on campus the day before.
Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelves Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began his devotional, titled “That They Might Have Joy,” by acknowledging BYU’s “understandably subdued spirit.” He said he had thought about the campus and the student involved without ceasing since learning of it.
A 19-year-old student was transported to Utah Valley Hospital Monday morning with critical injuries after falling four stories in the N. Eldon Tanner Building. The building was later shut down and the classes inside were cancelled for the day. Hundreds of students were inside at the time of the fall.
Counseling services were also made available for students, and faculty were asked to be sensitive about the incident.
While introducing Bednar, BYU President Kevin Worthen, who fought tears, expressed his personal sympathy and said his prayers go out to those who were affected, especially the student’s family. He urged students to be more aware of and caring for the wellbeing of every person in their community.
Bednar said that Jesus Christ will take upon pains and sicknesses. He stressed the importance of the campus’ weekly devotionals and said students should take advantage of them.
“Devotionals constitute an important class at BYU that no one should miss,” Bednar said.
He contrasted joy, which he said was righteous, and fun, which comes from wordly amusement. Bednar said while fun is fleeting, joy is a condition that comes from righteous living and is a state of being and becoming.
“Joy primarily is spiritual,” Bednar said. “Fun is primarily temporal.”
He said Christ is the only source of enduring joy, and that joy endures in both good and bad times due to knowledge of the plan of salvation and of the atonement. He said enduring joy is available to every member of the LDS Church and encouraged students to appreciate the gift of joy especially at Christmastime.
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