SALT LAKE CITY — Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve, was one of the final speakers in the Sunday afternoon session. He chose to direct his talk to those viewers who were not members of the Church, addressing the question of why Latter-day Saints were so eager to explain their beliefs and give missionary invitations.
He focused on two important reasons, a divine commission and a desire to share something that was important to them.
“The Church of Jesus Christ always has been and always will be a missionary Church,” Elder Bednar explained. “The individual members of the Savior’s Church have accepted the solemn obligation to assist in fulfilling the divine commission given by the Lord to his Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament.”
He went on to say that members do not receive benefits or special treatment for their invitations but instead feel a solemn responsibility to carry the message of the restored gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.
His second reason was explained through a story involving two of his sons. In the story he describes how the two boys were playing outside, and one got a minor cut on his arm. The older brother proceeded to take his younger sibling into the house and cover his arm in ointment and bandages. Upon seeing how much better his cut felt with these, the younger son proceeded to return outside and share his remaining ointment and bandages with his friends.
“Many of us adults behave in precisely the same way when we find a treatment or medication that alleviates pain with which we have long suffered,” Elder Bednar explained. “Sharing with other people things that are most meaningful to us or have helped us is not unusual at all.”
He went on to describe how Lehi, in the Book of Mormon, had a vision that brought him joy; his instant desire was to share that joy with his family.
“Absolute truth exists in a world that increasingly disdains and dismisses absolutes,” Elder Bednar said. He finished by inviting those to whom he spoke to “come and see,” as Jesus invited in the New Testament.
