During the past 17 years that he has served as an Apostle, Elder David A. Bednar has traveled around the world. And while his travels have been extensive, this week he and his wife, Susan, visited somewhere new: the country of Jordan.
The Bednars may have been in a new place with a new culture, but their testimonies of finding hope through Jesus Christ are applicable to every country on earth.
“You can look around in the world and say, ‘Oh, this is getting’ hard.’ And you shouldn’t be afraid of that because you are not alone. And if you are one of the covenant people of the Lord you will be armed with righteousness and with a power of God in great glory. In the midst of all the turmoil, you will have peace. You will have hope,” Elder Bednar told a group of about 100 Latter-day Saints and friends of the faith in Amman, Jordan, on October 22, 2021.
Sister Bednar added, “I feel the hand of the Lord in my life when I have difficulties and trials… I feel the hand the Lord blessing me and strengthening me and helping me with strength beyond my own.”
Elder Bednar made a point of expressing his love for those gathered to listen. He said, "When I say, 'I love you,' those aren't just words—we have traveled halfway around the world to be here with you today." According to Newsroom, the last time an Apostle visited Jordan was over four years ago. The people in attendance for the Bednar’s remarks expressed gratitude for the visit.
“We are so lucky to have Elder Bednar here in Jordan. We hope to see him again,” said Latter-day Saint Juliet Haddad. Hadded’s husband, Nash’at, serves as elder’s quorum president in the branch in Amman. Of Elder Bednar’s remarks Nash’at said, “The main thing that touched my heart is the Book of Mormon is not a history book, it is a future book… when I look for answers to my questions, I can find it in the Book of Mormon.”
Read more about Elder and Sister Bednar’s historic visit at Newsroom. More coverage of their weeklong ministry to the Middle East and Africa is forthcoming.
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Also see Elder Bednar's Facebook post about his time in Jordan below.
▶ You may also like: What Sister Bednar taught me about the active role of an Apostle's wife during our conversation on the Face to Face
