The following is an excerpt from Elder David A. Bednar's new book, One by One.
The first experience I had on an assignment as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred on the weekend following my call to serve, my sustaining in general conference, and my ordination and setting apart. I traveled to a city in the United States to preside at a stake conference and was greeted at the airport by the stake president. As he and I were driving from the airport to the stake center and talking about the conference, I asked him the following question, “President, why do you think the Lord sent the newest member of the Twelve to your stake this weekend?”
He responded, “I really have no idea.”
I then said, “Well, I do not know either. I am new at this. I believe you will know the answer to that question before I do. So, just as soon as you figure it out, please let me know.”
We were approximately halfway to the stake center when the president turned to me and said, “Elder Bednar, I think I may know one of the reasons why the Lord sent you to this stake this weekend.”
I requested, “Please, tell me.”
He explained, “I have a brother who joined the Church five years ago. He is struggling with a specific challenge. Would you be willing to visit with him?”
I replied, “I would be happy to.”
An appointment was arranged, and after the Saturday evening session of conference I went to the high council room, where the stake president’s brother was waiting for me. I entered the room having given no prior thought to what I would say or do. The man stood up. I greeted him and shook his hand. I introduced myself and said, “Two days ago I was ordained and set apart to be an authorized representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Savior sent me to this stake this weekend to deliver a specific message to you: You can do this. As His servant, I promise you will have His help to face this challenge and overcome it.”
I embraced him. We talked for several minutes. I gave the man my contact information and invited him to update me periodically about his progress. We walked together out of the high council room after a brief but edifying experience.
The stake president may have believed that this divinely orchestrated encounter was intended primarily to bless and benefit his brother. But as I reflected repeatedly on this experience, I realized the Lord had provided me with one of the most impactful learning opportunities I could ever receive. I had been sent to represent and speak for the Lord in delivering a message to the stake president’s brother. And the method of delivery was one by one.
Christ Knows Us by Name
One of the important lessons I have learned during my years of service as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that the Lord knows each of us individually and loves each of us infinitely. He knows us one by one and name by name.
As I have traveled throughout the world on the Lord’s errand, I have felt an increasing dissatisfaction with human language to adequately describe the breadth, the depth, the comprehensiveness, and the eternal importance of the things I have been blessed to observe, to learn, and to feel. I do not know and cannot comprehend how God divinely and simultaneously orchestrates so many spiritually vital encounters in the lives of people all over the world. But I know that He does.
“[His] thoughts are not [our] thoughts, neither are [our] ways [His] ways, saith the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [His] ways higher than [our] ways, and [His] thoughts than [our] thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
I am a witness to an overwhelming abundance of “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). And I joyfully declare God lives, He knows each of us, and He loves us.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell frequently taught that, as we invite Him, the Lord is involved in the details of our lives.
“So it is, amid the vastness of His creations, God’s personal shaping influence is felt in the details of our lives—not only in the details of the galaxies and molecules but, much more importantly, in the details of our own lives. Somehow God is providing these individual tutorials for us while at the same time He is overseeing cosmic funerals and births, for as one earth passes away so another is born (see Moses 1:38). It is marvelous that He would attend to us so personally in the midst of those cosmic duties. . . .
“Be assured that God is in the details and in the subtleties of the defining and preparatory moments of discipleship. He will reassure you. He will remind you. Sometimes, if you’re like me, He will brace or reprove you in a highly personal process not understood or appreciated by those outside the context” (“Becoming a Disciple,” Ensign, June 1996).
In this book, Elder David A. Bednar offers a compelling lookat a pattern the Lord uses to bless His people: He works with us on an individual basis, one by one. Demonstrating that pattern as it occurs throughout the scriptures, in the lives of many Church leaders, and in his own ministry, Elder Bednar invites us to open our hearts to the Lord's love. He also teaches that by ministering as the Savior does, one by one, we can be more powerful instruments in His hands to accomplish His purposes.
One Is at the Heart of the Atonement
I began this [article] by describing an experience I had during my first weekend assignment as a member of the Twelve and the lesson that was reinforced for me about the Lord’s pattern of ministering one by one. I conclude this [article] by recounting an experience I had recently while traveling home from another weekend assignment.
My companion for this weekend was a newly called General Authority Seventy. Customarily, the new Brethren have a series of training activities with members of the Twelve. And we had spent the weekend together listening, observing, teaching, testifying, training, and answering questions with members and priesthood and auxiliary leaders. We enjoyed a marvelous weekend serving together.
As we were scheduled to sit in adjacent seats on our flight home, we both looked forward to reviewing, debriefing, and discussing the events of the weekend. The trip provided a perfect opportunity for us to talk about the things we had observed and learned and to identify ways we could improve.
As I boarded the plane, the gate attendant informed me that my seat assignment had been changed. A mechanical problem with the aircraft on which we originally were scheduled to fly had necessitated a change of equipment, and the new plane on which we would be flying had a different seat configuration. Thus, my seat was altered. I also learned I would not be seated next to my General Authority Seventy companion. As I walked down the boarding ramp, I determined I would simply ask a person on the flight to switch seats with me so my companion and I could sit together and productively use our time.
As I settled into my seat on the plane, I began looking for the person whom I might invite to switch seats. However, I felt constrained and did not act. I simply had a sense that I should wait and see what would happen.
A few minutes later a woman made her way to her seat next to me and sat down. Without saying a word, she stowed her carry-on bag and other belongings and quickly put on her headphones. I initially thought the woman intended to hunker down on this late-night flight and immerse herself in her digital device. And yet, I still felt I should not attempt to change seats. As we taxied to the runway for takeoff, I retrieved a folder from my briefcase and began reviewing materials and making notes for an upcoming presentation I was scheduled to make.
Approximately thirty minutes later, the woman seated next to me took off her headphones and said, “Elder Bednar, I have been reluctant to disturb you. I know people are always asking you questions or seeking your advice, and I did not want to bother you. But do you mind if I ask you a question?”
We spent nearly two hours talking about a vexing problem through which this sister was attempting to work. She finally looked at me and said, “Thank you for talking with me, but I have taken too much of your time. I need to let you get back to your work.”
I then suggested to her that in the work of the Lord there is no such thing as a coincidence, and we were seated next to each other on that flight for a reason. I testified that God knew her name and was aware of her personal circumstances and concerns. “In fact,” I said to her, “the very purpose for my trip across the country this weekend may have been to be on this plane at this time so we could have this conversation. I believe that is why our seats were changed.” As our plane landed in Salt Lake City, I again bore my witness to this good sister that the Lord would guide, direct, and inspire her.
Was it merely a coincidence that this woman and I ended up seated next to each other on that flight? Or was this episode divinely orchestrated by a loving Redeemer who knew and responded to the apprehensions and fears of a faithful woman—a one? I believe that in the work of the Lord there is no such thing as a coincidence. The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
Elder M. Russell Ballard noted: “I believe that if we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children is generally achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others” (The Atonement and the Value of One Soul,” Ensign, May 2004).
The fundamental pattern of one by one that is inherent in the Lord’s work is His, it is real, and it blesses each of us.
Lead image from lds.org
In this book, Elder David A. Bednar offers a compelling lookat a pattern the Lord uses to bless His people: He works with us on an individual basis, one by one. Demonstrating that pattern as it occurs throughout the scriptures, in the lives of many Church leaders, and in his own ministry, Elder Bednar invites us to open our hearts to the Lord's love. He also teaches that by ministering as the Savior does, one by one, we can be more powerful instruments in His hands to accomplish His purposes.
