After tackling some tricky questions at the National Press Club just a few weeks ago, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was invited to do a very different—maybe even polar opposite—interview with a much friendlier, much cuter, news correspondent.
8-year-old East Idaho News correspondent, Emmy Eaton, sat down at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Administration Building with Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar for an interview in her series “7 Questions with Emmy.” And the questions asked and answers given did not disappoint.
Early on in her interview, Emmy asked the Bednars what they love most about being grandparents, and Elder Bednar was eager to share his answer first.
“I love to introduce our grandchildren … to ice cream. … And when I’m with them, they can have all they want whenever they want. And they love me! … And Emmy, they think I’m the greatest grandpa who ever lived.”
According to Emmy’s very thoroughly research questions, Elder Bednar is often called Grandpa Ice Cream by his grandkids. When Emmy asked if Sister Bednar had a nickname, Sister Bednar said, “I’m just called Grandma, and lots of people are called Grandma. … But maybe I should be Grandma Potato Chip or something.”
Further discussion of ice cream led Emmy to ask about their favorite flavors. “My favorite flavor is whatever ice cream I’m eating right now,” Elder Bednar responded. “I’m not very picky. But if I get to choose, I’ll have one scoop of vanilla and one scoop of chocolate.”
Later, Emmy went on to ask if they had ever seen a miracle.
”Yes! We think of miracles as gigantic,” Elder Bednar shared. “We watch movies and we see Moses parting the Red Sea and we think, ‘Oh that’s a miracle.’ But I saw a miracle today in one of the meetings I was participating in. Last weekend I had an assignment and a woman spoke in stake conference. If you know her background and you watched what she did, it was a miracle bigger than the parting of the Red Sea. But it might seem kind of quiet to a lot of people. So the answer is yes. This is the Savior’s restored Church, and miracles happen every day if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.”
As a loyal East Idaho News correspondent, naturally Emmy asked the Bednars about their favorite parts about living in Idaho and their favorite ways to eat potatoes. Sister Bednar said her favorite part about living in Idaho was the people. Her mother was raised not far from Rexburg, so she had relatives nearby that she reconnected with when they lived there. “I don’t miss the wind, but I miss the people.” She also favors a good baked potato “loaded up with everything that sounds good.” Elder Bednar said he has two favorite potatoes: he also loves the loaded baked potatoes he has with Sister Bednar for dinner, but he also really loves french fries.
In one of her bonus questions, Emmy asked the Bednars what they like to do in their free time.
“Can you explain what free time is?” Elder Bednar laughed. “I’m trying to be funny. We don’t have a lot of free time! But when we do, if it’s the wintertime, Sister Bednar and I like to go snow skiing. If it’s the spring or summertime, I like to play golf … and Sister Bednar will come in the golf cart with me, and we talk and we giggle and we laugh.”
When Elder Bednar shared that he has an assignment in Idaho later this year, Emmy invited him to visit her Primary class.
“I’ll see what we can do,” Elder Bednar smiled.
You can watch the full 14-minute interview video and see Emmy’s full list of questions on EastIdahoNews.com.
