Nearly 100 journalists met Elder David A. Bednar at the National Press Club on Thursday, May 26, 2022, and his response to some of the toughest questions that reporters could ask were astute, bold and full of the Spirit as he clearly gave his witness that Jesus Christ heads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In this professional and possibly critical environment, he was courteous but direct as he answered more than a dozen question. As such, it is a model for all of us about how to talk about the truth we know without cowering or defensiveness.
For instance, he was asked, “Can you talk about the decision to really emphasize the full name of the Church as opposed to calling yourself Mormon or LDS Church?
Elder Bednar answered, ““I think that President Russell M. Nelson will be known forever as a man of remarkable courage to say we will no longer use a nickname, pejoratively attached to our Church by our enemies, anymore. And we’re inviting other people to call us what we are called: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You know, we live in a world where everybody is offended about almost everything. And we don’t take offense. We just ask people to respect what to us is very sacred. The name of the church was revealed. We didn’t have a task force and test it with focus groups. It was revealed by the head of the Church, who is Jesus Christ. And we simply are asking people to respect that and call us what we are.”
See a part of the question and answer here:
Doris WilliamsJune 1, 2022
Elder Bednar really hit it out of the park with this address to the press. My heart just swelled with his perfect answers to difficult questions, leaving no doubt as to the church's position and the reality that Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Mr Courageous, Mr. Articulate, A true Apostle of Jesus Christ.