REXBURG, Idaho — "As Sister Bednar and I prepare to leave this special place, we are not going to say goodbye. A goodbye suggests a parting, a concluding, and perhaps an ending. And we simply do not view our departure as any of those things," said Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve during a devotional assembly at BYU-Idaho Nov. 16.
This was possibly the last time Elder Bednar addressed the students here as president of BYU-Idaho, a position he has held since 1997. He was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve during general conference on Oct. 2. During the devotional assembly, Elder Bednar introduced the new interim president of the Church-owned university, Robert M. Wilkes, who will officially take the reins Dec. 1. (Please see accompanying article.)
"My heart rejoices in the blessing that President Wilkes and his good wife, Estella, will be to this campus as they serve," Elder Bednar said. "First of all, President Wilkes is what he is because of his wife. She is a stalwart, faithful and remarkable woman — as you will quickly come to know. Brother Wilkes has long been regarded on this campus as one of the finest teachers who has ever been.
"Can you feel the correctness of what has taken place with the appointment of President and Sister Wilkes?" Elder Bednar added.
In his devotional address, Elder Bednar focused on three topics: remembering and joyful memories, thanking and heartfelt appreciation, and declaring his apostolic witness.
By way of tradition, BYU-Idaho students hold their scriptures in the air at weekly devotional assemblies to show they are ready to be taught the word of God. Elder Bednar explained the reason behind the outward symbol of inward preparation that he began seven years ago upon his arrival as the 14th president of the university.
"I choked with emotion as I watched you hold up your scriptures today. You may wonder, 'Why does Elder Bednar always have us raise our scriptures?' The answer is simple. Our study and use of the scriptures is an invitation to receive revelation and be tutored by the Holy Ghost," said Elder Bednar.
"I served my mission in southern Germany. In those days new missionaries went to Salt Lake City and spent one week in the mission home before going to the language training center. Each day while at the mission home, we received instruction from members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. During the course of my week in the mission home, the other missionaries and I had an opportunity to be instructed on the fifth floor of the Salt Lake Temple by President Harold B. Lee, then the first counselor in the First Presidency. During that training session, President Lee invited us to ask questions. For two hours he answered every single question with a reference from the scriptures or simply said, 'I do not know.'
"That experience had a huge impact on me. I began to catch a glimpse of how we should come to know and understand and use the scriptures," Elder Bednar said.
"So what you have never known is that each time we hold up our scriptures in a devotional, I am reminded again of that experience with President Lee as he used the scriptures to answer the questions of brand-new missionaries."
He offered counsel from the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve, who taught about his battle with leukemia: "Not shrinking is more important than surviving."
Elder Bednar also taught the importance of following the prophet and expressed gratitude to God, his wife and family, President Hinckley, faculty and students.
In her remarks, Sister Susan Bednar spoke about the address given by her husband when he was inaugurated as the president of Ricks College. At the time he spoke of Nephi not knowing how to build a ship as the Lord had commanded him, but he went forward without question, learning the process along the way.
"I've relied on (President Bednar) as he's relied on the Lord," she said. She concluded with the admonition that BYU-Idaho be preserved as the special place the Lord has made it.
Elder Bednar concluded the devotional assembly by saying, "Everyone at BYU-Idaho is a teacher, and I am thankful for what each person has taught me." He counseled BYU-Idaho to keep the "Spirit of Ricks" alive.
He bore his testimony and reiterated the importance of not saying goodbye. He closed simply by saying, "God be with you till we meet again."
