Elder Bednar and the Narrative Theory

Elder Bednar's narrative on work was written from lifetime's worth of experiences, and so is ours!

On January 23, 2024, David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave a devotional speech to the student body of Brigham Young University, and he talked about WORK.

What does the word “work” mean to you?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, work is “activity involving physical or mental effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.”

How did Elder Bednar describe work?

He gave a few definitions, from “the specific actions and activities that are necessary to do or to make something”, to “God’s overarching purpose” to “a result of goal to be accomplished”. He provided a few scriptural examples of work, including the Creation, Nephi building a ship, and missionaries embarking on a journey to preach the gospel.

It is clear that the word “work” has a positive, even sacred meaning to him when he said:

“Every facet of God’s work is designed to bless His sons and daughters.”

Ultimately, he sees and describes work as a means toward eternal progression. Above all else, it is a blessing. “[It] is love made manifest.”

This view of the word “work” may seem different from the rest of the world’s definition. Some see it as a burden. Others, a necessity to survival. Others thrive off of and become obsessed with it. But very few would consider it a sacred, godly thing.

What accounts for all these differences in the meaning of work among individuals and cultures? 

Here’s where the narrative theory comes in. The narrative theory describes "a basic human strategy for coming to terms with fundamental elements of our experience, such as time, process, and change.”

Elder Bednar’s views of work- what it is, why it is important, how it affects us- have been shaped and influenced by his beliefs and experiences. And like Elder Bednar, we all use our beliefs and experiences to interpret and create a story of the world around us. We then communicate this story to others in various ways, through words and behavior.

Think about Elder Bednar’s life experiences. After serving a full-time mission, attending college at BYU, getting married, raising children, pursuing graduate degrees, leading a successful career in education, spending time as president of BYU-Idaho, and being an apostle for 20 years, I’d say he knows a thing or two about work. His experiences have clearly built up this narrative as he shared it with the students at BYU.

But it’s not just Elder Bednar’s personal experiences that have influenced him. We share crucial experiences by being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and as such, our values and beliefs are similar to his. As a people, we encourage others to work, get an education, and be resourceful and successful. Having been founded by pioneers, the state of Utah’s emblem is a beehive, and its motto is “Industry.” We are known for being dedicated and hard workers thanks to the doctrine of the plan of salvation and agency.

Indeed, our narrative of work is different from the rest of the world, and we are known for it.

How have your life experiences influenced the way you communicate to others, not just about work, but a wide variety of things, such as love, education, money, travel, and family? 

Elder Bednar has given us an example of someone who tells his story through his inspiring, Christ-like actions and his powerful words.

So what kind of story do you want to tell the world?

Sources:

"'Consider the Wondrous Works of God' (Job 37:14)", Bednar, David A. (23 January 2024).

What is narrative theory?. What is Narrative Theory? | Project Narrative. (2024). https://projectnarrative.osu.edu/about/what-is-narrative-theory

Communication / General, I. C. (2023a, September 15). The narrative paradigm. Communication Theory. https://www.communicationtheory.org/the-narrative-paradigm/