The Powers of Heaven- David A. Bednar

My favorite talk from the April 2012 General Conference was David A. Bednar's address during the priesthood session entitled "The Powers of Heaven".  I'm sorry for those of you that missed it.  I would highly encourage both men and women to go back and read it over, or listen to it.  His address, although priesthood holders are his target audience, has principles and stories that can relate to women too. 
Around the middle of his talk he explains a life experience he had from the time he was a young boy, all the way through his teenage years.  He discusses how his father wasn't a member.  David pleaded with his father multiple times to join the church, but his father always responded by saying he wouldn't join until he knew it was right for him.  Although he wasn't a member, he still helped with scouting and came to church on a regular basis; to the point that many of the members thought he was a member too!  One day David asked his dad the same question, and he got a much different response.  David's dad asked him a question in response, it was:

     “Here is my question. Each week in priesthood meeting I listen to the bishop and the other   priesthood leaders remind, beg, and plead with the men to do their home teaching and to perform their priesthood duties. If your church truly has the restored priesthood of God, why are so many of the men in your church no different about doing their religious duty than the men in my church?”
     While David didn't have a response for his father at that time, his father later joined the church.  David had the opportunity to give both the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods to his dad.   He goes on to urge members of the church to become "examples of righteousness".  He tells us that if we are on the Lord's errand, he will strengthen us.
     Through this story and the rest of his talk, David does a great job in creating pathos in his audience.  When people here his story, often times they relate to at least part of it.  While many of us may not have grown up in a house in which the father wasn't a member, we all can probably think of times that we haven't been perfect "examples of righteousness", or shirked doing our callings or duties.
     Because of his incredible use of pathos through his talks, Elder Bednar is one of my favorite speakers.  I look forward to what he has to say every conference.  I strongly encourage a re-read, or a first read of "The Powers of Heaven".