Mormon apostle Bednar says having older leaders is a ‘blessing’

David A. Bednar, who was, until Saturday's appointments of new apostles, the youngest man in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, defended the LDS Church's reliance on men of advancing age.

"During my years of service, the average age of the men serving in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has been 77 years," Bednar said as Sunday's concluding General Conference speaker, "the oldest average age of the apostles over an 11-year interval in this dispensation."

This comes just after the deaths of three apostles — L. Tom Perry, 92, Boyd K. Packer, 90, and Richard G. Scott, 86 — and amid the ailing health of Robert D. Hales and church President Thomas S. Monson, himself "feeling the effects of advancing age," as the church has noted, and who struggled at the end of his sermon Sunday. He appeared to grow weak as his voice trailed off. He finished his talk and was helped to his seat.

Despite these leaders' ill health, Bednar said, he has been "blessed" by their "collective apostolic, ecclesiastical, personal, and professional experience and insight."

Their limitations may actually have become "remarkable sources of spiritual learning," the 63-year-old apostle said. "The very factors many may believe limit the effectiveness of these servants can become some of their greatest strengths. Physical restrictions can expand vision. Limited stamina can clarify priorities. Inability to do many things can direct focus to the things of greatest importance."

Some have argued that the church should replace aging apostles with "younger, more vigorous leaders ... to address effectively the serious challenges of our modern world," Bednar said. "But the Lord does not use contemporary philosophies and practices of leadership to accomplish his purposes."

He expects that top Mormon leaders "always will be older and spiritually seasoned men."

The three new apostles are in their early 60s.