Bednar got away with it! Right in front of everyone!
The audience was laughing--and the poor little boy was crying!
This is a great example of the many instances of "tough love" and "discipline" and "lessons in humility" I have seen meted out by priesthood-holders in the Primary and Scouts. The Moron men use the same soft genlte voice, and almost effeminite demeanor, and they pretend they are giving their lesson in a loving, almost fatherly way--yet they are cruel!
The audience was sucked into Bednar's phony act. The little boy had the NORMAL reaction. He knew. Often, little kids can't be fooled. This was being done to him, and it made him cry, while the Mormons laughed. It was inappropriate, but the adults had been raised that way, to the point to worshipping Bednar as being a Wise Man of God, instead of a power-seeking bully.
(Does this sound familiar? Posturing, low-intelligence bullies being revered in high positions of authority?)
I was genuinely shocked the first time I saw this. I don't remember where I was on the road to recovery, but I found this business with Bednar to be loathsome.