25 years later, the Bednars reflect on surprise announcement that changed Rexburg forever
Published at | Updated at
REXBURG — When David A. Bednar learned that Ricks College would become a four-year university, the announcement was so unexpected that he thought it could just as easily have been a decision to shut the school down.
Bednar and his wife, Susan Bednar, were serving as president and first lady of Ricks College in June 2000 when President Gordon B. Hinckley, then-leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, announced the school would make the change.
School administrators, faculty and staff worked speedily to make the transition happen, and by August 2001, changes were in place.
Brigham Young University-Idaho has spent the past several months celebrating its 25th anniversary, with festivities culminating in Spirit Week activities this past week.
The Bednars spoke at a special devotional Thursday evening and sat down with EastIdahoNews.com on Friday, where Elder David Bednar, now a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, reflected on the timing of Hinckley’s announcement.
“I honestly do not know (why he announced it when he did), other than he was nudged from heaven,” Bednar said. “I would have expected him to say, ‘We’re going to shut it down,’ or ‘We’re out of this business.’ That wouldn’t have been overly surprising to me, given the worldwide responsibilities of the church.”
Susan Bednar believes Hinckley had confidence in her husband and what he could accomplish, and although they both felt the announcement was “stunning,” David Bednar said he feels the right people were in place to make it happen.
“I don’t think it had anything to do with me,” he said. “I think it was the right time with the total package of people who were here on the campus at the time. It was just the Lord’s timing.”
A quarter-century later, the couple said they were struck by how much the university has grown while still holding on to the foundation established during those early years.
“We were young when we first came here, and now we’re old,” Susan Bednar said with a smile. “It’s been enjoyable to see what’s happened and the seeds that were planted here keep moving. … It’s changed in some ways, but it’s been good changes. It’s heartwarming to come back here and see what was initially formed.”
The Bednars point to the university’s willingness to innovate and adapt, saying its freedom from some traditional academic constraints has helped it evolve.
“The rate of innovation on this campus is remarkable,” David Bednar said. “The increasing capability and competence in the people that are here and the increased spirituality — I think it will grow like gangbusters.”
For the Bednars, the university’s impact goes beyond buildings, programs and enrollment. Their connection to Rexburg and eastern Idaho has stayed with them since he was called as an apostle, and as they’ve traveled to more than 110 countries over the past 22 years.
“I think of this statement all the time: ‘You can take a woman out of Star Valley’ — where I grew up — ‘but you can’t take Star Valley out of a woman,'” Susan Bednar said. “I think that about BYU-Idaho. You can take a woman out of BYU-Idaho, but you can’t take the BYU-Idaho out of the woman.”
David Bednar added that the university will always be a part of his heart.
“This is a sacred and set-apart place,” he said. “The lessons that we learned and the associations that were developed here travel with us now all over the world. … This is one of the greatest experiences of our lives.”
Watch our entire interview with the Bednars in the video player above.