In-depth interview with LDS apostle David A. Bednar and wife Susan

Twenty years ago this summer, David and Susan Bednar began a journey that would change the course of their lives forever.

David had been teaching at the University of Arkansas in the College of Business Administration, but decided to move with Susan and their three sons to Rexburg, where he would become the 14th president of Ricks College.

At the time, Ricks was the largest private junior college in the United States with an enrollment of nearly 9,000 students. David knew there would be some challenges in his position, but had no idea what was going to occur over the next eight years.

Ricks College would transition into Brigham Young University-Idaho. The number of students, faculty and staff would explode. New facilities would be built, educational programs would expand, Rexburg would experience tremendous growth, and, capping off a historical presidency, David’s tenure would suddenly end as he was called to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Bednars recently sat down with EastIdahoNews.com for a rare in-depth interview about their time at BYU-Idaho, the call that changed their lives and a variety of other issues.

Elder Bednar recalls many challenges during his presidency at Ricks — some of which are still fresh in his mind.

One of the earliest challenges was the announcement that the Jacob Spori building, the oldest structure on campus, would need to be torn down and rebuilt.

Go to EastIdahoNews.com for the full story.