REXBURG— Jon Linford is retiring next week and ending his time as the academic vice president of BYU-Idaho. After 21 years at BYU-Idaho he is enjoying his last devotional as a faculty member from the podium, rather than from the audience.
While pondering what to share in his devotional address, Linford reflected on his time working for BYU-Pathway. During one meeting, he met with Elder Jeffery R. Holland and other church leaders. There Elder Holland spoke of conversion and taught from Romans chapter 8, encouraging all in attendance to study the chapter.
“I went back and read it and was so fascinated by it, I actually committed it to memory and did a lot a pretty in-depth study of it, and it really was a life-changing experience for me,” Linford said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio. “So, I thought that would be a good thing to share with the students and employees here at BYU-Idaho.”
In Romans 8, Paul teaches about the flesh vs the spirit. The flesh is the natural man and does not strive to please God through obedience, but disciples can turn their spirits to Christ and overcome trials.
“We do not suddenly and immediately overcome all of our weaknesses,” Linford said. “Rather, being on the covenant path allows the work of conversion to operate.”
In his devotional, Linford taught that through prayer and effort students can receive help from the Lord when on the covenant path.
“Christ overcame the world, its pain and suffering, its challenges and temptations,” Linford said. “He took upon himself our sins, then died to pay the price for them, then vanquished death and became the first fruits of the resurrection. Thus, He brings us a Godly power that is beyond anything we could do on our own.”