Life Story of a Filmmaker, Author and Teacher
This profile will help you understand the personality, talent and capabilities that now brings you a Pathway to Peace, the remarkable program created by John Linton.
The knowledge and teachings of Mr. Linton reflected in the Pathway to Peace collection of dozens of videos, books and live events were amassed through a lifetime of experiences, learning and teaching.
The development of many of the writings and concepts began over 25 years ago, and the creation of the videos and worksheets available now have been refined over the last eight years.
The story of Mr. Linton is presented in chronological order with pictures that paint a clear picture of this unique individual.
Under the banner of Linton Productions, John Linton with his partner Steve Aubrey produced several short films for the LDS church including segments that appeared in various Temple Visitors Centers.
Linton edited What Makes Mormons Run featuring famous broadcaster Paul Harvey. This short spirited film of Mormon athletes was
widely used as a
missionary tool.
They produced films for the University of Utah, the state of Utah, and various other businesses and institutions. They were published in many newspapers.
More Awards
Additional accolades came their way for work done previously at BYU and by Linton Productions: These include:
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First Place Advertising Award, Utah Advertising Federation, 1976
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The Chris Bronze Plaque, Columbus Ohio Film Festival, 1977;
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Certificate of Commendation, Anzaas, International Science Film Exhibition, Australia and New Zealand, 1978;
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First Place Small Business, Days of ’47 Parade, Salt Lake City, 1979
Linton Productions was Everywhere with Camera and Script
It is the story of a struggling but visionary writer, filmmaker and educator. His life was filled with belief, toil, struggle, and mistakes amidst huge leaps forward with sometimes frightening setbacks.
The Beginning Years
In 1945, John Linton was born in Murray, Utah, and raised in nearby Holladay. As a youngster he was very passionate about photography and filmmaking.
With the inspiration of English high school teacher Nell Madsen, he developed proficiency in writing for meaning. The skills he acquired in the visual and written media have influenced his work for a lifetime.
While a student at Olympus Junior High School he bought his first professional camera, a twin lens reflex, and in high school he bought his first professional movie camera, a 16mm Bolex.
John Linton graduated from Granite High School in Salt Lake City in 1963, then completed one year of art studies at the University of Utah. He then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years in the Northwestern States Mission.
After his mission, he enrolled at Brigham Young University where he studied journalism.
These experiences gave Mr. Linton an undeniable sensitivity to the human aspects of life.
In addition, his back- ground in education gave him a solid understanding
In 1967 John married Blanch Yardley from Beaver, Utah, and began building a family.
Drafted into the Army
Upon graduation with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he
was drafted into the United States Army where he eventually served as a Chaplain’s Assistant in the Post Hospital at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri.
With three children, a growing family and meager income, he was granted a hardship discharge from the army.
of the visual application of writing from which he created numerous scripts and motion pictures.
A Professional Filmmaker
Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he was hired by KBYU-TV at Brigham Young University to produce documentaries for the Public Broadcasting Service.
Here he is next to the camera as he is producing and directing The Great Dinosaur Discovery, where the remains of the worlds's largest dinosauar were unearthed.
He is interviewing Dr. James A. Jensen wearing his pith helmet as he explains his discovery that drew international attention. More than just a documentary, the film told the story of a man and the passion for his work, Dr. Jensen, a vertebrate paleontologist from BYU.
An Award Winner
Linton and BYU won numerous awards for that production along with wide recognition as a filmmaker.
While working for Brigham Young University, Mr. Linton helped make other movies including topics important to Native Americans. Tomorrow’s Yesterdays and Not With an Empty Quiver were two 30 minute films.
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He received the only two "Production Awards" ever offered by the BYU Division of Instructional Services, in 1971 and 1972.
These were for The Great Dinosaur Discovery and Barbershoppers, a delghtful film about singers riding down the track on an old-fashioned train.
Among other awards, Linton received;
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Special Recognition, Utah Speech Arts Association, 1973;
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First Place Film Documentary, Best of West Awards, San Francisco, 1973;
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Golden Eagle Award, Council on International Nontheatrical Events, Washington, D.C., 1975;
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Best Film of the Year Award, Learning Magazine, Palo Alto, California, 1975-76;
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Bronze Cindy, 1977 Chicago, Illinois.
Among other smaller projects, he produced and directed This Is My Work which dramatically featured how to effectively work with youth. This 30 minute film was distributed throughout the vast LDS church network.
Because of his unique ability to dramatize real events, he was asked to produce and direct Harvest of a Century, the showpiece film commemorating the 100 year anniversary of Brigham Young University.
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For that film he received a Certificate of Commendation.
He Was Laid-off from BYU
Ironically, John Linton was laid off from his work and employment at BYU. University cost overruns necessitated staff reductions.
He was told, “We are letting go of those who have the best chance of making it in the outside world.”
John Linton Started Anew
Mr. Linton founded Linton Productions and for $50 a graphic artist in Provo, Utah, created this timeless logo.
John Linton
They filmed in Utah, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and California.
John Linton’s interviewing skills and lens focused on such notables as:
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Governor Calvin Rampton of Utah;
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Mayor Sam Yorty of Los Angeles;
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Carl Albert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives;
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Spencer W. Kimball, President of the LDS Church;
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Best selling author Mark Victor Hansen,
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Actor Robert Redford;
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Coach Bill Sharman of the Los Angeles Lakers and
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TV personality Art Linkletter.
Below, the LINTON van is stuck in the sand along the shore of the the Great Salt Lake as they were making a documentary for the state of Utah featuring that unique inland sea.
One of the readers of the book 108 Mala Beads commented:
Well written, the book is filled with strategies to help anyone who is overcoming pain and uncertainty. It is a message of hope much needed in the world today. The author is a great storyteller. It's refreshing to read someone who is so totally honest, yet humble, loving and forgiving. Diane Merideth, Redding, California
The Creation of a Pathway to Peace
Based on his lifetime of experience, Mr. Linton conceptualized a Pathway to Peace. Mr. Linton’s wealth of knowledge and understanding has guided the development of books, video courses and worksheets that are key elements in this collection.
They worked in approximately 3000 classrooms, interacting with the most accomplished educators, psychologists, therapists and others that not only aided students, but the population in general.
The programs were sold worldwide. It is estimated that the impact of these hundreds of videos occurred in 4,000 school districts reaching 35,000 schools, impacting more than 800,000 educators and 70,000,000 students.
It is estimated there were 5.5 million video viewings, 28,000 learning groups and 110,000 forum postings as a result of their work.
The Video Journal received many Telly Awards for some of the programs that were completed. These
statuettes honor videos, not films. The judging
for these videos focused on production quality
creativity and effectiveness. The character in
the statuette is holding a traditional television.
The Video Journal of Education, which later
became The School Improvement Network, received numerous national awards for its products and services to educational institutions worldwide. In addition, the company had been given many awards for its technological advances and quality of video productions.
Although he never received an advanced college degree, he was nonetheless honored as if he had been a doctorate, such as the
welcoming sign displayed at Pineloch Elementary School in Orlando, Florida.
The title of “Dr.” is a big deal to an educational leader, and it was just assumed John Linton had that degree. It didn’t matter how many times he told the principal at Pineloch he was not a doctor, she nonetheless continued to introduce him to everyone as Dr. Linton.
The media of the time was film. Here, Mr. Linton is editing on a flatbed editor, in which various clips of film were moved through a viewer synchronized with sound.
He is editing Knocking at Heaven’s Door, a feature length film that played in theaters with minimal success. The movie was later distributed in VHS format by Excel Video out of New York City.
Up to this time, video production was only achieved in TV stations which gradually shifted from film to costly and monstrous cameras and video players.
Of the dozens of films produced at Linton Productions, John researched conceptualized, wrote the scripts, directed and edited the programs. Other partners and employees assisted in many ways.
Each program had a touching human element. As a father now with five children, he understood life in all of its challenges and stages.
With time, Linton Productions failed during the recession of 1980, when film production became an overly expensive low priority.
Big Career Shift to School Teacher
To support his family, John Linton accepted a teaching position at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah.
He taught 9th grade science and was dubiously honored as a monster in a drawing created by one of his students.
Mr. Linton was a beloved teacher as he taught, motivated and inspired his students. He continued to write and created a script for a full-length movie Perilous Journey which he produced, directed and edited while still a teacher. This was also distributed on VHS by Excel Video in New York City.
Through those early years of writing scripts and making films, he also wrote study guides, edited a college level textbook and wrote a novel.
A Winning Philosophy of Heart
Basic to his beliefs about media creation—whether the written word or visual presentation—is the heart: The human quality of passion, feeling, struggle and pain.
Every project must begin with a story, a story about some human experience, idea, triumph or suffering. Every story has a beginning, a middle and an end. The story need not be long, and the middle and end can sometimes be implied.
Every commercial, documentary, instructive piece, book or manual he produced had some facet of story with heart.
Even as a teacher, he shared many stories that touched upon the human experience. He often articulated the similarities of chemical bonding and laws of physics with successful relationships.
From Film to Video Production
While a teacher, Mr. Linton was asked by the Jordan School District administration to leave the classroom and produce professional development videos to be used throughout the district.
With the help of a talented editor in John Crossman, Mr. Linton learned to adapt from film to video.
Soon his production skills were discovered by nationally recognized educational leaders in Johnson City, New York.
Greater opportunities beckoned.
Always a calculated and careful risk-taker, he tells the story of when he and his former wife Blanch—who was also a school teacher—left the school district in 1987 to begin traveling and videotaping in schools throughout the United States. They withdrew their retirement funds to buy a camera and other production equipment.
One of the district administrators who held a high position, prestige, and a good salary asked of him:
“I’m envious of you.”
“Why?” John asked.
“It’s because you have the courage to go out on your own. I don’t have that kind of courage. How could I leave the security of working for the school district?”
“I don’t know,” John puzzled.
Walking away he wondered, how could he not do what he was doing? How could he ever feel good about himself hunkered under the security of the status quo, missing the opportunity of doing what he knew he could do, risky though it was.
That risk paid big dividends. The camera bought from retirement funds is now on display in his studio/museum. It paid for itself hundreds of times over.
Mr. Linton has always been inspired by the words of Theodore Roosevelt:
Far better it is to dare mighty things than to take rank with those poor timid spirits
who know neither victory nor defeat.
A National Phenomenon in Education
Mr. Linton and his wife, with the help of their partners in New York, launched The Video Journal of Education.
For the next 20 years, under the educational leadership of his wife, and the artistic skills of Mr. Linton, hundreds of videos on effective school practices were produced. The programs were available in sets of two, and were about 30 minutes in length. They videotaped in schools throughout the United States, Canada and other English-speaking countries.
Their first videos that received national recognition in 1990 were referred to by top educational leaders as having heart. Up to that time, educational videos were boring talking heads.
Besides having heart, all programs they produced were filled with substance, valid ideas and information regarding the topic at hand.
This quality is reflected in Mr. Linton's books, all of which are filled with stories, pictures and strategies amid well-organized prose.
He was closely associated with Dr. William Glasser, a world-famous psychiatrist, author and lecturer. Glasser declared that John Linton was his video producer.
Often Mr. Linton gave keynote addresses. One of his favorite stories to share was of a policeman who pulled him over for making an illegal U-turn. After the officer studied Linton’s driver's license for a moment, he looked through the window and asked,
“Are you Mr. Linton that taught at Alta?”
"Yes," he replied.
“Well, I can’t give my old science teacher a ticket!”
The Video Journals were endorsed repeatedly by the National Staff Development Council, NSDC. From that premier educational leadership organization, Mr. Linton received a certificate which read:
Certificate of Recognition for
Your Outstanding Presentation
December 6-10, 1997, Nashville, Tennessee
He received another certificate for his presentation July 16-19, 2006, at their Summer Conference in the nation’s capital.
John and Blanch Linton were honored as "Ambassadors of
Quality Learning" at that same NSDC conference in Washington, D.C.
John Linton Trained Everywhere
Subsequent to production, for several more years, John Linton was asked to train educators in the use of the videos he produced, helping teachers be better teachers. He traveled to all parts of the country, from Alaska to Florida and Hawaii to New York.
In 2016 John Linton married Norma Huerta, his biggest step on his Pathway to Peace.
He is greatly assisted by Norma who translates, is a key element in live trainings and has become an excellent videographer.
On stage John Linton entertains and informs, mixing powerful concepts with true stories that evoke humor and greater understanding of life’s challenges.
In powerful activities people join hands in learning.
Group activities reinforce understanding from the books books and videos. People are challenged to find relevance in their own lives.
Here he is being recorded by Norma for one of his informative videos.
John Linton’s vast experience in teaching and training over many years throughout the country makes his live events stimulating and life changing. They mix video with discourse and motivating activities.
Linton was told by a doctor, “You can go home and die, or stay at the hospital and receive a blood transfusion.”
He was there for a month and received eleven blood transfusions.
Mr. Linton never believed he was going to die and that he would live to reach his goal of becoming a centenarian at age 100.
He had some remarkable spiritual experiences while in the hospital that confirmed
the importance of what he was doing as a spouse, parent, grandparent, great-grandparent and friend to many.
And on a grand scale, the importance of what he was creating that is now offered in LintonMinute.com consisting of the numerous videos, books and live events he will host.
After many blessings and prayers, it is a miracle he not only survived but no longer needs medicine or treatment, although he is regularly monitored by a medical team.
He largely attributes his wellness to deep meditation, exercising, spiritual growth and an unmitigated positive belief that he will complete his earthly mission.
Before admittance to the hospital, Mr. Linton had not completed all the videos and books for the Pathway to Peace program. However, upon his discharge, he resumed the work of completion.
One of the closing segments in the video course offered in LintonMinute.com tells in detail the remarkable experience John had while in the hospital. As you watch it, you will be deeply touched and realize how important this program is.
Emails sent to the School Improvement Network Praising the Training of John Linton
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We have had a wonderful day with John Linton! He has been inspirational! I can’t thank you enough for making this training happen for us.
Shari Huene-Johnson,
Naples, Florida, November 3, 2009
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John, they said you were great and want you back for their follow-up training in October.
Michele Shampoe,
Houston, Texas, August 19, 2010
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They couldn’t say enough good things about the training and excitement created for her participants. They want John to return for future trainings. They were so glad to have him there.
Sandy Lynch,
Norfolk, Virginia, August 27, 2010
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I want you to know how much I enjoyed the training provided by John Linton. It brought clarity to our work and gave us beneficial and user-friendly ideas to share with the teachers and administrators in St. Lucie County.
Tina Ruybalid,
St. Lucie, Florida, March 21, 2011
Not long thereafter the work of making videos and training in schools came to an end.
With Prostate Cancer
Mr. Linton went to Thailand and Began Writing
At about this time he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer and went to Thailand to begin healing through study, relaxation and meditation.
As a spinoff of receiving a japa mala of 108 beads, he began writing 108 Mala Beads. The book became a chronicle of his life’s spiritual journey. Many wonderful stories of personal growth are shared along with powerful strategies to overcome pain and find joy.
He is pictured in the jungles of Thailand writing the book on his laptop.
With the worksheets designed by John Linton, people interact in challenging ways and benefit by solo introspection.
Mr. Linton has many years of experience designing presentations, activities, worksheets and videos to train people in all types of settings.
He has often said, "Every second in a video or sentence on a page is worth a million dollars."
If the video, or printed copy doesn't have the full engagement of the individual every second, they will be lost. It only takes a moment for a viewer or reader to daydream, open their smart phone, or start other tasks.
Every second and sentence must be filled with powerful visuals, narrative, graphics—or in a video—music that propels the message or story forward.
Participants in the Pathway to Peace greatly benefit from this philosophy.
These comments were made by individuals who came from disparate locations and backgrounds to participate in a live Pathway to Peace experience:
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It’s like a journey that you go through different stages and see those experiences with people from different backgrounds, different cultures. They have different experiences. It's very worthwhile.
Melissa Platt, Mexico City
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It set me on this path of introspection, trying to figure out life. The training helped me realize that I need to pay attention to the things I’m feeling inside and process those. As I’ve done that now, it’s helped me not to feel so stressed and panicked.
Allie Gardner, Rapid City, South Dakota
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Time for self-reflection really helps you realize where you are in life and where you want to be.
Amelia Powers, Pleasant Grove, Utah
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If you’re going to live a life of happiness, it can’t be a life by which you’re not fully self-expressed and showing the world who you are. Discovering who you are begins to reveal your purpose in life. If your purpose in life is fulfilled, you’re happy.
Brett Rohmer, Wendover, Nevada
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Because there’s so much chaos in our lives today, I don’t think we take time to just be still and take care of ourselves. I realized from the training that it’s me that puts stress on myself. No one else is causing me to be stressed about things.
Debie Wangsgard, Bluffdale, Utah
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It isn’t a religious thing; it’s a humanity thing. When you walk away from this training, you’ve been given tools and exercises that will actually guide you in how you need to reflect and think moving forward.
John Crossman, Hartford, Connecticut
Hospitalization for a Life-Threatening Illness
In February, 2024, John Linton was admitted to the hospital with “chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.” That’s a lot of words to say he was deathly ill.