College is a pivotal time for many, and Elder Gary E. Stevenson’s time at Utah State University is no exception. He met his wife, Lesa, as a student at USU, and they were married just three weeks before his graduation. While attending USU, Elder Stevenson started the company that would eventually become iFIT, which he lead until he was called as presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2012.
Elder Stevenson returned to USU’s Logan, Utah, campus earlier this month as he received an honorary doctorate of business at the university’s commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 4. A pre-recorded video of Elder Stevenson was shown during the ceremony and provides a unique glimpse into the apostle’s life and education.
In the video, Elder Stevenson quotes Winston Churchill who reportedly said, “The farther back you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” He recalled walking into USU’s Merrill-Cazier Library as a student each day and seeing a plaque on the wall with the words of Proverbs 4:7 which says, “With all thy getting, get understanding.”
“So, that would be maybe what I’d leave for you is strive to get that understanding,” Elder Stevenson told the school’s graduating class. “You’re going to get a lot of things. You’re going to get a job, a home, a mortgage, a family, but with all of that getting, get understanding. And that understanding maybe is treating other people with dignity, with kindness.”
He concluded the video by complimenting the remarkably high character of the students at USU as well as the feeling of respect, tolerance, and kindness that he always experienced on the school’s campus.
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