Words of Wisdom from President D. Michael Stewart

I found out Saturday morning that my mission president from Temple Square passed away in his sleep this past Friday. I feel so lucky to have spent almost my whole mission with him and to have learned so much from him. He is an amazing person and I know he is serving in a greater capacity on the other side. He has been such a huge influence on my life, and I am eternally grateful for that. I decided to go through my mission journal to remember some of the words of wisdom he often repeated...

"All the water in the world however hard it tried could never sink a ship unless it got inside. All the evil in the world the blackest kind of sin, can never hurt you one least bit, unless you let it in."

6 Steps to Personal Peace

1. Life is a process, not an event.
2. Personal response, not heredity or environment, determines my destiny.
3. Personal picturing counts. Our lives are what our thoughts make us.
4. Have patience with principles. Believe in the inevitability of gradualism.
5. The pathway to self is through others. See a need and fill it.
6. Pursue the prompting. Follow the feeling.

8 Steps to Spirituality

1. Pray daily.
2. Read and ponder the scriptures daily.
3. Attend all meetings.
4. Keep the Sabbath spirit.
5. Accept and magnify a church calling.
6. Tithe your income.
7. Be temple worthy; attend often.
8. Seek worthy friends.

"Repentance governs man's past. Faith governs the future. The Holy Ghost governs the present."

"Sustain and Abstain. Sustain the good things of the gospel (principles of Gospel and temple). Abstain from the bad things (things that throw us off track)."

"Life is a difficult process, but it should be fun."

"Kill the pig! Replace fear with faith.

Until your slay your fears or kill your pigs, you will be miserable all your life. Don't compare yourself to others, you will either feel inferior or superior."

Faith Formula:

See (desired result in mind), say (words of faith), do (action), act (obedience, service, work, love), leave the rest to God.

Get Fear Out and Exercise Faith

1. Know that God Exists
2. Know that God loves you
3. Correct idea of His character
4. An actual knowledge that one's course fits God's will

"God takes care of those who take care of Him."

"God is the architect. Christ is the builder. The Holy Ghost is the maintenance man--He maintains it. They have given us everything we need. It's up to us to do the rest."

"Refuse to see yourself as an exception to the rule."

"Do not doubt your spiritual experiences. Do not forget them as realities. Believe they happened."

"Care! Care about everything you do."

"Weak people wait for things to happen, strong people make things happen."

"The Gospel is true because it works."

"Diamonds have many facets, as do our testimonies. There are many things that go into a testimony. There aren't boundaries on a testimony--it's ever expanding."

"Be big on the little things. Be obedient. Obedience=Peace."

"Don't gossip. If you like yourself you won't talk about others behind their backs."

"Be nice to yourself--We're really hard on ourselves, love yourself. Be nice to yourself as you are to God. How can you love your neighbor if you don't love yourself?"

"Life is a process, not an event. Look back and see how far you've come. Don't compare yourself to others."

"Don't take yourself too seriously, laugh at mistakes. You are more important than your mistakes."

"Marriage (asking us to take 1 step off Temple Square...) 3 Things to Marry the Right Person 1-Puts Jesus Christ first. Faithful. 2-Tender heart. Nice. 3-Energetic. Ambitious, has goals."

"Education. Diversify your education and resume. Add as many skills as you can. Expand your horizons (I wrote in my notes to eat sushi! haha). Read different books, different music, dances, etc. Reach beyond your comfort zone."

"Don't wait for the perfect specimen, but make sure he has those 3 things and diversify things together. Don't bend on principles."

"This is not just a religion, it's a way of life."

"Go to the temple frequently. What we learn in the temple is what we don't learn elsewhere. You can get different things out of it each time."

"The Lord gives you more than anyone else will give you."

"You are the greatest gift to give."

"God didn't make junk. You are precious."

"Do not count time, make time count!"

S.I.M.P.S.
Spiritual Goals
Intellectual Goals
Mental Goals
Physical Goals
Social Goals

President Stewart is amazing and I know I will see him again someday. I am grateful for my knowledge and testimony of the Gospel and the Plan of Happiness. It's a great comfort and peaceful feeling to know we will be with our loved ones and see our friends again after this life.