Endure to the End

Introduction

When I was a young deacon, I read a series of verses from the Doctrine and Covenants that impressed me so much, I decided that during fast and testimony meeting I would share them with the ward. You might think at first: “what a spiritually-minded young man.” But these verses were from D&C 29, containing some of the more graphic descriptions of the destruction that would occur prior to the Second Coming. So when I read about flies eating the flesh of people and eyes falling from their sockets, let's just say that the congregation was suddenly very attentive, and likely horrified as well (see D&C 29:18-19).

I will not repeat reading these verses today though I will certainly encourage you to carefully and prayerfully read D&C 29 on your own. Instead, I want to introduce my topic by connecting it to my very young fascination with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We are living in the last dispensation of the fulness of times, meaning that this is the final time period in which authorized servants of the Lord bear His holy priesthood and keys, with a charge to preach the gospel to the whole earth. This is a time of trials and trouble, but also a time of great blessings, revelations, and joy, all leading up to the glorious Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A great chapter about the time before the Second Coming is Joseph Smith-Matthew, which is “an extract from the translation of the Bible as revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet.” The Lord says:

Many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many;

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold;

But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved. (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:9-11)

In the original Matthew 24, there is a difference in this last verse, which says: He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13).

The last four years, we have had a ward focus on faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, making and keeping covenants, and receiving personal revelation. Now it is time to turn to enduring to the end.

Meaning of Enduring to the End

When we think of enduring to the end, we often think explicitly of troubles and hardship. This is not wrong to do so. But the phrase “endure to the end” means much more than just getting through or lasting beyond present difficulties.

The scriptures are full of language that helps us understand. Just as is apparent in the change in Joseph Smith-Matthew, enduring to the end means to stand steadfast in the faith of that which is to come (Mosiah 4:11), be immovable in keeping the commandments of God (1 Nephi 2:10; Mosiah 5:15; 3 Nephi 6:14), and be firm in the faith of Christ (Helaman 6:1; Alma 48:13). It means to hold out faithful to the end (Mosiah 2:41) and hold fast to the word of God (1 Nephi 15:7). It means laboring diligently (Mosiah 4:27; Moroni 9:6; D&C 88:84), always abounding in good works (Mosiah 5:15; Alma 7:24) and diligently keeping all His commandments (D&C 136:2; see also D&C 6:20; 3 Nephi 6:14). Enduring is often expressed as things we should be doing continually such as watching and praying (Alma 13:28; Moroni 6:4; Alma 34:39), doing good continually (Mosiah 5:2; Alma 63:2), continuing faithful in all things (D&C 84:80) and putting our trust in God continually (Alma 57:27) as we worship Him with all our might, mind and strength (2 Nephi 25:29; Alma 34:38).

To endure to the end means to be full of faith and be faithful in tribulation (D&C 58:2; D&C 112:13, 34) as we demonstrate our faithfulness unto the end (3 Nephi 27:19-20). It means to stand in the office that is appointed unto us (D&C 81:5), having a determination to serve Him in righteousness to the end (Moroni 6:3; D&C 20:37; D&C 76:5), and never being weary of good works (Alma 37:34; D&C 64:33; see also Helaman 10:4) As the affections of our hearts are placed upon the Lord forever (Alma 37:36), we endure valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 121:29), and endure in faith on His name (D&C 20:25, 29) which gives us strength to endure the crosses of the world (2 Nephi 9:18; D&C 56:2) and to endure afflictions and adversity well (D&C 121:7).

Enduring is also inherent in waiting, or being in a state of preparation for the Second Coming, but also for His miracles leading up to His arrival. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart” (Psalm 27:14). “Be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you” (D&C 33:17).

In summary, we are commanded to:

Endure in faith (D&C 101:35)
Press forward and repent daily (2 Nephi 31:20)
Be steadfast and firm in keeping our covenants (3 Nephi 6:14)
Continually and diligently seek and act on revelation (D&C 46:8; D&C 84:43)
Endure to the end in following the example of the Son of the Living God (2 Nephi 31:16)

To understand enduring to the end, we must remember that the great test of life is not cancer, going through a divorce, wrestling with troubling questions, or struggles with depression. It isn’t the forces out of your control affecting your life. The test isn’t beckoning entertainment or video games or any other distraction that is produced by our prosperity.

The test of life was taught from the very beginning in the council in heaven:

“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them” (Abraham 3:25).

“I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy” (D&C 98:14).

The circumstances of your lives are going to vary; of course there will be challenges to overcome, trials to go through. But whatever your circumstances, they are not the test; they are just the conditions under which you are taking the test. Some conditions will be more impactful than others to be sure, but remember also that sometimes it is when things seem all is well, that the test is more often failed.

The Book of Mormon is full of examples of people that had enduring faith under difficult circumstances, such as the sons of the people of Ammon, who were “strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; … [as] they [observed] to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith [was] strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come” (Alma 58:40). Later as the church itself was broken up, there remained a few of the Lamanites who “were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord” (3 Nephi 6:14).

When we face challenging and heartbreaking conditions, like Frodo we may truly say: I wish it need not have happened in my time. But wisely, Gandalf replied: “So do I, and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

A quote from Saints by Heber J. Grant during the onset of WWII summarizes the need to endure faithfully no matter what our circumstances:

“In the quiet hours, in the heat of battle, and through the hazards of the day; in times of temptation, of sorrow, of peace and of blessing, let us pray always … for strength to endure to the end.” (Heber J. Grant, December 1942, quoted in Saints, Vol. 3).

Consequences of Not Enduring

A parable the Savior related to the Pharisees describes the importance of enduring and the consequence of not doing so:

A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. (Matt 21:28-31).

Jacob, as he spoke about the latter-days, describes precisely what happens when people are not enduringly diligent, faithful, steadfast and firm, particularly those that have made covenants. If you:

“reject the words of the prophets; … after so many have spoken concerning Christ; and deny the good word of Christ, and the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and quench the Holy Spirit … “Know ye not that if ye will do these things, that the power of the redemption and the resurrection, which is in Christ, will bring you to stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God?” (Jacob 6:9)

If we do not endure in faith in Christ and repent now, thereby avoiding the suffering that He endured, the Lord tells us we will have to suffer it ourselves, “which suffering caused him to bleed at every pore and to suffer both body and spirit” (D&C 19:15-19). The difficulty of enduring faithfully now will be small compared to the enduring necessary if we do not repent. We cannot comprehend the weight of the regret we will feel when we live beneath what God intends for us, especially when so much light and knowledge has been revealed to us.

In speaking so plainly of these consequences, I hope two things are clear. First, enduring to the end does not demand immediate perfection, but rather the change of heart that progresses towards perfection, with “no more disposition to do evil,” (Mosiah 5:2) no matter how long one must endure. In fact, an enduring heart is necessary since it will take much longer than this lifetime to achieve perfection in Christ! Second, no matter what you have done or who you think you are now or how difficult you find it to endure, you can always repent.

The Savior wants you to turn to Him and continue to change your heart daily. It would be false to say that there won’t be feelings of pain and regret; you might feel you could have returned earlier, never left at all or never committed the sin. Just like Alma and the sons of Mosiah, these are feelings that always come to those that are sincere in their repentance (Mosiah 28:4). But as Paul says, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10). The joy that comes from being worthy to enter into the presence of our Father in Heaven is greater and more enduring than these other feelings.

And just like the parable the Savior taught about the laborers who were paid the same amount whether they worked for an hour or for the entire day, your reward will be no less (Matthew 20:1-16). This parable is not meant to encourage delays. On the contrary, we should not procrastinate the day of our repentance, lest we find the day has come too late for us to truly change our hearts, and our probationary time has ended (Alma 34:33; Alma 42:4). Most of all, you do not want to delay the joy that can be yours, ALL of yours, if you seek the Lord and choose His ways.

So if you find yourself not able to continue on, your endurance is waning, or you are not steady, or if you fear that you have committed too great a sin, call upon God, who has sent His Son to be your advocate (Moroni 7:28). The Lord's power is sufficient to sustain you in all things (Moroni 10:32). He mediated your covenant with the Father so that you could be bound to Him (Hebrews 8:16; D&C 76:69; D&C 107:19). He will bear you up and strengthen the weakness in you (Ether 12:27; D&C 84:88). He stands with outstretched arms to all those who will repent.

How to Endure to the End

Just as “I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin … there are [also] divers ways and means” that keep us from enduring to the end, “even so many that I cannot number them” (Mosiah 4:29). Knowing both what weakens and strengthens your ability to endure is so important that I want to spend much more time on this subject in the future. For now, a brief preview will have to suffice. And, foolishly, I did try to number them:

Being unaware of how the things you consume affects your thoughts and actions can weaken your endurance. We should not outsource our spiritual education to podcasts, social media, and other sources. Some can be positive and faith-affirming, but we should be discerning and never let them become more than supplemental in our spiritual learning. To gain the strength to endure to the end, study and ponder the scriptures and words of those the Lord has authorized in these latter-days, seeking in prayer for the Father's will and what He would have you learn (see 1 Nephi 15:8).
Creating false dichotomies between defending our faith and loving others will make us weary as we try to balance two things that Christ has already reconciled: justice and mercy (read 2 Nephi 2). We do not need to steady that ark! (2 Sam. 6:6-7; D&C 85:8) The truth is when we are faithful, steadfast, and true to our faith, we will have strength to love others more as we pray for charity for them (Moroni 7:48). There is no contradiction between defending and living truth with striving to make peace with those who do not believe as we do. Abandoning doctrines or creating unnecessary conflict between principles of the gospel will only exhaust your strength.
Adopting the ways of the world, which we are often content to do, will be sure to shake our faith and gradually weaken it until we are absorbed into the world, as salt that has lost its savor. How can we be God's covenant people, the elect, charged with gathering Israel if we would rather gather ourselves to the great and spacious building? We must be separate so that seekers of truth with broken hearts and contrite spirits will desire to be set apart with us in the community of Zion (3 Nephi 20:41; D&C 133:5). President Nelson taught:

“Overcoming the world … happens over a lifetime as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power. We stay on the covenant path and are blessed with spiritual strength, personal revelation, increasing faith, and the ministering of angels.” (President Russell M. Nelson, Overcome the World and Find Rest, Oct. 2022 General Conference)
The spirit of contention, and being critical of one another, will divide us from the Lord who said if ye are not one ye are not mine (D&C 38:27), and therefore separate us from the one who is our rock and our strength. The Savior prayed that we would be one as He is one with the Father (John 17:21-23). If we seek to be reconciled one to another in Christ, having one heart and one mind with Him, we can become a Zion people fit for the same heavenly end as the people of Enoch (Moses 7:18-21, 23).
Selfishness is a distraction that will reduce your diligence in pressing forward. And it decreases your ability to notice and help others. As Neil A. Maxwell said: “Mark it down, brothers and sisters, people too caught up in themselves will inevitably let other people down!” In contrast, Joseph Smith taught that ‘a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.’ (Guide to the Scriptures, Sacrifice). Sacrificing oneself, laying down one's life for family and friends, is the very act that will give you enduring strength to pass the test of life.
Pride is a sure way to induce spiritual weakness. Humility is absolutely required since we cannot endure to the end on our own. We must ask ourselves: Do we seek to be reconciled to God or have God reconciled to us? Do we seek to become like God, recognizing the distance between our thoughts and ways with His and desiring to decrease that gap (Doctrine and Covenants 136:31–32), or do we create God in our own image so we do not have to change or admit any weakness? Humbling ourselves and putting our “trust in the true and living God” will give us power to be “faithful until the end” (Alma 5:13).

Strength to Endure All Things

The thirteenth article of faith declares that as Latter-Day Saints and disciples of Jesus Christ we “hope to be able to endure all things.” Do we really? Is this your hope? Most of us would reasonably shy away from such a statement as it seems to be inviting hardship. But while we can acknowledge such may be a part of the experience of “enduring all things,” the other part of the article gives us the key to how we gain strength to endure, thus making effectual the hope we declare: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men” (Articles of Faith 1:13). Or, in other words, the ultimate key to enduring all things is obtaining all the enduring attributes of Christ. When we continually follow His example, we will eventually become as He is (Moroni 7:48).

Turn to the Lord and He will help turn your weakness into strength in one virtue or attribute. When you feel stronger, consider another weakness and let the Lord help turn it into a strength. If you have achieved strength-levels of every virtue, work on your humility, and the Spirit will teach you what you lack in every attribute all over again.

A passage I read recently in Paul's letter to the Romans (Romans 12:1–5) encapsulates so many of these principles we must remember to help us endure to the end:

I beseech you … by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Developing the attributes of Christ, including His heart, and His mind, is how we endure by becoming people that in the end can withstand the presence of God.

Blessings of Enduring

The sound of enduring to the end of the latter-days still might make you think of temptations, trials, and traumatic suffering. I will not lie; there is certainly some of that ahead: some resulting from sin, your own and others, and some just from living in a fallen earth full of death, disease, and disaster. But there is great beauty and joy in relying on the atoning power of Jesus Christ and serving God throughout your life, with whatever time has been given to you. This joy comes from not forgetting the end to which we are enduring. It is the greatest gift of God: eternal life (2 Nephi 33:4; see also 2 Nephi 31:19-20)!

Blessings of enduring can come to us now as they will come to us in the future. Listen to some of the blessings that can be ours if we are steadfast now:

Nephi beheld the power of the Lamb of God descending “upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).

… I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.

Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.

And to them will I reveal … all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, …

Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.

And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven … (Doctrine and Covenants 76:5–10)

Weak things will become strong (Ether 12:27); the Lord will console us in our afflictions and plead our cause (Jacob 3:1); and God will consecrate our afflictions for our gain (2 Nephi 2:2).

The Lord promised peace to our souls and perspective to see our adversities as a “small moment” in this life but also revealed a glorious future blessing, saying “if ye endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:7–8).

If we are obedient to the commandments and endure to the end, Christ will seal us His (Mosiah 5:15) so that we can be saved at the last day (1 Nephi 22:31) and we will be held “guiltless before the Father at that day when He shall stand to judge the world” (3 Nephi 27:16).

But behold, the righteous that hearken unto the words of the prophets, [and] look forward unto Christ with steadfastness for the signs which are given, notwithstanding all persecution—behold, they are they which shall not perish. (2 Nephi 26:8)

“If ye are faithful ye shall be laden with many sheaves, and crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life” (D&C 75:5) … in the mansions that Christ has prepared in the house of His Father (D&C 81:5-6).

“All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 103:36).

“In a time to come … nothing shall be withheld, … All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:28–29).

If we, “the saints of the Holy One of Israel … [endure] the crosses of the world” we will “inherit the kingdom of God … and [our] joy shall be full forever” (2 Nephi 9:18) Together with children sealed to their parents, and parents sealed to each other (D&C 138:47-48) we “dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41).

With blessings like these—the opportunity to “receive an inheritance” (D&C 63:20) of the “riches of eternity” (D&C 78:18)—how can we think that we will NOT be tested to our absolute limits of endurance in faith and doing the will of the Lord? We must learn to abide by a celestial law and prove that we can endure so we can inherit that which endures though the eternities: God’s power and glory. The Lord declared: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (D&C 136:31).

Challenge

The Lord chastens us because He loves us and wants us to receive His eternal gifts (Helaman 15:3; D&C 95:1). After all, that is why we desired to come to this earth and rejoiced to participate in God's plan of happiness. But because so much is given to us, much is required (D&C 82:3). There has only ever been a small group of people in the entire earth who have ever had the opportunity to make and keep covenants with their Lord and Savior by the proper authority. It is our responsibility to perform His work on the earth, that no one else can do, so that all who live now and all who have ever lived can make the choice to receive Christ. We cannot neglect His work without also dismissing ourselves from receiving His many blessings.

This next year I want to issue you four challenges designed to help you endure to the end through the four divinely appointed responsibilities of the Church in God's work of salvation and exaltation. You can perform these challenges individually or as a family.

TRAVERSE MOUNTAIN 2ND WARD CHALLENGE 2023-2024

Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Read the Book of Mormon and mark these 5 themes:

a. Faith in Jesus Christ b. Repentance c. Making and Keeping Covenants d. Revelation and Gifts of the Spirit e. Endure to the End
Caring for Those In Need

Have face-to-face interactions with each of your ministering assignments every quarter.
Inviting All to Receive the Gospel

Make four different invitations to individuals or families who are not members or less-active that would help them receive the gospel.
Uniting Families for Eternity

Find at least one ancestor's name to perform all ordinances in the temple this year. Invite others help you if needed.

We have something for each household to remember this challenge. I promise you increased spiritual power and strength to endure all things this year as you participate. I bless you that you will come to feel that it is joyful work as it brings you closer to your Redeemer.

Closing

Mothers and fathers here today, please remember you are not raising children only. You are raising future kings and queens with a divine, spiritual heritage from the Most High God. Your task is not light, but Jesus Christ will be your rock and your strength if you put your trust in Him continually.

To our single members, we need you and your valiant testimonies of the Savior. Our children, youth, and adults all need to hear your experiences and see your examples of faithfully keeping covenants. Your contributions are not less than any other, and neither will be the blessings.

To the young women and young men, increase your spiritual strength by seeking the Lord early while in your youth. The test to prove that you will do all things the Lord has commanded has already started. The days ahead will be difficult to remain steadfast, but they will bring great joy if you learn to rely on your Redeemer.

To you primary children, you have endured to the end of a very long talk! There are other ends your Father in Heaven wants you to reach and He has given you Jesus Christ to help you obtain the blessings He has in store for you. Learn of His love now and let it help you through your life.

Recently Hazel received her patriarchal blessing. I felt a strong impression that I wrote down and need to act upon. It was to testify of the great joy I have felt being a father and a husband. Words fall short, making the task more difficult, but God has blessed me with a wife who makes me better in every way. She has and continues to refine me with her Christ-like example and I thank God for her. I know a small portion of how God feels towards His children because of how I feel about my girls. I would not trade them or the experience of loving them for all the precious things in the entire world. One time after I gave all of my girls blessings for the school year, my sister-in-law jokingly asked if I wanted them to give me a blessing. The thought came to my mind, a powerful truth that I spoke out loud: “I have already been blessed by all of you. You are my blessing.” God has given me His blessing through them.

God lives, and loves us so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son to bring to pass our immortality and open the way for eternal life with Him if we follow His example. This is the Church of Jesus Christ, with the necessary authority and keys to perform the ordinances for both living and dead to covenant with Christ so that we can learn how to become like Him and ultimately enter into the presence of the Father again. I pray we will be faithful in enduring to the end that our Father in Heaven has prepared for us.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.