The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(3/1/97)
Patient endurance permits us to cling to our faith in the Lord
and our faith in
His timing when we are being tossed about by the surf of
circumstance. Even when
a seeming undertow grasps us, somehow in the tumbling we are
being carried
forward, though battered and bruised. When, for the moment, we
ourselves are not
being stretched on a particular cross, we ought to be at the
foot of someone
else's—full of empathy and proffering spiritual refreshment.
With enduring
comes a willingness, therefore, to "press forward" (2
Nephi
31:20) even when we are bone weary and would much
rather pull off to
the side of the road. Hence, one prophet was especially
commended by the Lord
for his unwearyingness (see Helaman
10:4; 15:6).
—
Neal A. Maxwell, Men and Women of Christ, p.70
(3/2/97)
Though hated by all men; though the whole world oppose them;
though every power
of earth and hell combine to do them ill—yet the apostles (and
all the saints)
must endure in righteousness all their days to merit celestial
salvation. They
must `press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a
perfect brightness
of hope, and a love of God and of all men, feasting upon the
word of
Christ" (2
Ne. 31:20-21), doing good and working
righteousness, if they are to gain eternal life. "I will prove
you in all
things," the Lord says to his saints, "whether you will abide in
my
covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For if
ye will not
abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me." (D&C
98:14-15.) — Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal
Messiah, Vol.2, p.319
(3/3/97)
I would like to share an experience of faith. Being the only
child, Elder
Hermelindo Coy said goodbye to his mother and left for the first
time in his
life his small village in the mountains of Senahu, Guatemala. He
entered the
Missionary Training Center the fourteenth of March 1991.
Although he had been a member of the Church for only two years
and also very
timid about talking to people, his determination to serve was
great. His formal
education was less than five years of elementary school in his
native language
of Kekch. Spanish, the official language of Guatemala, was
foreign to him.
During his mission he learned to live with pain in his leg. He
rarely
complained. In August 1992 he noticed, that in addition to the
increase in the
pain, something abnormal about his knee. He had a medical
exam--the diagnosis:
bone cancer. A more careful exam revealed cancer in the liver,
lungs, and
lymphatic system; in other words, his illness was terminal. He
did not
understand the nature of the illness nor its seriousness. With
the help of a
translator and using examples from the farm life with which he
was familiar, he
understood that he had little time to live.
He never asked, Why is this happening to me? He did not lament,
nor express
negative feelings. He was obedient to all that was require of
him.
He was asked if he would like to return home, but he asked to
remain in the
mission and serve as long as possible, even until his death. By
October of the
same year, he walked with difficulty, requiring the use of a
cane. He could only
work a few hours each day. By December h was unable to walk. For
the first time
he was discouraged because He could not proselyte. His worry was
always who
would take care of his mother after he died.
In one of his visits, the mission president asked him to teach
more of the basic
doctrine to his mother, who, along with mission nurses, was
providing
twenty-four-hour care. When he taught the plan of salvation to
his mother in his
native tongue, his face radiated assurance and light Elder Coy
was understanding
with power and conviction what he was teaching.
As his strength declined, he placed his complete trust in the
Lord. On one
occasion when the pain was very strong, he expressed in prayer,
"Heavenly
Father, I do not know the day nor the hour that I will die, but
I want to know
soon from thee about my new assignment." He died in February
1993. His
death blessed all the missionaries, leaders, members, and even
nonmembers who
learned of his courage to serve and endure to the end. — Carlos
H. Amado,
General Conference, October 1993
(3/4/97)
The Apostle Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, declared, "I
have
fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the
faith." (2
Tim. 4:7.)
Keeping the faith to the end has always been our charge. In the
eighteenth
section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord admonishes, "And
as many as
repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and
endure to the
end, the same shall be saved." (V.
22.) I shall never forget
the impression left upon me when President Joseph Fielding
Smith, in his
ninety-fifth year, exclaimed, "I hope to endure to the end in
this
life." Today, perhaps more than ever before, our faith is
challenged on all
fronts. This should not surprise us as it is part of God's plan.
As Abraham
proved himself to the Lord with unwavering faith when he took
his son Isaac to
the mountain to be sacrificed, we also must prove our devotion,
our endurance,
and our faith to our Heavenly Father. — Richard C. Edgley,
General Conference,
April 1993
(3/5/97)
There is no retirement from the service of the Lord. We believe
in eternal
progression. We should continually grow spiritually throughout
our lives. The
gospel challenges us to endure to the end. The word endure has
an interesting
connotation. We seem to equate it with suffering. I was
interested to discover
that endure comes from the Latin word indurare, which
means "to
harden, to steel, make lasting." I like one of the definitions
of the word
endure found in the Random House Dictionary. It defines endure
as "to have
or gain continued or lasting acknowledgment or recognition, as
of worth, merit,
or greatness." When I think of the supernal joy I have
experienced during
my ministry, I hope those rich spiritual adventures are not
ended. I know they
will not be if I accept the opportunities to serve that lie
ahead. — Robert L.
Backman, General Conference, October 1992
(3/6/97)
I know that each of us has much to do. Sometimes we feel
overwhelmed by the
tasks we face. But if we keep our priorities in order, we can
accomplish all
that we should. We can endure to the end regardless of
temptations, problems,
and challenges. Those who remain faithful will receive God's
greatest blessing,
eternal life, and the privilege of living with our Heavenly
Father and his
Beloved Son in the celestial kingdom. Elder Marion G. Romney
said, "When
earth life is over and things appear in their true perspective,
we shall more
clearly see ... that the fruits of the gospel are the only
objectives worthy of
life's full efforts" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1949, p. 39). —
Joseph
B. Wirthlin, General Conference, October 1990
(3/7/97)
An obvious parallel between life and a marathon is the necessity
to run
diligently and endure to the end. Among his final words to his
people, Nephi
told them: "And now.... after ye have gotten into this strait
and narrow
path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; .
. . Ye must
press forward with a steadfastness in Christ . . . and endure to
the end"
(2 Nephi 31:19-20). I think of this promise of the Lord: "But
they that
wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount
up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk,
and not
faint" (Isaiah 40:31). You have that promise. My dear young
friends, I pray
that the Lord will guide and strengthen each of you in running
your personal
marathon. Then you can say, as Paul wrote to Timothy, "I have
fought a good
fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2
Timothy 4:7). I
know that you can live righteous lives and, with the help of the
Lord, do all
that you should do. — Joseph B. Wirthlin, General Conference,
October 1989
(3/8/97)
To those who are doing the commonplace work of the world but are
wondering about
the value of their accomplishments; to those who are the
workhorses of this
Church, who are furthering the work of the Lord in so many quiet
but significant
ways; to those who are the salt of the earth and the strength of
the world and
the backbone of each nation--to you we would simply express our
admiration. If
you endure to the end, and if you are valiant in the testimony
of Jesus, you
will achieve true greatness and will live in the presence of our
Father in
Heaven. — Howard W. Hunter, General Conference, April 1982
(3/26/01)
"We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward
perfection now seem
so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in
full only after
the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who
love him and keep
his commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities,
powers, and
dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure. It is the
eternal
perfection that God has in store for each of us." — Russell M.
Nelson,
"Perfection Pending," Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 88
(3/27/01)
"The Apostle Paul spoke from considerable personal experience
when
observing that 'no chastening for the present seemeth to be
joyous, but
grievous' (Heb. 12:11). You and I are not expected to pretend
chastening is
pleasant, but we are expected to 'endure it well' (D&C
121:8). Only
afterward is 'the peaceable fruit of righteousness' enjoyed by
those who 'are
exercised thereby' (Heb. 12:11). But what demanding
calisthenics!" — Neal
A. Maxwell, "Enduring Well," Ensign, Apr. 1997, p. 8
(3/28/01)
"In sickness, with its attendant pain, patience is required. If
the only
perfect man who ever lived—even Jesus of Nazareth—was called
upon to endure
great suffering, how can we, who are less than perfect, expect
to be free of
such challenges?" — Thomas S. Monson, "Patience—A Heavenly
Virtue," Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 59
(3/29/01)
"Elder Orson F. Whitney wrote: 'No pain that we suffer, no trial
that we
experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the
development of such
qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that
we suffer and all
that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds
up our
characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us
more tender and
charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God, … and
it is through
sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the
education that we
come here to acquire' (quoted in Improvement Era, Mar. 1966,
211)." —
Robert D. Hales, "Healing Soul and Body," Ensign, Nov. 1998, p.
16
(3/30/01)
"Let us not presume that because the way is at times difficult
and
challenging, our Heavenly Father is not mindful of us. He is
rubbing off our
rough edges and sensitizing us for our great responsibilities
ahead. May His
blessings be upon us spiritually, that we may have a sweet
companionship with
the Holy Ghost, and that our footsteps might be guided along
paths of truth and
righteousness. And may each of us follow the Lord’s comforting
counsel: 'Be
patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure
them, for, lo, I am
with thee, even unto the end of thy days' (D&C 24:8)." —
James E.
Faust, "The Blessings of Adversity," Ensign, Feb. 1998, p. 7
(1/11/04)
"Your responsibility to endure is uniquely yours. But you are
never alone.
I testify that the lifting power of the Lord can be yours if you
will 'come unto
Christ' and 'be perfected in him.' You will 'deny yourselves of
all
ungodliness.' And you will 'love God with all your might, mind
and strength.' (Moro.
10:32)"
- Russell M. Nelson, "Endure
and Be Lifted Up," General Conference,
April 1997
(2/8/04)
"We are taught in the scriptures that there must be opposition
in all
things (see 2
Ne. 2:11). It is not a question of if we are
ready
for the tests; it is a matter of when. We must prepare to be
ready for tests
that will present themselves without warning." - Robert D.
Hales, "Behold,
We Count Them Happy Which Endure,"
Ensign, May 1998, p. 76
(4/11/04)
"Because Christ's eyes were unfailingly fixed on the future, He
could
endure all that was required of Him, suffer as no man can suffer
except it be
'unto death,' (Mosiah
3:7.)
as King Benjamin said, look upon the wreckage of individual
lives and the
promises of ancient Israel lying in ruins around Him and still
say then and now,
'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' (John
14:27.) How could He do
this? How could He believe it? Because He knows that for
the faithful,
things will be made right soon enough. He is a King; He speaks
for the crown; He
knows what can be promised. He knows that 'the Lord... will
be a
refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.... For
the needy shall
not alway[s] be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not
perish for
ever.' (Ps. 9:9,
18;
emphasis added.) He knows that 'the Lord is nigh unto them that
are of a broken
heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.' He knows
that 'the Lord
redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust
in him shall be
desolate.' (Ps.
34:18, 22.)"
- Jeffrey R. Holland, "An
High
Priest of Good Things to Come," Ensign, November 1999, p.
37
(4/27/04)
"The great struggle of life is to overcome the natural man, with
his
carnality and selfishness, and to become a Saint of God through
the Atonement of
Christ. It is not a struggle once won forever finished, but a
battle that must
be engaged every day that we live. As Nephi said, 'If ye shall
press forward,
feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end,
behold, thus
saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.' (2
Nephi 31:20; italics
added.) - Alexander B. Morrison, "Visions of Zion" [Salt Lake
City:
Deseret Book Co., 1993], p. 20
(5/4/04)
"...the test a loving God has set before us is not to see if we
can endure
difficulty. It is to see if we can endure it well. We pass the
test by showing
that we remembered Him and the commandments He gave us. And to
endure well is to
keep those commandments whatever the opposition, whatever the
temptation, and
whatever the tumult around us. We have that clear understanding
because the
restored gospel makes the plan of happiness so plain." - Henry
B. Eyring,
"In
the
Strength of the Lord," General Conference, April 2004
(9/4/04)
"Simply
stated, the Lord’s
counsel to one who has 'commenced' properly and faithfully
is, 'Continue as you
have commenced.' We could follow the example of Nephi, a son
of Helaman, who
after laboring diligently to teach and live righteously, had
decided to give up
and return home because the people refused to accept his
counsel and to repent.
As he approached his home, the voice of the Lord came to
him. The Lord reminded
Nephi of the blessings that would result from the
unwearyingness with which he
had labored and taught the people and with which he had kept
the commandments of
God. With renewed vigor and determination, Nephi turned from
his home and
returned to his labors to continue as he had commenced. (See
Hel.
10:2–12.)" - Rex
D. Pinegar, “We
Need
to Continue in Righteousness,” Ensign, November 1974,
p. 44
(1/31/05)
"There comes back to us more clearly than ever before the
application of
the words of the Master as he closed his Sermon on the
Mount, that only that
person or that church (meaning a congregation of
individuals, of course) which
will stand through these testing years, will be that which
is founded upon the
rock, as the Master declared, by hearing and obeying the
fundamental and
never-changing principles upon which the true church is
founded, when the winds
of delusion blow, or when the floods of filth and wickedness
engulf us, or when
the rains of criticism or derision are rained down upon
those who are holding
fast to the truth." - Harold B. Lee, "Watch,
That
Ye May Be Ready," Ensign, Dec. 1971, pp. 29-30
(3/20/05)
"We tend to think only in terms of our endurance, but it is
God's patient
long-suffering which provides us with our chances to
improve, affording us
urgently needed developmental space or time. (See Alma
42:4-5.)" - Neal A. Maxwell, "Endure
It
Well," Ensign, May 1990, p. 33
(7/10/05)
"As you
pray, occasionally take a personal inventory to see how you
measure up in your righteousness, in meeting the standards of
the gospel of Jesus Christ. We each can know for ourselves, as
the Lord knows, where we need to improve. We must hold to the
standards. If we have advanced in material, outward things,
how are we doing inwardly? Are our lives acceptable to the
Lord? Are we willing to acknowledge our sins and then make the
effort to forsake them, repent, and make the course correction
that will return us to the straight and narrow path?
"I know that each of us has much to do. Sometimes we feel
overwhelmed by the tasks we face. But if we keep our
priorities in order, we can accomplish all that we should. We
can endure to the end regardless of temptations, problems, and
challenges. Those who remain faithful will receive God's
greatest blessing, eternal life, and the privilege of living
with our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son in the celestial
kingdom." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The
Straight and Narrow Way," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 66
(10/29/05)
"As you build your lives in obedience to the gospel and strive
to achieve your goals, do not become discouraged by temporary
setbacks and disappointments. Remember that 'it must needs be,
that there is an opposition in all things.' (2
Ne. 2:11) You will grow and learn by overcoming
obstacles. The Lord has admonished all of us to 'keep [His]
commandments and endure to the end.' (D&C
14:7)" - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Live
in Obedience," Ensign (CR), May 1994, p.39
(10/30/05)
"No matter how much we may be discouraged or how often we are
set back, we must begin again and again, if necessary, and
earnestly pursue the purposes of life, full of faith for the
future. Enduring to the end is exceedingly important. Pursuing
the opportunities and the duties of every day is exceedingly
important, and repenting while there is still time to repent
is also exceedingly important." - Richard L. Evans,
"Conference Report," October 1950, Afternoon Meeting, p.141
4/19/06
"We are given this insight in
Doctrine and
Covenants 90:24: 'Search diligently, pray always, and be
believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if
ye walk uprightly.' This stunning promise from the Lord that all
things shall work together for our good is repeated many times
in the scriptures, particularly to people or prophets who are
suffering through the trials of their own life stories.
"I sense that this promise comes from a tender, caring Father
who desires to bless us and give us reason to hope through our
earthly journey. Knowing that eventually all things will work
together for our good will help us endure affliction like the
faithful people from the scriptures who knew of His promises and
trusted in them, 'having seen them afar off, and were persuaded
of them, and embraced them' (Heb.
11:13). We too can embrace this promise." - Susan W.
Tanner, "All
Things Shall Work Together for Your Good," Ensign (CR),
May 2004, p.104
4/29/06
"An obvious parallel between life and a marathon is the
necessity to run diligently and endure to the end. Among his
final words to his people, Nephi told them: 'And now,... after
ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if
all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay;... Ye must press
forward with a steadfastness in Christ... and endure to the
end.' (2
Ne. 31:19-20.) I think of this promise of the Lord: 'But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be
weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.' (Isa.
40:31.) You have that promise." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Running
Your Marathon," Ensign (CR), November 1989, p.73
12/8/06
"Our late President Heber J.
Grant told us how to endure to the end when he said:
"'Let us do the will of our Father in heaven today—we will then
be prepared for the duties of tomorrow and for the eternities to
come.'
"Christ repeatedly emphasized the fact that the gospel is one of
work and service. To gain blessings, we must be doers of the
word and not hearers only. In Matt.
7:21 we read: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth
the will of my Father which is in heaven.
"This means if we are to gain salvation, exaltation, and eternal
life we must live in accordance with the principles of the
gospel. We must love and forgive all men and keep the
commandments of God." - O. Leslie Stone, "Love
and Forgive One Another," Ensign (CR), January 1974, p.38
12/14/06
"'And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name's
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven' (3
Ne. 12:10). As we climb the steps outlined in the
Beatitudes we soon humbly recognize that our lives are on a
higher plane than those who love the things of this world. And
notwithstanding our efforts to share with them gospel truths
that can also elevate their lives, some of them will begin to
persecute us and scoff at our way of life and point mocking
fingers at those who have partaken of the fruits of the gospel
(see
1 Ne.
8:26-27).
"The Savior reserved a special blessing for those who would be
reviled and persecuted and falsely accused for His sake: 'Ye
shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be
your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who
were before you' (3
Ne. 12:11-12)." - Spencer J. Condie, "Your Agency, Handle
with Care," p.9
1/23/08
"Moses never entered the
promised land. Joseph Smith never saw Zion redeemed. Some of us
may not live long enough to see the day when the Book of Mormon
floods the earth and when the Lord lifts His condemnation. (See
D&C
84:54-58.) But, God willing, I intend to spend all my
remaining days in that glorious effort."
- Ezra Taft Benson, "Flooding
the Earth with the Book of Mormon,"
Ensign (CR), November 1988, p.4
12/4/08
"The basic requirements
for enduring to the end include knowing who we are, children of
God with a desire to return to His presence after mortality;
understanding the purpose of life, to endure to the end and
obtain eternal life; and living obediently with a desire and a
determination to endure all things, having eternal vision.
Eternal vision allows us to overcome opposition in our temporal
state and, ultimately, achieve the promised rewards and
blessings of eternal life." - Robert D. Hales, “Behold, We
Count Them Happy Which Endure,” Ensign (CR), May 1998, p.75
5/30/09
“To
think of enduring to the end as ‘hanging in there,’ doing
one’s duty relentlessly, is not inaccurate. Yet enduring to
the end is more than outlasting and surviving, though it
includes those qualities. We are called upon, as was the
Prophet Joseph, to ‘endure it well,’ gracefully, not
grudgingly. (D&C 121:8.) We are also told that we must
‘endure in faith.’ (D&C 101:35.) These dimensions of
enduring are important to note. Likewise, we are asked to
endure ‘valiantly.’ (D&C 121:29.)” - Neal
A. Maxwell, “Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward,” p. 109
2/13/10
“I
am a cross-country and track distance runner. Sometimes three
miles on rough terrain can seem like an eternity. I have
learned to endure to the end and to tolerate hard work and
many physical and emotional challenges. Sometimes my mind
screamed to stop and quit the race or the difficult practice,
but I had to mentally and physically endure to the end. I have
found that no matter how hard it was to run a race or finish a
tough practice, nothing beats the satisfaction I get from
knowing that I didn’t give up.” - Melanie
Eaton, “The Reward Is Worth the Effort,” Ensign (CR), May
1995, p. 93
7/3/11
"The ingredient
that is essential in learning to endure is
consistent effort. In our race for eternal life, pain and
obstacles
will confront all of us. We may experience heartaches, sorrow,
death,
sins, weakness, disasters, physical illness, pain, mental
anguish,
unjust criticism, loneliness, or rejection. How we handle these
challenges determines whether they become stumbling stones or
building
blocks. To the valiant these challenges make progress and
development
possible." - Marvin J.
Ashton, "If
Thou Endure It Well," Ensign (CR), November 1984, p.20
11/16/11
Many lessons can be learned
from the account of the Atonement. It is comforting to know
that, though suffering, Jesus Christ was able to look down from
the cross and be concerned for His mother, that she should be
properly cared for, as He asked for the help of a disciple. This
is one of the great messages we have heard this conference—that
we turn some of our attention from our own trials and
tribulations to concern and caring for others. -