The last time I had the opportunity to speak was when I attended the Greenwood Ward. I had prepared a talk that was approximately 7 minutes long. Thanks to my nervousness, I was able to finish it off in 2 minutes flat. Hopefully, my nerves will lessen and I can extended my talk today to last longer than that.

Endure to the end. What does it mean? Soon after I was asked to speak, I started writing down my thoughts on the topic. My first thought was, what kind of questions can I generate from this topic? I have settled on just 2.

1. What does it mean to Endure to the End?
2. Why do we need to endure?

1. What does it mean to Endure to the End?
The word Endure is often linked to problems you are facing, painful trials, afflictions in your life, generally negative items, but it doesn't always mean that.

President Uchtdorf described it best by saying:
Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God. This belief distinguishes Latter-day Saints from many other Christian denominations that teach that salvation is given to all who simply believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. The Lord clearly declared, 'If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God' (D&C 14:7). "Therefore, enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life's difficult circumstances or 'hanging in there.' Ours is an active religion, helping God's children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance. 'Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy' (2 Nephi 2:25). "Enduring to the end is a process filling every minute of our life, every hour, every day, from sunrise to sunrise. It is accomplished through personal discipline following the commandments of God."

Another example of this can be found in James.
James 5:11
Behold, we count the happy which endure.
The word "endure" in this scripture has a footnote. TG Steadfastness. Under Steadfastness, there are 10 other words that it references to. Commitment, Courage, Dedication, Dependability, Diligence, Faithfulness, Integrity, Loyalty, Perseverance, and Obedience.

Nephi tells us that enduring also means to have faith, hope, & charity, so endure means more than just dealing with the rough times in your life. It means to continue faithfully and diligently on the right path by following Christ's example.

The literal perfect example of enduring to the end is our Savior Jesus Christ. The pain he endured in the Garden of Gethsimine, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. He was willing to do that. In turn, we are to follow his example and endure through our difficult times as well.

Another great example of enduring to the end, comes from the life of a good friend of ours, Joseph Smith. We know he spent much of his life enduring ridicule and abuse by those who did not believe. He was beaten, tarred-and-feathered, cursed, and ultimately murdered. But Joseph was only doing what he knew was right. He knew he could not deny what he had heard and seen in that quiet grove of trees. But what did he do? He endured. Just as we ourselves have been told.

That leads me into my next question.

2. Why do we need to endure?
I think the most straight-forward answer to this question is this:
When I was a kid, my mom would tell me to clean my room, or mow the lawn or something and I'd say "Do I have to?" and she'd say "Yes", then I'd say "Why"? Then she'd say "Because I said so."
So why do we need to endure? Because HE said so! And if you pray about it, I'm sure he'll tell you the same thing. And if he doesn't, here are some scriptures you might want to read:

2 Nep 31:16
And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved.

D&C 20:25
That as many as would believe and be baptized in his holy name, and endure in faith to the end, should be saved.

Matt. 24:13
But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

2 Nephi 33:4
And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and endure to the end, which is life eternal.

Omni 1:26
Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

I could go on and on. There are still another 20 verses that I could quote.

• 53 times in the Holy Bible and BOM
• 30 times in the New and Old Testements
• 23 times in the Book of Mormon

It is obviously a message the Lord wants us to hear. But, out of those verses I read, and even the one's I didn't, they all ultimately say that if you endure to the end, you will be saved.

Now, why doesn't it say if you endure to the end, and read your scriptures, and don't drink on the weekends, you will be saved? That's because by enduring, you are already following those steps. So really, the Lord is just making it really simple for us. Endure, and be saved.

Endure, and be saved.

Job of the Old Testament knew this. He was a faithful and just man. He was happy, very prosperous, just all around good guy and Satan didn't like that. So he tested Jobs faith in the Lord.

-He was afflicted with boils all over his body.
-His friend's rebuked him
-He basically lost everything he had

Did he give up?
Job 27:3-6
All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils:
My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
God forbid that I should justify you: til I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

And because of this incredible faithfulness, the Lord in his own time blessed him. How did he bless him?
Job 42:10 - And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
If we do endure to the end, by faith, with steadfastness in Christ, we will be saved. It is clear to me, simply by writing this talk, that the big man upstairs wants us to hear that message.

I know that by enduring to the end, you and those around you will be blessed. There is proof of that all around you. Stay strong, endure, and you will be saved.

And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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