Endurance ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

What is your true definition and understanding of the word, "Endurance"?

This post focuses on a BYU Devotional in May 1995 and it is called, "Endurance" by Robert K. Conlee. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional recently and I hope that you would learn something new while you are reading this post.

Brother Conlee has mentioned the following; 

"... I wish to speak to you regarding the fifth principle of the gospel - that being the principle of endurance. I take some liberty here in announcing this principle as the fifth because Joseph Smith wrote in the fourth article of faith: "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost." But the Lord himself declared in section 18 of the Doctrine and Covenants that “as many as repent and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved” (D&C 18:22). ... I wish to suggest that endurance be considered the fifth principle of the gospel, at least for my purposes today.

I have always been interested in the concept of physical endurance or the ability of the body to tolerate stress. This interest was kindled by the agony I endured as a young boy while trying to train for various sports. This agony is best illustrated in my experience as a young tenth grader trying out for the C football team ... I weighed about 110 pounds, and so did the uniform and pads they gave me to wear. I remember the first day of practice and all the stretching and sprinting and twisting and hitting we did. More vividly, I remember the second day of practice
when I couldn’t move because I hurt so badly. I could hardly put on my uniform, let alone practice.

... I learned from early experiences and from a sign that hung in our locker room that “Quitters never win, and winners never quit.” ... My military experience taught me a lot about enduring. ... Not only did we have to endure physical and emotional stress but also the fear of dying. ... What one had to overcome was the fear of these realities, and these fears were constant every day. ... For me to perform my duties under those circumstances necessitated my complete reliance on the Lord to give me the courage necessary to act in spite of my fears. ...

Today, ... my research interests focus on the endurance capacity of man as it relates to physical performance. The exercise physiologist attempts to determine what limits man’s capacity and how those limits can be expanded through training and through other nutritional or pharmacological manipulation. ... to help you understand my deep interest in the principle of endurance. For not only have I marveled at the principles of temporal endurance, but I have sought to understand more fully the meaning of the words and endure to the end in their spiritual sense.
These words are stated throughout the scriptures.

"The greatest strength is the spirit of endurance."
- Lailah Gifty Akita.

My academic experience has helped me develop definitions for endurance. The opposite of endurance is fatigue. Fatigue is defined as the inability to maintain a given intensity of work. It does not mean a complete cessation of work. It is defined as the inability to maintain a set level of effort. 

Endurance, then, would be the ability to maintain a certain level or intensity of work. Spiritually, endurance is the ability to maintain a belief in Christ and to continue to strive to live the commandments and to perfect our lives in spite of the trials of this life. ... We must, as I emphasized before, understand the rules of the game of life. 

First, none of us is exempt from facing life’s trials, and the fact that we are faithful does not assure us of a life without tests. ... Paul understood the reason for trials, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). 

This idea that trials are for our benefit was reinforced by the Lord himself to Joseph Smith when, after enumerating all the trials Joseph may be called on to endure, the Lord concluded by saying in Doctrine and Covenants 122:7, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”

... If we know what to expect, we can be better prepared. I cannot enumerate every test, but I would like you to consider some categories.

First, and most obvious, is the trial of temptation to violate the commandments. 

We must live the commandments to be eligible for exaltation. We cannot knowingly and willingly violate the Lord’s commandments and expect to be blessed spiritually in this life or exalted in the next. We must, therefore, endure to the end by living righteously. The challenge here, of course, is that we do not know when the end is. ... But I wonder if even knowing when the end would come would really protect us against the temptations of the world. 

I am reminded of the condition of the people of Nephi just prior to the appearance of the Lord among them as described in 3 Nephi: "And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few [who] were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."

... And yet we see, in spite of this foreknowledge, that the people did not endure in righteousness save it were a faithful few. We all know what happened to this region prior to the appearance of the Lord. ... The Lord proclaimed to those that remained that they were spared because they were more righteous (see 3 Nephi 9:13). They had endured in righteousness, waiting for the prophecies to be fulfilled concerning the coming of the Lord. ... This is not the time to trifle with the commandments. We must not let Satan cheat us out of our exaltation or cause us to quit the race.'

Stay Tuned until next time.