Cecil O. Samuelson, President of BYU in Provo, Utah, spoke on enduring to the end and emphasized how "we must realize that what we do and how we do it is inescapably wrapped up in our individual relationship with Jesus Christ" in his Jan. 22 devotional address to the BYU-Hawaii family.
"Enduring well means that we strive to live . . . in the way that the mortal Savior did, but especially to follow His pattern in the ways that He would have us face our own unique and personal challenges," said President Samuelson, who is also a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Having said this, for most of us, it is far easier to conceive of what enduring to the end is and why we should do it than it is to answer the basic question: Exactly how should we do it."
In exploring the "how" of enduring, President Samuelson pointed out part of the plan and purpose of our lives is to experience problems, difficulties, disappointments, illnesses and frustrations. Doing so is "not always easy and it is not rare for even good people who know better to trip and fall."
"I am more grateful than ever before for the wonderful principle of repentance and the unspeakable assurances that come from the Savior's Atonement, because without them even the best and strongest would be lost," he said
"I now fully believe that we are all at risk, whatever our age and our circumstances, until we arrive at that time described by one of the brethren when 'we are safely dead' or have completed our mortal probations," he added, "We have great confidence in you young people and your capacities, but we also know how hard Satan works to derail your eternal progression."
"Why should I make the effort to endure to the end?" President Samuelson asked. "The Savior's own words give the best and most direct answer: [He] that endureth to the end shall be saved [Matthew 10:22] . . . but Nephi adds the additional clarity and understanding when he emphasizes that unless [you] shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, [you] cannot be saved [II Nephi 31:16]."
President Samuelson cited three of the Savior's parables "packed with insight and instruction" to illustrate "both the specifics and the processes that constitute enduring to the end": The parable of the ten virgins [Matt. 25:1-13], the parable of the talents [Matt. 25:14-30], and the parable of the judgment [Matt. 25:31-46].
"To endure to the end well, we must first, always be prepared. Intentions are not enough. We need to have oil in our lamps now and forever," he said.
"Second, we always need to do the best we can with the talents and circumstances we have. We do not need to be compared with anyone else."
"Third, always remember that you are 'on stage,'" President Samuelson said. "That means, in the Savior's analysis, we won't have selective or public responses that we save for special audiences; but rather we will be known for what we are and what we do all of the time, privately and publicly."
"It is these patterns of consistently following the Savior's precepts and examples that constitute enduring to the end," he said.
Reminding the devotional audience of Nephi's question: "Can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? [2 Nephi 31:10]" President Samuelson emphasized we need to "ask ourselves how that standard compares to how we actually are living. We should continue to ask ourselves what we need to be doing better to endure to the end."
He said he has found no relevant scriptures or teachings of the living prophets "that we can be selective in following the Savior. This means that we keep the commandments — all of them. This means that in our daily lives, we constantly remember and apply the lessons from the parables of Jesus that we have reviewed today."
"This means that ultimately we must do what Jesus did in having our lives literally 'swallowed up' in the work and mission of the Savior," President Samuelson said.
"We need to endure so that we can help others endure to the end," he said. "I believe it is no mistake or chance occurrence that you are here. The Lord's hand is in the work of His universities; and some of you, at least, are the evidence of His efforts in your behalf."
"Please understand that this is true, not because you are better than others or that God loves you more," President Samuelson stressed. "I am quite sure that you are not more loved or more important than those not granted this special and unique opportunity. But I am equally sure that the Lord and His servants have seen and see in you the potential for greatness in service and in advancing His work and His glory."