· Apr 5: Youth baptism 10am
· Apr 11-12: Stake/ward Temple days
· Apr 13: Marvin Goldstein concert 7pm
· Apr 19: Easter Egg Hunt 2pm
· May 4: Temple dedication (Temple recommend required)
· May 14: Missionary Zone Conference Luncheon
The Strength to Endure – by Elder Richard J. Maynes of the Presidency of the Seventy
To My Grandchildren – By President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency
In Moses 1:39, we read: “For behold, this is my awork and my bglory—to bring to pass the cimmortality and deternal elife of man.”
What is immortality? Because of the Atonement, to live forever in a resurrected state; a gift through the grace of God.
What is eternal life? The prize, the goal; to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and our family in the Celestial Kingdom; the potential to be like Heavenly Father.
Elder L. Tom Perry gives 5 ingredients for eternal life:
- Faith
- Repentance
- Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins (by proper authority)
- Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost (also by proper authority)
- Endure to the end.
What is endurance? Continually striving, regardless of circumstances; strength; keep going; progression; recommitting; being firmly planted, but continuing to move onward.
Elder Richard J. Mayles said, “When we face adversity in life and our desire is to emulate the attributes of Jesus Christ, it is essential to be spiritually prepared. Being spiritually prepared means we have developed spiritual stamina or strength – we will be in good shape spiritually. We will be in such good shape spiritually that we will consistently choose the right. We will become immovable in our desire and ability to live the gospel. As an anonymous author once said, ‘You must become the rock the river cannot wash away.’”
How do we endure to the end? In 2 Nephi 31:20, we read: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a asteadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and aclove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and dendure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall haveeeternal life.”
Elder Richard J. Maynes said, “Because we face challenges every day, it is important that we work on our spiritual stamina every day. When we develop spiritual stamina, the false traditions of the world, as well as our personal daily challenges, will have little negative impact on our ability to endure righteousness.
Elder Maynes further said: “Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct proportion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversion. When our testimonies are strong and we are truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, our choices will be inspired by the Holy Ghost, they will be Christ-centered, and they will support our desire to endure in righteousness.”
Elder Maynes closes his remarks as follows: “So whatever challenges you wake up to each morning, remember – with the spiritual strength you develop, coupled with the Lord’s help, at the end of the race you will be able to enjoy the confidence that the Apostle Paul expressed when he said: ‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.’” (2 Tim. 4:6-8)
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