Several weeks ago, our mission president asked the office staff to prepare a Christmas day devotional for the junior missionaries (the young missionaries called to proselyting assignments in our area). As our topic, we were given the Doctrine of Christ as found in the Book of Mormon. The Doctrine of Christ contains the basic tenets of conversion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These five principles include Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. There were five sets of office staff members who were each given one of these topics and asked to prepare a 15-minute presentation. The junior missionaries were divided into their five zones, and we taught five rotations of our given subject. This devotional took place in the visitor center of the Laie Temple on Christmas day afternoon. Virginia and I were assigned to teach on Enduring to the end.

It was a humbling assignment to teach young people on the topic of endurance. It required me to consider the numerable challenges, trials, and tribulations I’ve waded through in the years since I was their age, perhaps 45 years ago to be sure. No doubt many of them have already faced difficult times in their young lives and would have a thing or two to teach me about patience and fortitude. Nevertheless, this was our assignment. Going into my lesson preparation I had several feelings about the presentation:

1. it was Christmas day, a day of celebration and not a day to listen to an old man ramble on about stories of his past

2. this generation is much more tech savvy, and a lecture format probably wouldn’t have been the best way to engage them

3. I wanted them to be taught more by the Spirit than by me

I spent nearly a week creating a PowerPoint slide show, first to share images of individuals facing challenging times in their lives, and then followed by a set of images of the Savior accompanied with scriptures, mostly from the New Testament that testified of the divine promises of endurance.

In the process of my research and building the slide show, important truths arose in my consciousness and inspired my understanding of the beauty and simplicity of our Father’s plan for each of us. My first impression was that this doctrine is plain, easy, and clear enough for a child of 8-years old to understand, the age at which young people are baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The second spiritual prompting I had was much more profound, and applicable even in my life, that the first four principles are the tools we need to overcome the trials we face in the many decades that follow as we continue our own “enduring to the end”.

Though faith is required to begin one’s journey as a disciple of Christ, there isn’t a quantifiable amount or limit to reach in any given life. Our faith is variable; stronger at some times and lacking at others. In general, I know my faith has increased steadily over many years with only minor lapses, or periods of near stagnant growth. There isn’t a one of us that has completed all the repentance necessary to qualify us to stand before our Savior without a measure of guilt. Repentance is an ongoing activity throughout our lives. In fact, President Nelson, prophet and president of the church teaches us to discover the joy of daily repentance. When we are baptized, we covenant to keep God’s commandments, take his name upon us, and remember him always. That covenant is renewed weekly as we partake of the sacrament and recommit ourselves to do better. By the choices we make and our personal worthiness, we place ourselves in a condition that strengthens and fortifies the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. With these four principles, the first four of the five components of the Doctrine of Christ, we are then able to find the resiliency, the stamina, and the capacity to face the challenges of life that are on our path for the remainder of our mortal journey.

And lest anyone feel that adversity is an unfair principle or a harsh taskmaster, I know from my own experience that metal is only refined through heat, that rocks are polished by abrasion, and character is formed by personal integrity in the face of difficult times. We grow by exercise. Growth is inherently painful. And growth leads to change.

I think the most important lesson I learned by preparing for this devotional is that my trials are a gift from God. He wants me to be the best version of myself, and that requires that I change, that I change my heart. Having said that, I now know that I still have yet a long journey ahead and more trials await me.

Romans 5:3-4
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope

Deuteronomy 31:8
And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory

James 1:2-4
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

2 Nephi 31:15
And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.