All Who Have Endured Valiantly

Understand enduring to the end as spiritual transformation

Elder Bednar teaches that enduring to the end in a gospel sense is not merely hanging on through hardship. It is a higher and holier process of lifelong discipleship in which we come unto Christ and are changed by Him.

But in a spiritual context, enduring is far more than merely persevering tenaciously to complete demanding duties or challenges.

I pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost as we consider a higher and holier understanding of what it means to endure to the end as lifelong disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Enduring to the end is not merely a relentless determination to grit our teeth, hold on to the limits of our physical strength and mental capacity, and push through the challenges and adversities of mortal life; it is so much more than that.

Enduring to the end is the joyous quest of a lifetime—a pressing forward with faith in Jesus Christ in a gradual process of trusting in and receiving help from our Savior to become more like Him.

• The common idea of endurance often focuses on effort, pain, and persistence.
• The gospel meaning of enduring to the end is deeper than merely surviving trials.
• Enduring to the end is part of lifelong discipleship centered in Jesus Christ.
• It involves pressing forward with faith and receiving the Savior’s help.
• It is a joyful process of becoming more like the Savior.

• When have you learned that enduring to the end meant more than just getting through a hard time?
• What experience has taught you that discipleship is a lifelong process rather than a single event?
• When have you felt joy while continuing faithfully through a challenge?
• How has the Savior helped you keep going in a way that changed you spiritually?

Become a new creature in Christ through the Savior

The restored gospel invites us not just to improve behavior but to experience a mighty change of heart. Through the Savior’s merits, mercy, and grace, we can become spiritually transformed and bound to Him through covenants and ordinances.

The Savior’s restored gospel invites us to be spiritually transformed—not merely to improve our behavior.

As we align our character, desires, actions, and what we truly love more closely with God’s will, the Savior can bring about a comprehensive and complete change in us.

We are to become new creatures in Christ.

This mighty spiritual change is possible only “through the merits, … mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.”

As mortal beings, we are in absolute and never-ending need of Heavenly Father’s and the Savior’s help to realize our eternal destiny.

• The gospel is designed to transform our nature, not merely refine outward behavior.
• We align our character, desires, actions, and affections with God’s will.
• Coming unto Christ includes being born again and making sacred covenants.
• Receiving the Holy Ghost and experiencing a mighty change of heart are central to discipleship.
• This change is possible only through the Savior’s Atonement and grace.

• When have you noticed the gospel changing your desires, not just your actions?
• What covenant experience has helped you feel more bound to the Savior?
• When have you recognized a mighty change of heart in your life?
• How have you seen the Savior help you become something better than you could become alone?
• What experience has taught you your need for the Lord’s mercy and grace?

Receive spiritual gifts through the Holy Ghost

Spiritual gifts are divine blessings given by God through the Holy Ghost to bless His children. Elder Bednar emphasizes that these gifts are essential in helping us come unto Christ and become like Him.

Spiritual gifts are blessings and capacities given by God to His children through the power of the Holy Ghost.

All individuals who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by proper priesthood authority and the laying on of hands are eligible to receive spiritual gifts intended “to bless and benefit those who love the Lord and seek to keep His commandments.”

Spiritual gifts are prerequisites for and essential to our coming unto the Savior, being blessed with His attributes, and ultimately becoming more like Him.

The very name “spiritual gifts” teaches a vital lesson.

All such gifts are given by God according to His will and timing; they are not results we earn solely through focused effort and personal discipline.

• Spiritual gifts come through the power of the Holy Ghost.
• Those who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost are eligible to receive spiritual gifts.
• These gifts are intended to bless and benefit God’s children.
• Spiritual gifts are essential to becoming like the Savior.
• They are gifts from God, not merely achievements earned by human effort.

• When have you recognized a spiritual gift in your life or in the life of someone you love?
• How has the Holy Ghost helped you bless another person?
• When have you seen that spiritual growth came as a gift from God rather than only from your own effort?
• What experience has helped you appreciate the gift of the Holy Ghost more deeply?

Let charity possess your heart

Elder Bednar teaches that charity is the pure love of Christ and the greatest of all spiritual gifts. More than something we show occasionally, charity is meant to transform us so deeply that it possesses us.

Mormon testified that “charity is the pure love of Christ” and “the greatest of all” spiritual gifts.

Mormon also taught that “whoso is found possessed of [the spiritual gift of charity] at the last day, it shall be well with him.”

We can possess charity, but ultimately charity should possess us.

As we are blessed to receive this supernal gift, a transformation occurs in our spiritual nature and character.

Being “possessed” of the spiritual gift of charity refers in part to the spiritual development and progress that are the overarching purposes of the Savior’s gospel.

• Charity is the pure love of Christ and the greatest spiritual gift.
• The scriptures connect charity with enduring.
• Charity is not only something we have; it should shape who we are.
• Receiving charity changes our spiritual nature and character.
• The development of charity is central to the purposes of the gospel.

• When have you felt the pure love of Christ for someone else?
• What experience has helped you move from simply doing kind things to becoming more loving?
• When has the Lord softened your heart toward someone difficult to love?
• How have you seen charity change your nature over time?

Do good and become good through Christlike charity

Charity includes acts of kindness and service, but Elder Bednar teaches that its holier purpose is to help us become like Christ. True discipleship includes both righteous actions and a changed state of being.

For disciples of the Savior, charity encompasses both what we do and what we can become as this spiritual gift ultimately possesses us.

At a fundamental level, charity certainly includes acts of compassion, kindness, and generosity directed toward others.

But at a higher and even holier level, charity is the very essence of the “end” toward which we are enduring—becoming new creatures in Christ.

This concluding article of faith is an admonition for us to do good, to be good, and to endure to the end in coming unto and following the Savior and receiving the heavenly gift to love as He loves.

We do not merely perform benevolent deeds; rather, our state of being is changed and becomes increasingly Christlike.

Charity, then, ultimately possesses us.

• Charity includes outward acts of compassion, kindness, and generosity.
• Charity also points to the deeper goal of becoming like Christ.
• The thirteenth article of faith teaches both doing good and enduring in spiritual growth.
• Discipleship is about both action and transformation.
• As our being changes, our love becomes more like the Savior’s love.

• When have you learned that service changed you as much as it helped someone else?
• What experience has shown you the difference between doing a kind act and becoming a kinder person?
• When have you felt the Lord helping you love as He loves?
• How has serving others helped you become more Christlike?

Follow the Savior’s outward-facing example

The Savior consistently turned outward in love and service, even in pain and adversity. As we follow Him, our natural tendency toward selfishness can be replaced by greater concern for others.

The Savior’s divine nature and sublime character were the wellsprings of perfect compassion during His mortal ministry.

The Redeemer of the world turned outward in love and service when He faced spiritual adversity or physical pain—in contrast to the natural man in each of us that turns inward in self-interest, self-centeredness, and selfishness.

As we live as He invites us to live and with His help, our nature and character over time increasingly become more like His.

As we follow, love, and serve the Savior, we gradually focus less on our own desires and interests and more on understanding and addressing the needs of others.

• The Savior’s compassion flowed from His divine nature and character.
• Jesus turned outward in love even during suffering.
• The natural man tends to turn inward in selfishness.
• Following the Savior helps us focus less on ourselves and more on others.
• Over time, the Savior can reshape our character to be more like His.

• When have you seen someone turn outward in service during their own hardship?
• What experience has helped you overcome a selfish tendency and notice another person’s needs?
• When has the Savior helped you serve while you were struggling yourself?
• How have you seen your focus shift from yourself to others over time?

Pray to be filled with the pure love of Christ

Receiving charity requires sincere prayer and dependence on God. Elder Bednar points to the scriptural invitation to pray with all the energy of heart to be filled with Christlike love and become like Him.

“Wherefore, … pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, … that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

• Charity is received from God, not manufactured by willpower alone.
• We are invited to pray earnestly to be filled with this love.
• The purpose of receiving this love is to become like the Savior.
• Becoming like Him prepares us to be with Him.

• When have you specifically prayed for more charity and seen an answer?
• What experience has taught you that Christlike love is a gift from God?
• When has earnest prayer changed the way you felt about another person?
• How has prayer helped you become more like the Savior?

Grow grace for grace through the Savior

Elder Bednar teaches that just as the Savior received grace for grace in mortality, we too can grow gradually and receive of His fulness in due time. Spiritual growth is a process of divine help over time.

The prospect of being blessed in mortality with even a small portion of the character and attributes of Jesus may seem utterly impossible to us.

But the Redeemer “marked the path and led the way.”

The power of His doctrine, covenants and ordinances, and example can bless us in every aspect of our lives.

He “came and dwelt in the flesh,” and “he received not of the fulness at first, but [received and] continued … grace to grace, until he received a fulness.”

As children of God, we also can receive of His fulness “in due time,” following the same “grace for grace” pattern as did the Savior.

• Becoming like Christ may seem impossible from a mortal perspective.
• The Savior showed the path and made growth possible.
• His doctrine, covenants, ordinances, and example bless every part of life.
• The Savior Himself received grace for grace in mortality.
• We also grow gradually and can receive of His fulness in due time.

• When have you seen spiritual growth come gradually rather than all at once?
• What experience has helped you be patient with your own progress?
• How have covenants and ordinances strengthened you over time?
• When have you felt the Lord giving you grace step by step?

Link enduring to the end with charity

Using several scriptural examples, Elder Bednar shows that enduring to the end is inseparably connected with being possessed of the pure love of Christ. Salvation is tied not only to persistence but to transformed Christlike love.

I am now going to read three scriptures that contain the phrase “endure to the end.” I will insert the phrase “is possessed of the pure love of Christ” in each verse so we can learn a vital and eternal lesson.

Enduring to the end is linked inextricably to the spiritual gift of charity.

Enduring to the end is not merely a relentless determination to grit our teeth, hold on to the limits of our physical strength and mental capacity, and push through the challenges and adversities of mortal life; it is so much more than that.

As our love for Him grows ever stronger and deeper, we can be blessed to receive spiritual perspective, the Lord’s empowering grace, and exceedingly great and indescribable joy.

• Elder Bednar reframes key scriptures by connecting endurance with charity.
• Enduring to the end and possessing the pure love of Christ are deeply related.
• Salvation involves more than determination; it involves spiritual transformation.
• As love for the Savior deepens, He blesses us with perspective, grace, and joy.

• When has love for the Savior helped you remain faithful more than sheer determination did?
• What experience has shown you that endurance and charity belong together?
• When have you felt joy or perspective from the Lord while continuing through difficulty?
• How has your love for Jesus Christ deepened during a season of endurance?

Accept the Savior’s invitation and endure valiantly

The Savior’s invitation to come unto Him begins the process of spiritual rebirth, and enduring to the end describes the continuing mighty change of heart throughout life. Elder Bednar closes with a promise that those who endure valiantly for the gospel will receive eternal blessings.

The scriptural phrase “come unto me” is the Savior’s introductory invitation to learn and act in His doctrine and begin a process of spiritual rebirth.

The scriptural phrase “endure to the end” is a repeated reminder of the mighty spiritual change in our hearts that should be ongoing throughout our lives; it also is His promise of what we may become if we truly are possessed of the pure love of Christ.

The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “All thrones and dominions, principalities and powers, shall be revealed and set forth upon all who have endured valiantly for the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

I joyfully witness that each of us, with the Lord’s grace and mercy, can believe all things, hope all things, and endure valiantly all things.

• Coming unto Christ is the beginning of spiritual rebirth.
• Enduring to the end describes ongoing change throughout mortality.
• The Lord promises eternal blessings to those who endure valiantly.
• We can endure valiantly only through the Lord’s grace and mercy.
• Faith, hope, and charity help us endure all things.

• When did you first feel the Savior inviting you to come unto Him more fully?
• What ongoing change in your heart has the gospel produced over the years?
• When have you felt strengthened by the Lord’s grace to endure valiantly?
• What personal example of faith, hope, or charity could you share to testify of enduring in Christ?