Never Give In

George A. Smith was given this piece of advice by the Prophet Joseph:

“He told me I should never get discouraged, whatever difficulties might surround me. If I was sunk in the lowest pit of Nova Scotia and all the Rocky Mountains piled on top of me, I ought not to be discouraged but hang on, exercise faith, and keep up good courage and I should come out on the top of the heap at last.”    -History of George Albert Smith by Himself, p. 49

I like that.  I just found this tidbit about the word endure in the notes to a talk by Elder Russel M. Nelson.

The word endure comes from two Latin roots. The prefix en means “within.” The remainder comes from the verb durare, which means “to be firm or solid.” Thus, to endure means “to become firm within yourself.” That meaning carries into the original languages of the Bible. In the Hebrew language of the Old Testament, the root word ’amanmeans “to render firm” or “to be faithful, to trust.” It was often translated as “faithful,” but never as “faith” alone. ’Aman meant more than faith. It was not a passive term; it meant “a firm resolve to be faithful.”  (...continued in the original, see it here. Click "show references at the bottom, reference #1)

Elder Ramstedt: It's like President Spencer W. Kimball would say. "Do it."

My favorite part of the concept of endurance is that it isn't meant to mean "grit your teeth and bear it". Sure, sometimes we've got to do that, but the best meaning of endurance has the flavor of peace and even joy and cheerfulness to it!  When Joseph Smith was weighed down in Liberty Jail, the first thing the Lord said to him was "My son, peace be unto thy soul."

We can find peace now. We don't have to cross some finish line, we only have to commit ourselves to the God who created us, trust Him, ask for His help, and then follow His advice. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.