Chapter 13e - Plan of Salvation - Endure to the End
Is Entering the Gate Enough?
Chapter 13e – Endure to the End
Imagine a runner who begins a marathon perfectly. He starts at the correct line, follows the course, and runs faithfully for twenty-five miles. But just before the finish line, he quits.
Would he receive the prize?
Many Christian churches teach that once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, he is saved regardless of what happens afterward.
Other Christian churches teach that discipleship is a lifelong journey and that one must remain faithful to Christ until the end.
Joseph Smith taught much like the second example.
He taught that in order to enter the kingdom of God, we must:
Exercise faith in Jesus Christ
Repent of our sins
Be baptized by the proper authority
Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands
Then endure to the end
Joseph Smioth taught that discipleship is not a single moment in time, but a lifelong covenant relationship with God.
But was Joseph Smith teaching something new? Or was he teaching the same doctrine taught by Jesus Christ?
The Bible clearly teaches that enduring to the end is an essential part of salvation.
The Savior Himself taught on several occasions that those who are saved are those who remain faithful until the end.
Matthew 10:22
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 24:13
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Mark 13:13
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Notice what Jesus did not say.
He did not say, “He that begins shall be saved.”
He did not say, “He that believes for a season shall be saved.”
He said:
“He that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
The Savior's message is clear. Entering the path is not enough. We must remain on the path.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Part 1 - The Parable of the Sower
Christ taught this same doctrine through one of His most famous parables—the Parable of the Sower.
Mark 4:14–19
“The sower soweth the word.
And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”
This parable is significant because Christ was not describing unbelievers alone. He was describing different responses to the gospel after it had been heard.
Some never receive the word.
Others receive it gladly but fall away when trials come.
Still others receive it but become distracted by worldly concerns.
Only those who continue faithfully and bring forth fruit receive the full blessings of the gospel.
Christ taught that some endure only for a season, while others remain faithful and fruitful throughout their lives.
The doctrine of enduring to the end is therefore not merely a teaching of Joseph Smith. It is a teaching of Jesus Christ Himself.
Part 2 - According to What We Sow
Immediately after teaching the Parable of the Sower, Christ gave another important principle.
Mark 4:24–25
“Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”
These verses teach that God rewards faithfulness.
The more faithfully we receive and act upon the light and truth we are given, the more light and truth God is willing to bestow.
This raises an important question.
If all believers receive exactly the same reward regardless of faithfulness, what did Christ mean when He taught that rewards would be measured according to what we have received and what we have done with it?
The Savior taught that there are differing rewards and differing blessings based upon our faithfulness and endurance.
What we sow, we reap.
What we measure out, will be measured back to us.
Part 3 - A Warning for the Last Days
While contemplating this doctrine, it is worth remembering a prophecy given by the Apostle Paul.
2 Timothy 4:3–4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
Paul warned that a day would come when many would no longer endure sound doctrine.
Instead of seeking truth, they would seek teachers who tell them what they want to hear.
The warning itself contains the principle of endurance.
Truth must be embraced and endured.
Faith must be maintained.
The gospel must be lived throughout our lives.
Part 4 - The Promise Comes After Endurance
One of the beautiful themes found throughout scripture is that God's promises come after faithful endurance.
Hebrews 6:15
“And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.”
The pattern is simple.
God makes promises.
We make covenants.
Then we demonstrate our faithfulness through patient endurance.
Only then do we obtain the promise.
This principle should remind us of the ordinances and covenants discussed in the previous chapters.
Baptism is a covenant.
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a covenant blessing.
Temple ordinances are covenants.
Eternal marriage is a covenant.
The blessings attached to those ordinances are realized as we faithfully endure throughout our lives.
Part 5 - The Example of Job
The scriptures repeatedly praise those who endure faithfully through trials.
James 5:11
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
Job lost his wealth.
He lost his children.
He lost his health.
Yet through all of his suffering, he remained faithful to God.
His example reminds us that endurance is often tested during life's greatest trials.
Faith is easy when blessings are abundant.
Faith is proven when adversity comes.
Part 6 - Charity Endureth All Things
Another important element of endurance is that it is part of charity—the pure love of Christ.
Paul included endurance in his famous description of charity.
1 Corinthians 13:7
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
True discipleship is not measured by how we begin.
It is measured by whether we continue to trust God through trials, disappointments, temptations, persecution, and adversity.
The Savior endured to the end for us.
He asks us to endure to the end for Him.
Conclusion
The doctrine of enduring to the end is not unique to Joseph Smith or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Jesus taught it.
Paul taught it.
James taught it.
The author of Hebrews taught it.
The scriptures consistently teach that discipleship is not a single event but a lifelong covenant relationship with God.
Faith must continue.
Repentance must continue.
Obedience must continue.
Charity must continue.
Those who faithfully endure to the end are promised the greatest blessings that God has prepared for His children.
But what about those who never had the opportunity to enter the covenant path at all?
What about the billions of God's children who lived and died without baptism, priesthood authority, temple ordinances, or even a knowledge of Jesus Christ?
Would a just and loving God simply exclude them from His plan?
In the next chapter, we will examine Joseph Smith's doctrine of Salvation for the Dead and compare it with the teachings of the Bible.