In contrast to the convert who rejects the Lord after baptism and confirmation, the Lord has promised in remarkably simple words that he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. Nephi qualifies this statement by explaining what it is we are to endure, a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God. “Endure to the end” does not mean to endure to the end of a sacrament meeting, to endure to the end of a calling, to endure to the end of a trial, or to endure to the end of a boring lesson. The phrase is used all to often as a synonym for patience. What it really means is to endure to the end of your life never diverting from the path of discipleship in following the example of the Son of the living God.
Neal A. Maxwell
“Our emphasis, therefore, should be on ‘doing’ and ’becoming,” not just on surviving; on serving others, not just serving time.
“Thus this quality of graceful endurance includes, but is more than, hanging on ’for one moment more.’ Passing beyond breaking points without breaking takes the form of endurance.” (Not My Will, But Thine, p. 115)
Neal A. Maxwell
“Hence we are not merely to exist to the end but are to persist in coping with what is occurring in the holy present. If we will follow the example of ’the Son of the living God,” great things await us (see 2 Nephi 31:16). ’Nevertheless, he that endureth in faith and doeth my will, the same shall overcome, and shall receive an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration shall come’ (D&C 63:20). ’And all they who suffer persecution for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake yet shall they partake of all this glory’ (D&C 101:35).
"Even yesterday’s spiritual experience, however, does not guarantee us against tomorrow’s relapse. Persistence thus matters greatly. More than a few, for instance, have had supernal, spiritual experiences only to fall away later; or, more often, merely to pull off to the side of the road, though intending only a brief rest stop.
“Hence the emphasis on enduring well to the end is wise, simply because we are at risk till the end!…Included in the enduring process is meeting the test of being constantly improved. Remodeling is costly and painful. But how can we realistically expect the arduous process of putting off the old man and putting on the new man to be otherwise?” (If Thou Endure It Well, p. 122-3)
Marion G. Romney
"If I had the power, I would impress every member of the Church with the transcendent import to himself of strictly obeying the principles of the gospel. In these remarks I hope I can so present this matter that at least one of you will join with me in a resolution to make a greater effort to do so in the future than we have ever made in the past. With the great prize of eternal life set before us, and in light of the emphasis the Lord has put upon the fact that this eternal life is attainable only upon condition that we ’endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God,’ it does seem to me, that no Latter-day Saint should be content to stand day after day in the same place on the way to eternal life.
“…Because there are so many people about us who have no vision of the goal to which we are inspired by the gospel, we are in danger of becoming surfeited with the things of the world and are apt to slacken in our daily striving to move onward in our quest for eternal life. It has therefore been one of the burdens of Church leadership in all dispensations to encourage the Saints to keep these things constantly in their remembrance.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1956, p. 16)