Stick To Your Task, Stay In the Boat

Boyd was in Kansas City for the day yesterday.  And so he snapped a picture of the Temple for me on his phone.  

Not much has changed since a few days ago, when the second spire was seen being lifted into place.

And once the walls are enclosed, we won't be able to see progress moving forward ahead as quickly.  Although it will still be progressing, it might seem to be taking a long time.

I think that life is a lot like that.  

Progression takes enduring.

"Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Beginners are many, but enders are few.

Honor, power, place and praise..

Will always come to the one who stays.

Stick to your task till it sticks to you;

Bend at it, sweat at it, smile at it too.

For out of the bend and the sweat and the smile...

Will come life's victories, after awhile."

"What if the Apostle Paul's conversion had not been enduring?  He never would have testified as he did at the end of his ministry;  "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

"What if Jesus had wavered in His commitment to do His Father's will?  His Atonement would not have been accomplished.  The dead would not be resurrected.  The blessings of immortality and eternal life would not be.  But Jesus did endure.  During His final hour, Jesus prayed to His Father, saying, "I have glorified thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

"Some individuals want to jump "out of the boat" before reaching land.  And others, sadly, are persuaded out by companions who insist that they know more about life's perilous journey than do prophets of the Lord.  Problems often arise that are not of your own making.  Some of you may innocently find yourselves abandoned by one you trusted.  But you will never be forsaken by your Redeemer, who said, "I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say."

"Your responsibility to endure is uniquely yours.  But you are never alone.  I testify that the lifting power of the Lord can be yours if you will "come unto Christ" and "be perfected in Him."  You will "deny yourselves of all ungodliness."  And you will "love God with all your might, mind and strength."

"The [then] living prophet of the Lord has issued a clarion call:  "I invite every one of you," said President Hinckley, "to stand on your feet and with a song in your heart move forward, living the gospel, loving the Lord, and building the kingdom.  Together we shall stay the course and keep the faith."

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

"Endure and Be Lifted Up", April 1997 General Conference

I pray that we all may "stick to our tasks, and stay in the boat."  Endure to the end, being faithful through times of discouragement and we will see progression.

Hang in there Temple Chasers.