Living Abundantly to the End
Debra Tolman
How do we endure to the end? What exactly does that mean, and what does it look like? If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of trudging along a well-worn path while waiting for the end to come.
Elder Jeffrey R Holland has this to say about enduring to the end: “Often one hears trite, sometimes consciously apologetic reference to enduring to the end as an addition to the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Nevertheless, the doctrine of faithful endurance is infinitely serious, and Nephi declared it to be a basic principle of the gospel of the God and Father of all of us. Enduring to the end is an integral element in the doctrine of Christ, and without it, we would have been better not to have known Him.”
I would like to add a new focus to the phrase endure to the end. Can we think of it as “living abundantly to the end?” While the phrase enduring to the end may feel static, living abundantly to the end feels full of excitement and possibilities. If we can live abundantly to the end, we will find great joy in remaining firm. We will continue to be excited about learning His gospel. We will continue to search for ways to serve and bless the lives of others. We will be motivated to learn and apply what we study. In living abundantly, we will continue to move forward with hope for a brighter day.
My husband and I spend a good deal of time thinking about, planning, and executing strategies to maintain our youthful appearance and health. We have discovered some interesting things. While what we eat and how we move have a great deal to do with our physical health and longevity, the most current research shows that the most important indicator of longevity and good health is the quality of our personal relationships. Chronic loneliness ranks as one of the most lethal risk factors in determining premature mortality. The connection to others cannot be overstated.
In the same way, our spiritual health and growth are tied to our connection to the Heavens. Through connections with our Heavenly Parents and our Savior, we are guided to a more abundant life. We come to understand what living abundantly to the end can mean. God has promised that those who “hearken to His precepts, and lend an ear to His counsel, shall learn wisdom; and He will give more.” We live in a time when He is giving more. More light and knowledge, more opportunity for growth, more understanding of His workings with us individually. But just as we begin to weaken physically if we don’t continue to move, we begin to weaken spiritually when we don’t make efforts to stay connected to the Heavens.
What efforts allow us to remain spiritually healthy and vital? May I suggest praying, reading, and serving to connect us to the Heavens and to the guidance, peace, and love we have been promised? It is through that connection we will truly experience living abundantly to the end. This will not be an easy task. It is intended to stretch us, challenge us, and ultimately refine us. Living abundantly to the end will require the help that is only available from the Heavens and through the grace of the Savior.
Ann Hartmann, editor of a prestigious research journal, wrote: “This editor takes the position that there are many truths and there are many ways of knowing. Each discovery contributes to our knowledge, and each way of knowing deepens our understanding and adds another dimension to the view of the world.” Reading, praying, and serving contribute to our knowledge in different ways. These different ways influence our understanding from their individual and unique perspective and add dimension to our view of the world as God sees it. So, it is important that we find a balance between these three activities.
Praying and reading expand our knowledge and connection to God, but if we do not serve, we lose that vital connection to others. We lose the blessing of knowing we have lifted another and done what He needed us to do. Without service, we neglect to liken the scriptures unto ourselves, as Nephi counsels. Service teaches the truth that we are all connected to one another and to Him. Ministering develops us spiritually and provides the kind of rich social experiences that contribute to our longevity and vitality. We learn vital truths about discipleship that are available only through tender ministering to the needs of another.
In the same way, if we serve but do not pray, we will never understand His deep love for us. We will struggle to know that he accepts our efforts. We will miss the sweet blessings of expressing gratitude. When we express gratitude in daily prayer, we experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. Through prayer, our knowing of Him deepens as we hear His voice and feel His guidance in our lives. We will come to say, as did the Prophet Joseph, “I have learned for myself.”
If we do not study, we miss out on knowing what He knows. We miss the soul-penetrating power of His word and His work. We miss the richness of His gospel. Study of the scriptures keeps us grounded in His gospel and His words. It provides us with a touchstone as we develop priorities and perspectives. It bridles our tendency to judge others unfairly. It allows us to lay our burdens at His feet. We understand His workings among His children. It adds a dimension of clarity to the trials and sorrows we will surely experience in this life.
I learned the importance of seeking what the scriptures held for me many years ago when I was asked to teach gospel classes to the young adults in our area. I was not what I considered a great student of the scriptures. I read and studied enough to teach and function fairly well as a member of my faith, but was lacking in deep understanding and insight. I had a classroom full of bright college-aged students who, by choice, came to class and wanted to learn. It was hard at first. I was developing new brain patterns and new spiritual patterns. The experience changed me from enduring to living abundantly. My family would say I became happier and kinder. I handled the busyness of life better. I felt and shared greater peace. I learned through experience it truly is not enough to serve because I had always done that. There is a sweetness that comes through study, which simply is not available to us any other way.
Reaching out in personal conversation with God, seeking answers and direction in the scriptures, and doing His work by blessing others through service connect us to Him and to everything good. As we find balance between praying, reading, and serving, we find an abundant life. We can live abundantly to the end through His grace and mercy. As we commit to Him on a daily basis, we stand perfected in His perfection, whole in His completeness, supported by His strength, and healed by His grace.
Image: Tree-lined landscape by George de Feure - 1890-1930 Public Domain