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Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3

Enduring to the End

"Lesson 15: Enduring to the End," Aaronic Priesthood Manual 3, 55

OBJECTIVE

Each young man will learn what it means to endure to the end and understand that the hardships of mortality can help us learn.

PREPARATION

SUGGESTED LESSON DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Story

David Merrell stepped off the plane in Tokyo, eager to begin his mission. David was slender, clean cut, and slightly freckled. David was spiritual and had a positive attitude, but otherwise he was an average elder. He had to make the same adjustments to a mission that other elders make. He gradually began to find real joy and success as he humbled himself before the Lord.

One day, David noticed that a small growth on his shoulder had enlarged considerably. He went to a doctor to have it checked. He received tragic news in that doctor's office. He had a melanoma, a deadly form of cancer. Skilled Japanese surgeons removed the growth, but David was sent home for further surgery, which stripped him of the muscles in his shoulder and neck. Large arteries and veins were also removed, and David suffered great pain as the blood was rerouted to his brain.

His recovery was slow and painful, but his will was indomitable. He began to discover just how much spiritual strength he possessed. His only thought was to get back into the mission field. He swam daily in order to increase his physical strength. Finally he was ready. David felt a great, sweeping feeling of victory as he stepped off the airplane, this time in Oregon, where he was to continue his missionary labors.

David Merrell completed his mission in Oregon, and a year later he completed his earthly mission.

Chalkboard discussion

Explain that it may seem that if a young man is in the mission field serving the Lord, he should be protected from all harm and illness.

Summarize the young men's thoughts on the chalkboard.

Writing activity

Distribute the paper and pencils. Ask each young man to write down a conflict, opposition, or problem he is now facing. Explain that no one will see his paper. Suggest that the young men take notes on how they can overcome the problem they wrote down.

Opposition in All Things

Scripture and chalkboard discussion

Explain that we can better understand why we have suffering and death if we understand the nature and purpose of mortality. Explain that the scriptures tell us why we have suffering and problems. Review what the young men have learned about the fall of Adam. Explain that the Fall brought into the world the possibility for opposition, or suffering and adversity.

Have the young men read 2 Nephi 2:11, 22-24.

Discuss with the young men why there could be no righteousness, holiness, or good without opposition.

Have a young man read 2 Nephi 2:15-16. Write the word agency on the chalkboard, and ask one of the young men to read verse 16 again.

Innocent Suffering Brings Spiritual Growth When We Endure with Faith

Story

Ask the young men to listen for some of the hardships faced by early Church leaders in the following account:

"Joseph Smith and his five companions were imprisoned in Liberty, Clay County, for a period of six months. Here they suffered, during that time, many untold hardships. Much of the time they were bound in chains. Their food was often not fit to eat, and never wholesome. ... Several times poison was administered to them in their food, which made them sick nigh unto death, and only the promised blessings of the Lord saved them. Their bed was on the floor, or on the flat side of a hewn white oak log, and in this manner they were forced to suffer. Is it any wonder that they cried in the anguish of their souls unto the Lord, for relief from such inhuman treatment?" (Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], p. 210).

Scriptures and discussion

Explain that sections 121 and 122 of the Doctrine and Covenants were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was a prisoner in Liberty Jail. Read and discuss Doctrine and Covenants 121:1-3, 6-8, and D&C 122:7-8 with the young men.

Story

In your own words, tell the following story of a young woman who suffered for the gospel. The story is related by President Gordon B. Hinckley.

"I have often read the words of a thirteen-year-old girl, my wife's grandmother. ... Her family was converted in Brighton, England, in 1856. They sold their possessions and sailed from Liverpool with 900 others on the vessel Horizon. After six weeks at sea they landed at Boston and then traveled by steam train to Iowa City for fitting out.

"There they purchased two yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, a wagon, and a tent. They were assigned to travel with and assist one of the handcart companies.

"At Iowa City their first tragedy also occurred. Their youngest child, less than two years of age, suffering from exposure, died and was buried in a grave never again visited by a member of the family. My wife's grandmother, then a thirteen-year-old girl, wrote of their experiences:

" 'We traveled from fifteen to twenty-five miles a day ... till we got to the Platte River. ... We caught up with the handcart companies that day. We watched them cross the river. There were great lumps of ice floating down the river. It was bitter cold. The next morning there were fourteen dead. ... We went back to camp and had our prayers and ... sang "Come, Come Ye Saints, No Toil Nor Labor Fear." I wondered what made my mother cry that night. ... The next morning my little sister was born. It was the twenty-third of September. We named her Edith. She lived six weeks and died. ... She was buried at the last crossing of the Sweetwater.

" 'When we arrived at Devil's Gate it was bitter cold. We left many of our things there. ... My brother James ... was as well as he ever was when we went to bed that night. In the morning he was dead. ...

" 'My feet were frozen; also my brother's and my sister's. It was nothing but snow. We could not drive the pegs in our tents. ... We did not know what would become of us. Then one night a man came to our camp and told us ... Brigham Young had sent men and teams to help us. ... We sang songs; some danced, and some cried. ...

" 'My mother never got well. ... She died between the Little and Big Mountains. ... She was forty-three years of age. ...

" 'We arrived in Salt Lake City nine o'clock at night the eleventh of December, 1856. Three out of the four that were living were frozen. My mother was dead in the wagon. ...

" 'Early next morning Brigham Young came. ... When he saw our condition, our feet frozen and our mother dead, tears rolled down his cheeks. ...

" 'The doctor amputated my toes ... while the sisters were dressing mother for her grave. ... That afternoon she was buried.

" 'I have often thought of my mother's words before we left England. "Polly, I want to go to Zion while my children are small so that they can be raised in the Gospel of Jesus Christ." ' (Mary Goble Pay, MS in possession of author.)

"We need so very, very much a strong burning of that faith in the living God and in his living, resurrected Son, for this was the great, moving faith of our gospel forebears" ("The Faith of the Pioneers," Ensign, July 1984, pp. 5-6).

Explain that Mary Goble Pay went on to raise a large and wonderful family, some of whom became great leaders in the Church.

Help bring out that those who persecuted and opposed the Saints had their agency as well as the Saints who embraced and defended the gospel. If we endure opposition well, often the most valuable gospel learning experiences come to us through trials and difficulties.

Quotation and discussion

Ask the young men to listen to Elder Spencer W. Kimball's thoughts:

"The basic Gospel law is Free Agency. To force us to be careful or righteous would be to nullify that fundamental law, and growth would be impossible.

"Should we be protected always from hardship, pain, suffering, sacrifice or labor? Should the Lord protect the righteous? Should He immediately punish the wicked? If growth comes from fun and ease and aimless irresponsibility, then why should we ever exert ourselves to work or learn or overcome? ...

"Is there not wisdom in His giving us trials that we might rise above them, responsibilities that we might achieve, work to harden our muscles, sorrows to try our souls?" (Tragedy or Destiny, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Provo, 6 Dec. 1955], p. 2).

By Enduring, Each of Us Can Overcome Sorrow and Disappointment

Chalkboard discussion

Explain that President Ezra Taft Benson gave a talk in general conference that deals with twelve ways that we can overcome sorrow, disappointment, and depression (in Conference Report, Oct. 1974, pp. 91-93; or Ensign, Nov. 1974, pp. 65-67). Write each key word on the chalkboard and discuss it, using the quotation as needed. Explain that many problems may require only one or two of these solutions.

5. Health: "The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That's why the Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124). ... Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body can promote mental depression. ... Rest and physical exercise are essential."

Explain that by using one or more of these methods we can overcome sorrow, disappointment, despair, or discouragement. We can learn to overcome opposition.

The Savior Shows How to Endure to the End

Poster

Present the following scripture on a poster: "Unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved" (2 Nephi 31:16).

Chalkboard discussion

List the young men's responses on the chalkboard. Answers could include the following:

Scripture and discussion

Have a young man read Matthew 27:46 and Luke 23:34.

Sometimes the Test of Endurance Is Prosperity

Scriptures and discussion

Have the young men turn to Helaman 6:9-17, and have them read the verses silently.

Have a young man read 2 Nephi 28:21.

Explain that Nephi predicted the conditions of the last days. One of the great messages that the Book of Mormon has for our day is that prosperity often begets wickedness. Wickedness is a greater tragedy than death, pain, suffering, or any other condition of mortal life. Remaining humble and righteous in the midst of prosperity can be one of the greatest challenges in enduring to the end.

Conclusion

Adviser presentation

Explain that through prayer and righteous living we come close to the Lord so that when difficult experiences arise we will have the strength to face them. We must always be watchful that the prosperity of our day does not cause us to forget our relationship with the Lord and the things in life that really matter.

Challenge

Challenge the young men to set a goal for themselves to live in the celestial kingdom and center their lives on that goal. Challenge them to choose one or more of the points listed earlier in the lesson from Elder Benson's general conference address to help them overcome the problem or conflict that they wrote on their paper.

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