Enduring action; all the way to the end! Why? How? Because He is with you to the end.
Endure means to last; to continue in the same state without perishing; to remain; to abide.
Action means an act; a deed.
Enduring action means to continue doing without perishing.
I was on the last 11 miles of a 50K foot race to the top of Pinal Mountain. I had already climbed more than 4,300’ and 17.5 miles to Pinal Peak with consistent ease. I was now on my way down through the foothills of the Pinal Mountains to downtown Globe, AZ. My body began to give out. My knees ached with the most excruciating pain I had ever felt.
I could no longer run. I chose to walk to feel relief.
I had a great desire to finish and knew I would finish. Although the question still floated around in the back of my mind with every painful step, “What if I don’t finish?”
I am reminded of the wisdom that King Benjamin taught his people. “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man run faster than he has strength.” Mosiah 4:27
Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “Many persons, in dealing with the pressures of life, have developed their own ways of handling stress and ‘people fatigue.’ I offer some confirmation and encouragement for them to continue pacing themselves. Those who have worked out things reasonably well likely are aligned with scriptural counsel.”
I wanted to finish in a particular timeframe. Please know, I am a regular runner and had run my 8th marathon several months before. In my training for this run, I ran to the top of Flat Iron (5 Miles and 2,676’ Elevation Gain) several times before the race. The problem is that I wanted to accomplish something in a timeframe that was not reasonable because my longest training run was only 8 miles.
And to think of it. I wanted to run 31 miles in a specific timeframe that was not realistic. I had not trained properly for a 50K foot race with nearly 6,300’ of elevation gain and 6,000’ of elevation loss. I did not maintain the appropriate distance in my training. I had not “worked out things reasonably well” beforehand.
Do you ever feel urgency to complete a task in a timeframe that is unrealistic for you?
We are both in the same boat and possibly with the Prophet Joseph Smith. “A revelation was given to [him] at a time when he must have been exceedingly anxious to finish the important and urgent translation of the Book of Mormon.”
The Lord told him, “Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end” (D&C 10:4).
It is not hard to finish a 50K foot race. It is actually quite easy. It’s as easy as walking to the mailbox and back. It is merely putting one foot in front of another. It does, however, require a great deal of effort. Actually, it requires much more effort than walking to the mailbox and back.
- Enduring action can be done until you accomplish the work at hand.
- Enduring action requires faith which is a principle of action.
- Enduring action requires a belief and a hope that it will get done. It does NOT mean to “run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable” you.
- Enduring action is to “be diligent unto the end.”
- Enduring action requires consistent movement.
- Enduring action requires flexibility in pace, speed, and gait.
Each step will be different along the path and different from those running in the same race. Some steps will be great strides. Some steps will require technical footwork as you run along a stony path. Some steps will require you to slow down as you climb uphill. Some steps will require great mental exertion as you painfully move forward.
Enduring action is required to accomplish the work you have been called to do. What is the result of being faithful and accomplishing that work? The Lord “will crown the faithful with joy and with rejoicing.” D&C 52:43
My family was waiting for me at the end. They were literally 20 feet away on the other side of the finish line. I felt like a rockstar passing through the finish line with my wife and kids cheering and running up to me, surrounding me, and hugging me as we jumped in unison. I felt great joy and rejoiced in that accomplishment.
What is your 50K that you have been called to complete? There is no need for urgency, only acting in faith, trusting that through consistent action the work will get done.
How do you get it all done?
Here is a simple outline of how to get anything done.
Make a list of everything you want to get done.
Pick one thing to get done.
Why do you want to do this?
When will you get it done?
Make a list of everything you have to do to get it done.
Make a list of all of the obstacles that will keep you from getting it done.
What will you do to overcome each obstacle you face?
Track your progress until it gets done.
Allow yourself to feel the joy that comes from the accomplishment and remember to celebrate. But, not too long. There is more to do…if you want.
Rinse and repeat for the next thing you want to accomplish.
For those of you that I am currently coaching and for those of you who I will be coaching I repeat the words that Mormon wrote to his son, Moroni, to you.
Enduring action; all the way to the end! Why? How? Because the Lord says, “I am with [you] to the end.” D&C 24:10
If you want help applying the Principle of Enduring Action in your life please feel free to download my free PDF Booklet, “How to Intentionally Apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ”.
