In Romans chapter 8, Paul tells the Romans about the blessings that come with following Christ’s gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ comprises five parts: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. While seemingly simple, life has a way of complicating what it means to live Christ’s gospel, especially what it means to “endure to the end”. Oftentimes, I find myself questioning whether my imperfect efforts to stay on the path are even worthy of being called discipleship. Paul, seemingly anticipating this struggle, reassures us that no matter how imperfect, Jesus Christ recognizes and loves our efforts: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
One of the great examples of endurance in the Book of Mormon is Moroni. He suffered many of the hardships Paul describes. He watched as all of his people were killed until he was left alone, on the run and hunted. Despite this persecution, he continued to live Christ’s gospel. He expresses his earnest, poignant resolution in Moroni 1:3: “And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.” Refusing to “deny the Christ” by continually striving to remain on His gospel path is an expression of our love for and trust in Him. And, if you are like me and struggle to walk in a perfectly straight line down this road, Paul promises that we can trust in Christ’s love to help us find our way back when we wander off.
-Emma Belnap, Research Assistant