Steadfast and Immovable

At the end of his teachings about the resurrection, Paul encouraged the Corinthians with these words, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). This is very similar language to the final words of King Benjamin to his people: “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his” (Mosiah 5:15). Mormon also described the people in the 1^st year of the reign of the judges among the Nephites with the same phrase: “they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God” (Alma 1:25). The invitation to be steadfast is an important one, and I like one definition I see online for the word: “firm in purpose, resolution, faith.” That is the kind of disciple we want to be and how we want to keep the commandments of God. I think it has essentially the same meaning as “enduring to the end” but to me it has a more positive connotation. Paul also spoke to the Hebrews of the “hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). From Ether we have a similar declaration that “whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether 12:4). Our faith in God brings us hope, and that hope in an eternal reward should lead us to be “sure and steadfast” in the faith now.

                Several other passages in the Book of Mormon also speak of being steadfast in our faith. Lehi invited his son Lemuel, “O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord!” (1 Nephi 2:10) Nephi wrote that the righteous “look forward unto Christ with steadfastness” and he invited each of us in a well-known passage, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (3 Nephi 21:20). We should be steadfast in Christ, meaning that we are unwavering in our faith and trust in Him. This is done, as King Benjamin also taught, through humility and daily devotion: “Humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come” (Mosiah 4:11). To be steadfast we must pray and feast upon His word each day, being as consistent as the rock walls of a valley. Alma taught that the Savior “cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name” (Alma 5:48). As we steadfastly believe, He will forgive us of our sins through His grace. I love this description that Samuel the Lamanite gave of the converted Lamanites, promising blessings “because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days” (Helaman 15:10). These and many other passages invite us to be steadfast, immovable, and sure in our faith and devotion to the Savior throughout our lives. We must be always steadfast so that, like Paul, we can say at the end of our days, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).