Faithful endurance was one of the themes of an address delivered by Elder Howard W. Hunter of the Quorum of the Twelve at the April 1980 general conference.

Elder Hunter spoke of the law of friction or resistance, which makes it possible for a person to stop a vehicle that is in motion, or for nails, screws and bolts to stay in place. "The law of friction or resistance that we think of as only applying to science seems to find application in personal lives," Elder Hunter said. "This is probably what Lehi was referring to when he spoke to his son Jacob. He reminded Jacob of the afflictions and sorrows that had come to him because of the rudeness of his brethren, and told him how these afflictions would ultimately result in good. (See 2 Ne. 2:1-2, 11.)

"We came to mortal life to encounter resistance. It was part of the plan for our eternal progress. Without temptation, sickness, pain and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well-being, or joy. The law of opposition makes freedom of choice possible."

He quoted from "biographies of struggle" documented in scripture, including Job who became the exemplar of faith in patient endurance; and Abraham, who fought in war, went through extensive famine, saw his father turn away from the priesthood, suffered persecution for his faith, was ordered to sacrifice his son, and experienced the loss of Sarah, his wife. He spoke of Abraham's grandson Jacob who, as a young man became estranged from his twin brother and didn't return home for many years to see his father, mother or brother. In later years, Jacob mourned for a favorite son, whom he thought was dead, and lost his beloved Rachel, who died in childbirth.

Elder Hunter spoke also of the Apostle Paul. "From the day of his dramatic conversion, he experienced great trial and personal affliction," Elder Hunter said of the early apostle. "He was imprisoned for his faith, beaten, stoned and, in his own words, buffeted by Satan. Yet he wrote:

" 'Most gladly . . . will I . . . glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.' " (2 Cor. 12:9.)

Elder Hunter said that the Prophet Joseph Smith, in comparing his own adversity to that of Paul, once wrote: " 'I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation; for to this day has the God of my fathers delivered me.' " (D&C 127:2.)

Elder Hunter added, "Today other biographies of faith are being written — Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends — yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, 'When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.' " (Job 23:10.)