Success is usually earned by persevering and not becoming discouraged when one encounters challenges, President James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency, said at the priesthood session Saturday evening.

President James E. Faust

He cited a list a young returned missionary recently shared with him of things a mission teaches that promote perseverance: how to organize and use time wisely; the importance of hard work — that you reap what you sow; leadership skills; people skills; the value of gospel study; respect for authority; the importance of prayer; and humility and dependence on the Lord.

President Faust said that when he attended Granite High School in Salt Lake City in the 1930s, he had friends who excelled in athletics, drama, music and speech. "Some of them went on to achieve success in life, but too many of those gifted and able young people did not persevere and failed to achieve their potential. In contrast, several less-visible young men and women at that same school worked diligently, persevered and continued with their education to become outstanding doctors, engineers, educators, lawyers, scientists, businessmen, artisans, electricians, plumbers and entrepreneurs."

As an outstanding example of perseverance, he mentioned Madame Marie Curie who, with her husband Pierre, worked in less-than-optimal conditions to isolate radium from low-grade uranium ore. "And after their 487th experiment had failed, Pierre threw up his hands in despair and said, 'It will never be done. Maybe in a hundred years, but never in my day.' Marie confronted him with a resolute face and said, 'If it takes a hundred years, it will be a pity, but I will not cease to work for it as long as I live.' She was eventually successful, and cancer patients have benefited greatly from her perseverance."

President Faust told of some determined missionaries in Hawaii who saved the life of their colleague, Elder Lorenzo Snow, in 1864, when he was near to death from drowning. Having done all they knew how to do, they were impressed to do something unusual for that day and time, which amounted to what is known today as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. President Snow, of course, went on to become the president of the Church.

"You brethren will be interested to know," President Faust said, "that the Alma Smith (one of the missionaries) in this story was the boy who was shot in the hip at Haun's Mill, destroying the hip joint and socket. His mother dressed the terrible wound with some balsam, and then was inspired to have him lie on his face for five weeks. A flexible gristle grew in place of the missing joint and socket so that he was not only able to live a normal life, but also to serve a mission to Hawaii and give a lifetime of service to the Church."

President Faust described the perseverance of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young as examples set by latter-day prophets of determination through priesthood, prayer and work. He recalled President Gordon B. Hinckley's response in a press conference in 1995, when he was introduced as the president of the Church: "Carry on. Yes. Our theme will be to carry on the great work which has been furthered by our predecessors."

"Each of us," President Faust said, "should serve faithfully and diligently in our priesthood callings until the end of our days. Some might wonder, 'How long do I have to be a home teacher?' My answer is that home teaching is a priesthood calling. To serve in the calling of a home teacher is a privilege as long as our bishop and priesthood leaders feel we are able to do so."

He said the Lord requires those who desire to be baptized into the Church to have a determination to serve Him to the end.

"As the Lord said, if we are to be His disciples we must continue in His word. The Lord has blessed the Church and its members in remarkable ways because of their faithfulness and perseverance."