By Ryan Jensen, Church News
As President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, ministered in the Dominican Republic in November 2024, he observed a common thread among some questions asked by members, leaders and missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Those questions revolved around how to endure through hard times.
He answered the questions in a variety of ways over the course of that four-day ministry. As he concluded his time there, President Holland sat down for a final interview and gave counsel on persevering to the end.

“We were talking about people who have difficult lives or troubles that come. But we all do. Everybody does,” he said.
Stay on Board the Ship
Comparing life’s challenges to the sometimes roaring seas, President Holland encouraged those experiencing the confusion that comes with hard times to ride out the storm.

“Do not abandon the ship when the waves are a little high,” he said. “That is when you tie yourself in and get the life jacket on, and you hold on to an oar, and you do not move.”
President Holland said that getting out of the boat — which symbolizes the gospel of Jesus Christ in this example — is leaving its protection behind.
Heavenly Father Loves His Children
And while facing adversity, President Holland also taught the importance of remembering that Heavenly Father loves all His children.
He counseled that individuals should “not assume that the first time there is trouble that God hates me, or God does not love me, or He does not answer my prayers.”
Looking to the Savior’s life as an example, President Holland said Jesus Christ could have looked around at people who appeared ungrateful for His sacrifice and opted to not see it through. But He did. He completed His atoning sacrifice on behalf of all humankind.

“I am grateful that for my sake and yours and everybody we know and our children and our children’s children, that He was able to see that through,” President Holland said.
Focus on the Future
Another way President Holland taught to help navigate past life’s obstacles is to focus on the future and Heavenly Father’s promises to those who are faithful to their covenants with Him.
“We believe that we are gods in embryo. … But how does that happen? What are the mechanics of that?” he asked.
Answering his own question, President Holland taught that in both this life and the life after mortality, learning comes line upon line and precept upon precept.
“If you say: ‘I want to be long-suffering. It is just that I do not want to suffer, and I do not want it to be for very long. But I am really for long-suffering.’ Well, that just is not the way it works. We get these opportunities to grow inch by inch, experience by experience,” he said.
Blue Ribbons and Gold Medals
Each individual’s journey may be unique, but the course is set by a Heavenly Father who knows the capacity of each of His children. President Holland said the course to be run cannot be shortened by the runner but must be completed to earn a heavenly reward.
“They give the blue ribbons down at the end of the track. They do not give them up at the front,” he said.
At the finish line, young single adults gather and talk as the Utah Area YSA Conference holds a 5K sunset fun run at the Saratoga Springs Utah Temple on Saturday, August 12, 2023. Photo by Scott G Winterton, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2025 Deseret News Publishing Company.
And for those who may not feel like carrying on, President Holland recalled something he learned from an Olympic medalist, Don Schollander. At one point, Schollander, who studied at Yale University immediately prior to President Holland, held 38 American swimming records. Someone once asked him how to become a championship swimmer.
“You kick when you don’t want to kick, and you stroke when you don’t want to stroke. That is how you win,” Schollander reportedly said.

President Holland then emphasized that each person is like the Savior in that each must work hard to complete their life’s voyage.
“The victory is at the end of the journey. That is the way it was with Christ. That is the way it is for us,” he said.
Copyright 2025 Deseret News Publishing Company.