You disable endorsements from appearing on your profile: http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/33198

What you can't do is prevent getting endorsements in the first place. LinkedIn will not let you disable receiving endorsements.

Could someone confirm that this will still keep my existing endorsements just in case I want to show them again later?

Yes your endorsements are always there. You will continue receiving endorsements too. They just won't be displayed if you "disable" them.

Thanks.

Yeah, I just ignore them.