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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I don't know a lot about Enos. I know from reading that he was Jacob's son, and I've always been taught that he is one of the greatest examples of how to pray. But I don't know much about him other than that. What was he like as a young man?
Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man - for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - and blessed be the name of my God for it - (Enos 1:1)
He must have been somewhat righteous, in order to recognize that his father brought him up in the ways of the Lord. He had to have been fairly confident in his relationship with God in order to pray has hard and as long as he did. Yet, he felt that he had done some things that needed to be resolved.
And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins. (Enos 1:2)
I've always really liked this verse. The word wrestle just brings out so much emotion. He must have been having quite the struggle with himself and his actions. I don't know that I've ever really felt what that's like - to wrestle before God - but I can imagine that Enos felt heavily weighed down by circumstances in his life. He left to go hunting, and found his mind wandering to the things that his father had taught him about eternal life. He said these words "sunk deep" into his heart.
And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens. (Enos 1:4)
His soul hungered. So he fed it by praying. And oh how he prayed - all day long and into the night. I think about this sometimes, as I'm saying a quick and probably way too repetitive prayer. What faith he must have had to stay on his knees for that long. He had to have had complete faith that he would receive an answer to his prayer, and he stayed until he got it.
And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. (Enos 1:5)
Enos says after this that his "guilt was swept away". His prayer had been answered. But he was not finished. He prayed for his people and for the Lamanites (who had become extremely wicked by this time), and he prayed that the records that he and his descendants were keeping would be preserved. He wanted the records to someday benefit the Lamanites, that, "perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation". To me, this is a prime example of one of the teachings of Jesus:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)
If there was anyone during this time cursing and hating and persecuting Enos' people, it was the Lamanites. Yet he prayed for them. But he didn't stop there. He put his prayer into action:
And I bear record that the people of Nephi did seek diligently to restore the Lamanites unto the true faith in God. (Enos 1:20)
What an example this is to me. Sometimes, probably too often, I will pray about someone or something and then expect the Lord to do all the work. Rarely do I seek diligently and put some action behind my prayers. I need to remember that my prayers are only as good as my follow-up. I also learned, however, that even though we may pray for someone else and do everything we can, their free agency remains intact. The Lamanites did not become righteous as a direct result of Enos' prayer and work. They chose to remain "wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness". Not because Enos wasn't faithful enough or didn't work hard enough, but because this is they way they chose to be. I can't change someone just by praying for them. They need to have the desire to change.
My favorite verse in Enos is the last one:
And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. (Enos 1:27)
When I think of meeting my Redeemer face to face, although I feel anticipation and excitement, I also feel a little bit of trepidation. I worry that I won't have done enough to prepare - that I won't be ready. I want to rejoice in that day and stand before him and "see his face with pleasure". I want to have a mansion prepared for me. Once again, it comes back to action. Am I earnestly seeking to do what is right? Am I doing instead of just being?
I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had this morning to get to know Enos a little bit better. I learned from him not only how to pray, but also how to put my prayers into action.
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