I often thought about Enos while I was studying and teaching from the New Testament last year. He didn't contribute many words to the Book of Mormon but he showed great faith. The one chapter that he wrote was invaluable. While I was studying Jacob 5-7 and Enos over the last two weeks, these are the things that struck me the most.
1. The reiteration of the importance of what they were doing with recording and focusing on what their descendants needed to read and learn from their records.
Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and Enos likely didn't imagine the concept of the printing press and copy machines, let alone digital copies. They knew they were writing for others to read and learn but were they able to understand the scope, that their words would translated and printed over and over again and brought to all the lands?
Nephi stated that they were writing this book to "persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." (1 Nephi 6:4). Yet, I wonder if he realized that he would be persuading many so many generations later. These words were being written and guarded by single individuals! How simple, from a father (Lehi) to a son (Nephi) to a brother (Jacob) to a son (Enos).
When we think of this being such a personal thing, how does that apply to you? Do you keep a journal? If so, do you make sure to write down the insights and the moments that turned you closer to God, and to having a clear focus on what you are doing in this life? There is a very popular professor at the University of Utah, that goes by the name of Dr. Abe. He shares that he writes in his journal daily, then reviews it at the end of the week, pondering what he has learned, what he can do better, how he served in the world around him. It makes the written word so meaningful and purposeful. How can we be like the faithful Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and Enos?
2. The faith the followers of God showed in going into the wilderness, recording the records, and following instructions that they didn't always fully understand.
In Jacob 4:10, Jacob advised, "Wherefore, brethern, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works."
When Jacob was nearing the end of his life, he concluded his record by sharing the faith it took to live his life, stating, "I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jersualem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethern, which caused wars and contention; wherefore we did mourn out our days." (Jacob 7:26).
When Enos subsequently inherited the plates to share he told his story about praying fervently, and how his "soul hungered" (Enos 1:4) and how he "cried unto him in mighty prayer" (Enos 1:4). The Lord answered Enos' prayer for forgiveness, then Enos prayed for his people. He prayed sincerely, with great desire for forgiveness from the Lord, and as a result, the Lord spoke to him in his mind, and Enos said, "my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord" (Enos 1:11).
3. The importance of being good parents and good examples to others.
Enos starts his records by calling his father, "a just man - for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition fo the Lord - and blessed be the name of my God for it." (Enos 1:1). This reminds me of the opening verse to the Book of Mormon, written by Enos' uncle, Nephi, "I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in the all the learning of my father ..." (1 Nephi 1:1).
When Lehi had a vision and shared it with his family, Nephi showed respect to his father by first listening to him, but then faithfully praying himself to learn what his father had learned.
These were good children that were motivated by good examples in their lives. Of course, there were those, like Laman and Lemuel, who chose not to follow the great example they were given but they were all given the opportunity to choose.
4. Missionary work
Some recurring things jumped out at as me as well, from studying the New Testament last year and what Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob already stated in previous chapters.
The theme of missionary work was on my mind as American missionaries from around the world are trying to make their way home (as a safety precaution and a response to the Covid-19 pandemic). I have several nephews that have made the difficult trek back, stuck in airports waiting for new flights to open, and not knowing exactly where they are going to be in a day, or a month from now.
Yet, no matter how they serve and where they serve, they follow the direction from Jacob in Jacob 1:7, "Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest ..."
Yet, like the people in Enos time, they continue to serve in faith, even when sometimes "our strugglings were in vain in restoring them to the true faith."
Conclusion
We are living through a difficult trial right now, with a lot of unknowns regarding the progression of Covid-19. Luckily, we have prophets, past and present, that can guide us through these trying times. I'm astounded by the new things I learn from them every time I read their words. I look forward to their continued wisdom as I navigate the world we live in today, and as I listen to Jacob, who advised, "O, be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12).
1. The reiteration of the importance of what they were doing with recording and focusing on what their descendants needed to read and learn from their records.
Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and Enos likely didn't imagine the concept of the printing press and copy machines, let alone digital copies. They knew they were writing for others to read and learn but were they able to understand the scope, that their words would translated and printed over and over again and brought to all the lands?
Nephi stated that they were writing this book to "persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." (1 Nephi 6:4). Yet, I wonder if he realized that he would be persuading many so many generations later. These words were being written and guarded by single individuals! How simple, from a father (Lehi) to a son (Nephi) to a brother (Jacob) to a son (Enos).
When we think of this being such a personal thing, how does that apply to you? Do you keep a journal? If so, do you make sure to write down the insights and the moments that turned you closer to God, and to having a clear focus on what you are doing in this life? There is a very popular professor at the University of Utah, that goes by the name of Dr. Abe. He shares that he writes in his journal daily, then reviews it at the end of the week, pondering what he has learned, what he can do better, how he served in the world around him. It makes the written word so meaningful and purposeful. How can we be like the faithful Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, and Enos?
2. The faith the followers of God showed in going into the wilderness, recording the records, and following instructions that they didn't always fully understand.
In Jacob 4:10, Jacob advised, "Wherefore, brethern, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works."
When Jacob was nearing the end of his life, he concluded his record by sharing the faith it took to live his life, stating, "I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jersualem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethern, which caused wars and contention; wherefore we did mourn out our days." (Jacob 7:26).
When Enos subsequently inherited the plates to share he told his story about praying fervently, and how his "soul hungered" (Enos 1:4) and how he "cried unto him in mighty prayer" (Enos 1:4). The Lord answered Enos' prayer for forgiveness, then Enos prayed for his people. He prayed sincerely, with great desire for forgiveness from the Lord, and as a result, the Lord spoke to him in his mind, and Enos said, "my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord" (Enos 1:11).
3. The importance of being good parents and good examples to others.
Enos starts his records by calling his father, "a just man - for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition fo the Lord - and blessed be the name of my God for it." (Enos 1:1). This reminds me of the opening verse to the Book of Mormon, written by Enos' uncle, Nephi, "I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in the all the learning of my father ..." (1 Nephi 1:1).
When Lehi had a vision and shared it with his family, Nephi showed respect to his father by first listening to him, but then faithfully praying himself to learn what his father had learned.
These were good children that were motivated by good examples in their lives. Of course, there were those, like Laman and Lemuel, who chose not to follow the great example they were given but they were all given the opportunity to choose.
4. Missionary work
Some recurring things jumped out at as me as well, from studying the New Testament last year and what Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob already stated in previous chapters.
The theme of missionary work was on my mind as American missionaries from around the world are trying to make their way home (as a safety precaution and a response to the Covid-19 pandemic). I have several nephews that have made the difficult trek back, stuck in airports waiting for new flights to open, and not knowing exactly where they are going to be in a day, or a month from now.
Yet, no matter how they serve and where they serve, they follow the direction from Jacob in Jacob 1:7, "Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest ..."
Yet, like the people in Enos time, they continue to serve in faith, even when sometimes "our strugglings were in vain in restoring them to the true faith."
Conclusion
We are living through a difficult trial right now, with a lot of unknowns regarding the progression of Covid-19. Luckily, we have prophets, past and present, that can guide us through these trying times. I'm astounded by the new things I learn from them every time I read their words. I look forward to their continued wisdom as I navigate the world we live in today, and as I listen to Jacob, who advised, "O, be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12).
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