Difference between revisions of "Enos"

Revision as of 13:27, 12 April 2024

Enos was an early ancient American prophet of The Book of Mormon.[1] Chronologically, he is the third person to write in the book, following his uncle Nephi and his father Jacob.[2] While Enos only contributes one chapter to the Book of Mormon, he is known for an earnest prayer that lasts for an entire day.[3]

History

Enos was the son of the prophet Jacob, and a prophet among the Nephite people during the first few generations after Lehi brought his family to the Americas. Jacob had been tasked by his brother Nephi with writing "precious" things pertaining to the Nephites approximately 55 years after Lehi left Jerusalem (~544 B.C.).[4] This same responsibility became Enos's after Jacob died, though it is unclear how many years later this transition took place.

One day, Enos was hunting wild animals in the forest when the words of his father came to his mind. Jacob had often spoken about "eternal life, and the joy of the saints." Such topics had a profound impact on Enos, whose "soul hungered" to understand more. He knelt down in prayer in the forest, at first pleading with God for his own personal forgiveness. Enos's own account of this prayer states it as being "all the day long...and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."[5] God replied to Enos's prayer by stating that his sins were forgiven through his faith in Jesus Christ. Enos then turned his attention to praying for his fellow Nephites. After "pour[ing] out [his] whole soul unto God for them," Enos was informed by God that the Nephites would be upheld and visited by the presence of God so long as they did not become an iniquitous people.[6] Finally, Enos began to pray for the welfare of the Lamanites, who in this period of time had rejected God. More specifically, Enos desired for the Lamanites to be preserved in some fashion, even if the Nephites themselves should be destroyed due to iniquity. He pleaded with God that He might "preserve a record" to act as a guide to the Lamanites in some "future day" that "they might be brought unto salvation."[7]

In response to this, God explained to Enos that his desire for a record to be preserved was one that had already been expressed by his ancestors, and promised that it would be accomplished "according to their faith."[8] Satisfied with his exhortations unto God, Enos returned from his hunt. This experience shaped the remainder of Enos's life, causing him to feel strong desires to preach to the Nephites about the things which he had heard.[9]

Toward the end of Enos's life, he knew that he needed to continue passing along the sacred record kept thus far by his family. As such, in the 179th year since Lehi had left Jerusalem (~420 B.C.), Enos gave the record to his son Jarom.[10][11] It is presumed that he died in that same year or shortly thereafter.

Spiritual Teachings

-"And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie"[12]

-"Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it."[13]

-"I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest."[14]