305 Enos Praying

Enos 1
My soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication. Enos 1:4

Enos was Jacob's son. One day Enos went into the forest to hunt animals. He began thinking about the teachings of his father. He had often heard his father talk about eternal life and the joy of those who keep God's commandments. (See Enos 1:1, Enos 1:3.)

Enos wanted to have that joy. He knelt down and prayed to Heavenly Father to forgive him of his sins. Enos prayed all day and into the night. (See Enos 1:4.)

While Enos was praying, he heard the voice of the Lord say to him, "Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed" (Enos 1:5).

Enos knew his sins were forgiven (see Enos 1:6). He was very grateful and asked, "Lord, how is it done?" (Enos 1:7).

The Lord answered, "Because of thy faith in Christ" (Enos 1:8).

Enos wanted all the Nephites to feel the joy he felt, so he prayed for them. The voice of the Lord again came to his mind. The Lord said He would bless the Nephites if they kept His commandments. (See Enos 1:910.)

Then Enos prayed for his enemies, the Lamanites. He wanted the records of his people to be preserved so that someday the Lamanites would read them and believe. The Lord said to Enos, "I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith" (Enos 1:12; see also Enos 1:1116).

Enos was happy. He spent the rest of his life preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. (See Enos 1:17, Enos 1:19, Enos 1:26.)

Summary

As Enos went into the forest to hunt, he remembered what his father had taught him about eternal life and the joy of the Saints. Enos wanted to have that joy. He knelt down and prayed all day long and into the night. The Lord said to Enos that his sins were forgiven and that he would be blessed. Enos then prayed for the Nephites, and the Lord told him they would be blessed if they were righteous. Finally Enos prayed for his enemies, the Lamanites, and asked that the Nephite records would be kept safe and help the Lamanites someday. The Lord said He would do as Enos asked because of Enos's faith.

Artist, Robert T. Barrett

© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA