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Enos – Words of Mormon. The short books of Enos, Jarom, and Omni contain the record of nearly one third of the Book of Mormon ( Remember Genesis 1-11 ?). Enos 1:2
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Enos – Words of Mormon The short books of Enos, Jarom, and Omni contain the record of nearly one third of the Book of Mormon (Remember Genesis 1-11?). Enos 1:2 What we obtain to cheaply, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods (Thomas Paine).
Enos 1:3 “By pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to impress and direct. Pondering is a powerful link between the heart and the mind… If we … ponder, we can take these eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily actions” (Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, November 1987, 20). Enos 1:4 “We should live so as to deem it (prayer) one of the greatest privileges accorded to us… “It matters not whether you or I feel like praying… If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do” (Brigham Young, Discourses, 43-44).
Enos 1:4-7 Is the miraculous prayer and forgiveness of Enos common? “The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were… “But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a Godlike life” (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, October 1989).
Forgiveness requires a “Wrestle with the Lord” There is a price to pay both in effort and in attitude before we can receive a forgiveness of our sins. Enos’s spiritual struggle contains a blueprint for all who seek forgiveness through the Atonement. Often this “wrestle” contains the following four elements: 1. A wrestle with sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10, Godlike sorrow!) 2. A wrestle with guilt
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “There must be a consciousness of guilt. It cannot be brushed aside. It must be acknowledged and not rationalized away…There must be a prickling of conscience, perhaps sleepless hours, eyes that are wet.” Alma taught that none but the truly penitent were saved (Alma 42:24, Teachings of SWK, 87). 3. A wrestle with time Often the Lord requires a period of time passing before lifting the burden of sin (Kimball, Faith…, 210).
4. A wrestle in prayer Here is no casual prayer; no worn phrases; no momentary appeal by silent lips. All the day long, with seconds turning into minutes, and minutes into hours. But when the sun had set, relief had still not come, for repentance is not a single act nor forgiveness an unearned gift. So precious to him was communication with and approval of his Redeemer that his determined soul pressed on without ceasing (Faith, Kimball, 211). The story of Enos teaches us that sometimes it takes a wrestle just to open the door (Revelation 3:20). This struggling becomes a learning period which becomes a motivation not to close the door in the future.
Enos 1:12 “Pray as though everything depends on the Lord, then work as though everything depends on you” (Gene R. Cook, Receiving Gospel Answers to Our Prayers, 56). Enos 1:15 “And, if they (the Saints) will exercise their faith aright, there is no good thing, which they can desire, that will be withheld from them” (George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, 25:74).
Elder Neal A. Maxwell compared receiving answers to prayers to the opening of a combination lock. It is a step-by-step process: “Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God’s judgment --- not ours --- right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily that it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father” (“Insights,” New Era, Apr. 1978, 6).
Jarom 1:5 How can we better keep the Sabbath Day Holy? “What fits the purpose of the Sabbath? Here are a few suggestions: Activities that contribute to greater spirituality; essential Church meetings in the house of prayer; acquisition of spiritual knowledge --- reading the scriptures, Church history and biographies;…building family unity; visiting the sick and aged shut-ins; singing the songs of Zion and listening to inspired music; paying devotions to the Most High --- personal and family prayer; fasting, administrations, father’s blessings; preparing food with singleness of heart --- simple meals prepared largely on Saturday” (Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings, 439).
“They Profaned Not; Neither Did They Blaspheme” Jacob 1:5 President Gordon B. Hinckley affirmed the need to keep our words pure: “I say this to the boys. I say it also to any of you older men who have a similar problem. I do so with love. I know that the Lord is pleased when we use clean and virtuous language, for He has set an example for us. His revelations are couched in words that are affirmative, that are uplifting, that encourage us to do what is right and to go forward in truth and goodness. “Don’t swear. Don’t profane. Avoid so-called dirty jokes. Stay away from conversation that is sprinkled with foul and filthy words. You will be happier if you do so, and your example will give strength to others” (C.R., Oct. 1987, 59).
Omni 1:17 What happens to those who either have no scriptures or refuse to study what they have? “The Mulekites…failed to bring with them any sacred scriptures or records. Omni recorded the condition of a nation without scriptures. “…They did not know the Savior. The pattern is the same for individuals as it is for nations. Without searching the scriptures, they cease to know the Savior” (L. Lionel Kendrick, Ensign, May 1993, 14).
Omni 1:26 What must we be willing to give to effectively “come unto Christ?” “Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation;… salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, 6:58). “I went before (the Lord) and in essence said, ‘I’m not neutral, and You can do with me what You want. If You need my vote, it’s there. I don’t care what You do with me, and You don’t have to take anything from me because I give it to You --- everything, all I own, all I am” (Boyd K. Packer, That I May Be Edified, 272).
“Offer Your Whole Souls as an Offering unto Him” Omni 1:26 Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught the meaning of offering ourselves to the Lord: “Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!” (C.R., Apr. 1995, 91). Elder Maxwell also taught: “As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give” (C.R., Apr. 2004, 48).
The Words of Mormon What is the purpose of “The Words of Mormon?” “The two pages comprising the Words of Mormon are approximately five hundred years out of context… “The Words of Mormon were apparently written near the end of Mormon’s life for the purpose of connecting two major records (the small plates and the large plates of Nephi)” (Daniel H. Ludlow, Companion, 171).
Words of Mormon 1:7 “The Lord Knoweth All Things Which are to Come” Nephi did not make the small plates until 30 years after Lehi’s colony left Jerusalem (2 Nephi 5:28-31). He did not understand why he was commanded to make a second set of records, but he had faith that it was for a wise purpose. The translation of the 116 pages covered 600-130 B.C. --- from the time of Lehi to the time of King Benjamin. The small plates also covered 600-130 B.C. --- from Lehi to Benjamin.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland affirmed that the portion of the Book of Mormon that came from the small plates provided more information than was lost on the 116 pages. At least six times in the Book of Mormon the phrase “for a wise purpose” is used in reference to the making, writing, preserving of the small plates of Nephi. In D&C 10:45 the Lord said that the plates of Nephi throw greater views upon my gospel. So, clearly, this was not …tit for tat, this for that --- you give me 116 pages of manuscript and I’ll give you 142 pages of printed text. Not so, We got back more than we lost. And it was known from the beginning that it would be so. It was for a wiser purpose.
“In fact, I think you could make a pretty obvious case that the sole purpose of the small plates was to give a platform for these three witnesses, Nephi, Jacob and Isaiah, three of the great doctrinal voices of the Book of Mormon to testify of Jesus Christ” (“A Standard unto My People” [Church Educational System symposium on the Book of Mormon, Aug. 9, 1994], 9-10).
