Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

ENOS FINDS FAVOR WITH GOD, VER, 1-22
Book of Mormon Commentary
Enos Chapter 1
Enos 1:3 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my
sins;
1:3 Like his uncle, Nephi, Enos starts his record by a tribute to his father. He was a just man, he
taught his son in the language and in the nurture of the Lord (1). Enos praised God for such a
father.
Enos then tells of going hunting in the forest, and of contemplating on words of his father
concerning "eternal life, and the joy of the saints" which were imbedded in his heart.
Enos 1:5 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;
1:5 The start of repentance is a felt need. To be conscious of an emptiness in one's soul usually
brings a man to his knees before God. "All the day long did I cry unto him." Not having received a
satisfactory response, Enos persisted in prayer into the night. Then he heard a voice saying, "Enos,
thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed" (6, 7). Enos knew he had received a
remission of his sins, for the guilt had been swept from his conscience (8).
Enos 1:10 And he said unto me, because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor
seen.
1: 10 This answers two questions: (a) The means by which sins are forgiven and (b) whose voice
had conveyed the message. Then followed this additional light that after many years, "He [Christ]
shall manifest himself in the flesh" (11). Enos was also comforted by the assurance, "Thy faith
hath made thee whole" (11).
Jesus once said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” (Matt. 9:13)
When Jesus saw a man in Bethesda who had "an infirmity for thirty-eight years,” he asked him,
"Wilt thou be made whole?" (John 5:6). The man was told by the Savior, "Take up thy bed and
walk”. Immediately the man became well and walked away.
The idea of wholeness can be applied to both physical and spiritual affliction.
Enos 1:12 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words, I began to feel a desire for the
welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.
1: 12 One evidence of a wholeness of soul is a deep and active concern £or others. Thus Enos
poured out his "whole soul unto God for them." As a result he was spoken to again: "I will visit
thy brethren, according to their diligence in keeping my commandments" (14).
Enos 1:17 And after I, Enos, had heard these words, my faith began to be unshaken in the Lord; and I
prayed unto him with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites.
1:17 After much prayer Enos heard the voice of the Lord saying, "I will grant unto thee according
to thy desires, because of thy faith" (18).