In the Book of Mormon is found in the Book of Enos the powerful example of Enos communicating with Jesus Christ. I have studied a lot over the past few months. This week in Pathway the reading assignment included the Book of Enos. Here are things I have understood from Enos during this time and including this week.
I am particularly interested in Enos' experience because I am working to improve my understanding of answers to my prayers and other messages from the Godhead. While I don't expect to have an experience like Enos I also don't rule out the possibility.
I will start with Enos 1:1-4
"1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man - for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - and blessed be the name of my God for it -
2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forest; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.
4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplications for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."
Among the things I learn from this is that Enos had a good father who taught him about Jesus Christ. At this time he was reflecting upon things his father had taught him and his sins. Enos felt a great weight because of his sins. It seems to me that these sins were not of the nature of him persecuting the righteous but more of the kind that kept him from a joy he earnestly desired and lacked. His sins were unsettling him as his mind dwelled upon them and this had become so great that he felt a need to do something about them.
Remembering what he was taught he kneeled down and prayed. It is here that I visualize his actions and as I do I see a man praying as the sun goes over him and sets. I fail to see him pause for anything. This tells me that in addition to praying he was very likely fasting.
The next verse becomes very interesting.
"5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed."
What interests me so much is how Enos progressed from his sinful state to be blessed to hear Jesus speaking to him. I wish we had the words of his prayer. In any case I believe that his fasting helped to prepare him.
As I read more I see that Enos had a conversation with Jesus.
"6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.
7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?
8 And he said unto me: Because of they faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. ..."
There is much more to be learned by studying his various conversations with Jesus. But I will end now with this one which clarifies how the above communication took place.
"10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold the voice of the Lord came into my mind again..."
Here we learn that Enos was hearing Jesus speak to him in his mind. I am convinced this was not him having a conversation with himself as if he were two people as sometimes people do. Enos in fact conversed with Jesus, hearing his voice in his head. I seek to understand how much faith played a role in this and how much if any fasting did and anything else that brought him to this pivital moment in his life. I believe that understanding this could improve my understanding of communications from the Godhead.
What else do you think helped Enos to have the experiences he had?
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