Enos 1 - Wrestling Before God

How Enos' experience shows us how to find peace and purpose in our lives and in the world today. And how we can have a similar experience to his.

That's one long prayer...

Have you ever wondered how Enos had the experience he had? From going to hunt beasts in the forest, to wrestling with God, to receiving a remission of his sins and finally receiving prophecy and revelation for all of his people? (See Enos 1:19).

Have you ever wondered if you spent all day and night praying if you would have the same type of experience?

How did Enos achieve this? What could he possibly have been praying about for all that time? (Try praying for longer than 10-15 minutes and you might ask yourself the same question).

The following is is an exploration of Enos 1 that helps answer these questions.

1:2 – “the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.”

What does it mean to “wrestle before God”?

Don’t we all wrestle with the potential that lies within us? Our natural man vs our spiritual selves (that part of our soul that hungers to be like God)? Yet often so many of us like Enos and Nephi may cry “O wretched man that I am!” We contend with God. We kick against the pricks. We stubbornly and ignorantly choose our wisdom and insist on our timing. We prioritize our desires for us over His desires for us.

But if we are to attain the highest in ourselves and recognize the “joy of the saints” we have to yield to our spirits. The highest in us. We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. We must bind ourselves to Christ and like Enos and Jacob of old “prevail with God.”

Jacob wrestled with the Lord and his name was changed Israel. The name Israel means “He who contends with/prevails with God.” We must do the same.

Like Enos our wrestle with God comes before a remission of our sins.

1:3 – “in the forests”

Who else sought God in the forest/wilderness? (See Lehi, Nephi, Moses, Abraham, the list goes on…)

In the hero’s journey growth happens in the wilderness. Out of the “ideal” and “comfortable” starting place. Frodo Baggins would have accomplished nothing if he never left his hobbit hole in the Shire.

Only by venturing into our own wilderness and wrestling with God can we have a “mountain top” experience with the Lord for ourselves.

“the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.”

“And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.”

Part of a parent’s role in fulfilling the promise made by Malachi, brought by Elijah, is that we plant in the hearts of our children the promises made (See Abrahamic Covenant). That they may sink down into their hearts like Enos and be a cause of conversion to the Lord

As children, what are we to do with these words? These promises? We should do as Enos does and as Nephi did (1 Nephi 10:17).

We must take them, and wrestle before God.

What are the “words of eternal life”?

What is “the joy of the saints”?

2 Nephi 2:25 states that Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy. Joy is footnoted as “Potential to become like Heavenly Father”.

The “joy of the saints” lies in our potential to become like Heavenly Father and gain eternal life through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Only through the atonement of Jesus Christ. For “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

The words of eternal life consist of the Plan of Salvation. The promises made to Adam and Eve that God would send Christ to atone for the sins of the world, providing a way back into His presence. Not only that we may gain eternal life, but through faith become even as He is.

· Do you find joy in your potential?

· Have you developed a personal relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father?

· Do you understand the need for Christ’s atonement in your personal life?

Note: Assuming Enos got up early to go hunting (as most hunters do) we can infer that he spent the entire day and into the night in “mighty prayer and supplication” over these questions and questions like them “for [his] own soul.” How long do you spend with God on these questions?

The spiritual work has to be done. Faith does not come of nothing. We may then receive forgiveness of our sins (v.5)

1:9 – “I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren”

“Any time we experience the blessings of the Atonement in our lives, we cannot help but have a concern for the welfare of others… A great indicator of one’s personal conversion is the desire to share the gospel with others.” – Howard W. Hunter

Christ said, “When thou art converted, strengthen they brethren.”

Ask yourself:

· Do I desire for the welfare of my brethren?

· Do I struggle before the Lord for them?

· Do I fulfill and magnify my callings in service to them?

Perhaps this concern for the ones close to us is easy because we love them. Perhaps our close ties and relationships make it all the more difficult. But if we want God to forgive us, we must forgive our loved ones. And when we truly forgive them we find ourselves praying that God will forgive them too. If you want to overcome negative feelings towards someone – pray for them.

v.12 – “prayed with many long strugglings for my brethren, the Lamanites… prayed and labored with all diligence…”

· How much time did you spend praying for your enemies today?

o For the boss who doesn’t understand you?

o For the driver who cut you off?

o For the public or political figure that makes your blood boil?

V. 13 – “This was the desire which I desired of him… that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation.”

Enos desires that a record be kept. (What kind of record? A record of genealogy of the Nephites containing the covenants of the Lord with his people. See title page of Book of Mormon). The Lord responded by telling him that his fathers also had required this thing and that it shall be done (v.18).

How did Enos know to ask for that? Of all things he could have asked for why and how did he know to ask for a scriptural record to be kept, to come forth at a later time and bring the lost unto Christ?

Because he was on the mountain top. He saw himself, his brethren, and his enemies as God sees them. On an eternal spectrum.

When we truly have hope and faith in Christ we also must have charity. Our desires align with God’s desires. His will becomes our will.

As Moroni said, “If a man be meek and lowly of heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.” (Moroni 7:44).

v.17 – “My soul did rest.”

Enos had faith in the covenants of the Lord, and his soul was able to rest. When we understand that after all we can do it is by grace we are saved, we find peace. We find rest.

There is a lot of panic in the world today. A lot of unknown. A lot of fear. But for those that understand the covenants of the Lord and are converted to Christ it doesn’t have to enter our hearts. God’s work cannot, and will not be frustrated.

Christ said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

In times like these one might ask themselves:

· “What can I do?”

· “Of all the possible things for me to do, what is the most important?”

· “What will have the greatest impact on me, my loved ones? And the world?”

I invite you to do as Enos did. To take yourself before the Lord and prevail. Then turn to those close to you and help them do the same. Onward and outward and upward.

If you are searching for meaning and purpose in life, start here. This is in part what Christ meant when he said, “whosoever shall be willing to lose his life for my sake and the gospel, the same shall save it.”

And if you are worried about the world’s calamities, and don’t know what to do about it, I invite you to ponder this message from Ezra Taft Benson:

“We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family.”