Wrestling before the Lord

I’m in Enos today, and I couldn’t be happier. This is one of my favorite accounts in the Book of Mormon. I love the simplicity of the experience – and the absolute faith he had that Heavenly Father would answer his prayers.

Enos went on a little weekend getaway to hunt for food. As he was out – alone in nature – he began thinking about his the conversations he had enjoyed with his dad (who was Nephi’s brother Jacob) over the years. He remembered hearing about “eternal life, and the joy of the saints.” The words of his father “sunk deep into his heart.”

I know from experience how strong those feelings can be – when words sink deep into your heart. It’s like you can’t stop thinking about it – or better said – you can’t stop feeling it.

Enos prayed for many hours. Joseph Smith comes to mind. He wasn’t sure exactly how long he prayed before Moroni visited him in 1823, but he told Oliver Cowdery “maybe 12 or 13 hours.”

My guess is that Enos prayed for a similar period of time, “All the day long did I cry unto him, in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; … and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.”

Both Joseph and Enos were praying to find out their standing before the Lord. Both were answered.

Enos must have been thrilled to hear, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.”

He says of that moment, “My guilt was swept away.”

I believe that we all must have experiences like this – feeling the peace of knowing that the Lord has forgiven us.