Cover image via Gospel Media Library.
In the book of Enos, nestled within the sacred pages of the Book of Mormon, we encounter a profound narrative of personal transformation and spiritual insight. Many of us may be familiar with the story from our seminary days, where we learned about Enos’s intense prayer and subsequent forgiveness of sins. However, a closer reading reveals deeper layers of meaning that can enrich our understanding of this short yet powerful book.
A Familiar Story with Applied Insights
The story begins with Enos, the son of Jacob, who went into the forest to hunt beasts. As he wandered, the words of his father about eternal life and the joy of the saints penetrated his heart, stirring a deep spiritual hunger within him: “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. And my soul hungered” (Enos 1:3-4). This moment of reflection led Enos to seek the same joy and spiritual fulfillment his father had experienced.
Reflecting on Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled,” we see a parallel in Enos’s journey. His spiritual hunger drove him to his knees, where he cried unto the Lord in mighty prayer and supplication for his 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” (Enos 1:4).
Persistent Prayer and Personal Redemption
The narrative emphasizes the duration and intensity of Enos’s prayer. We sometimes talk about his prayer as though it was divided into neat one-thirds—first for himself, then for his friends, and finally for his enemies. But Enos prayed all day and into the night solely for his own soul. This focus on personal repentance was not an act of selfishness, but a necessary and sincere quest for personal redemption. Enos intuitively recognized that the only person he had control over was himself, and thus, most of his prayer was directed toward his own improvement and salvation.
In verse 5, Enos receives a divine assurance: “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” This assurance resulted from his fervent and sincere repentance. His next steps, however, introduce a broader dimension to his prayers.
Concern for others
After Enos was granted forgiveness, he prayed for his people, the Nephites. Here, the response from the Lord offers a significant lesson: “I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. I have given unto them this land, and it is a holy land; and I curse it not save it be for the cause of iniquity; wherefore, I will visit thy brethren according as I have said; and their transgressions will I bring down with sorrow upon their own heads” (Enos 1:10). The Lord’s response underscores the principle of individual accountability, emphasizing that while Enos could pray fervently for his people’s well-being, he did not have control over their choices. God reminded Enos that the Nephites’ outcomes were mostly contingent on their own choices. Their diligence or lack thereof in keeping the commandments would have a lot do with whether they received His divine favor. The Lord’s response also highlights the principle that each person’s spiritual journey is ultimately their own responsibility, shaped by the choices they make.
This principle is useful for many who have experienced the pain of divorce. Many divorcees have, in the past, prayed fervently for their former spouses to make good choices and work with them to keep their families together. But God respects individual agency and will not override it, even for the most heartfelt prayers. Enos give us a profound reminder that while we can influence and support those we love, we cannot make their choices for them. Despite the pain and betrayal one might feel about a loved one’s poor choices, it is essential to remember that God still loves each of us. His love for us remains constant, even if others have hurt or disappointed us.
Praying for others’ opportunities
Enos also prayed for the Lamanites—his people’s traditional enemies. In verse 12, the Lord’s response is more encouraging: “I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith” (Enos 1:12). Enos’ “desire” was that the records of the Nephites would be preserved so the Lamanites would have access to the word of God: “If it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites, even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that perhaps they might be brought unto salvation” (Enos 1:13). Having the word of God preserved would give the Lamanites access to the path of salvation, but it would not guarantee itheir salvation The word “perhaps” is significant because it acknowledges that the Lamanites would always retain the freedom to reject or accept the word of God that was offered them. God’s preservation of the records would provide the opportunity for salvation. But the ultimate choice would remain with the Lamanites.
This principle can be applied to many areas of our lives, including relationships. For instance, you may be offering yourself to someone as a dating partner. “[P]erhaps” they will accept you and “perhaps” not. Even if you have diligently done the work to become a better version of yourself, a better partner, and to be worthy of their attention, they have the right to reject you—and some will. Just as God would not interfere with the Lamanites’ agency to accept or reject the Book of Mormon, He allows each person the freedom to make their own choices to accept or reject others in relationships. Does someone’s rejection of the Book of Mormon make it less valuable? Of course not! The Book of Mormon has inherent value, and so do you. Whether another person accepts or rejects the Book of Mormon does not affect its value—and whether a dating partner accepts you does not affect your value. Keep that in mind and you will keep the choices of others in perspective, even when they aren’t what we might wish.
God did not promise Enos that He would bless the Nephites with salvation because doing so would interfere with their agency. The Nephites already had the word of God and a knowledge of the Gospel and, thus, were accountable for accepting it and doing their best to live according to it. But Enos’ request that the scriptures be preserved for future generations of Lamanites merely provided the opportunity for them to learn the Gospel and choose for themselves whether or not to receive it.
Applications for Modern Relationships
As we reflect on the story of Enos, we can draw parallels to our own lives. Many of us expected different circumstances than what we currently face. Perhaps we envisioned large, joyful family gatherings and find ourselves instead navigating the challenges of single parenthood or other unexpected life paths. Enos’s story reminds us that sincere prayer, personal repentance, and intentional growth are powerful and necessary elements of our spiritual journeys.
For divorcees and singles, Enos’s experience teaches valuable lessons. Just as Enos focused his prayers on his own soul, we too should concentrate most of our efforts on improving ourselves. This is where we have the power to choose and make a difference. While it is natural to feel hurt and disappointed by the choices of former spouses or current dating partners, it is crucial to honor their agency. They have the freedom to make their own decisions, just as we do.
Discouragement comes easily when someone you care about and feel hopeful for does not reciprocate your feelings or fails to meet your expectations. But it is essential to remember that love freely given is real. And real love is much sweeter when someone chooses us voluntarily, rather than feeling compelled to do so because we have convinced them we deserve it or made them feel guilty. The story of Enos reminds us to focus on our personal growth and trust that the right relationships will come when both people choose each other freely.
Just as Enos prayed all day and night for his own soul, we too must engage in deep, personal introspection and seek to improve ourselves with the Lord’s help. But our spiritual journey does not end there. Like Enos, our prayers and concerns should expand to include others—our family, friends, and even those we might consider adversaries. We can seek to love and support—but not to control or manipulate.
Conclusion: Embracing Faith, Personal Growth, and Honoring Agency
The book of Enos offers rich insights into the power of prayer, the importance of personal development, the necessity of maintaining faith in the face of uncertainty, and the importance of honoring the agency of others even as we seek to minister to or build relationships with them. Enos’s example encourages us to deepen our own spiritual practices and to trust in the Lord’s wisdom and timing. As we do so, we can find peace and assurance, knowing that our efforts to seek God and pray for good opportunities for others are never in vain, even if the answers we receive are not what we expect.
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About the Author
Jeff Teichert, and his wife Cathy Butler Teichert, are the founders of “Love in Later Years,” which ministers to Latter-day Saint single adults seeking peace, healing, and more joyful relationships. They are co-authors of the Amazon bestseller Intentional Courtship: A Mid-Singles Guide to Peace, Progress and Pairing Up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jeff and Cathy each spent nearly a decade in the mid-singles community and they use that experience to provide counsel and hope to mid-singles and later married couples through written articles, podcasts, and videos. Jeff and Cathy are both Advanced Certified Life Coaches and have university degrees in Family & Human Development. They are the parents of a blended family that includes four handsome sons, one lovely daughter-in-law, and two sweet little granddaughters.
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