Book of Enos
The Book of Enos is the fourth section of the collective works within the Book of Mormon. The book only comprises a single chapter, written exclusively by the man for whom it is named (Enos). Events in the Book of Enos take place sometime between 544 and 421 B.C. on the American continents. A large portion of the chapter is dedicated to a prayer offered by Enos while hunting.
Synopsis
Enos is the son of Jacob and grandson of Lehi.[1] Having been asked by his father to continue the family's tradition of inscribing their history on metal plates, Enos begins his brief record by sharing a personal experience.
"I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins," he states, indicating spiritual turmoil rather than a physical altercation. He left home one day to enter some forests within Nephite territory to hunt wild beasts. During his journey, his father Jacob's teachings came to his recollection, and topics such as eternal life and joy "sunk deep into [his] heart." As a result of these ponderings, and likely due to the fact that he had a substantial amount of privacy, led Enos to kneel down in prayer to his Maker. The prayer is particularly notable due to how long it lasted. Enos explains that he prayed "all the day long...and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."[2]
At first, Enos prayed primarily for the well-being of his own soul. He sought repentance, though the extent of his errors is not divulged in any detail. His prayer is eventually answered by the Lord, who comforts him and simply states that "thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed." Enos takes strength in this declaration, and asks God how this forgiveness is possible. The answer given to the prophet Enos is that of his faith in Jesus Christ.[3]
While Enos is grateful for the personal comforts he has just experienced, he decides to continue praying. He directs his attention to the well-being of his fellow Nephites. God replies that "I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments." He then explains that the land He led Enos's ancestors to—namely the Americas—is a "holy land" and that God would only curse it in cases of iniquity among its peoples. This response furthered the amount of faith that Enos felt toward God.[4]
Finally, Enos felt inspired to pray on behalf of the Lamanites, who at this moment in history were not followers of God, nor keeping His commandments. Enos's main request during this third portion of his prayer was that the Lamanite people should not be destroyed, even if the Nephites should be wiped out at some future point. He also pleads with the Lord to preserve a record of history and scripture that could be a tool to convert some of the Lamanites to righteousness.[5] Nephi, one of Enos's uncles, had seen a vision in which it was revealed that nearly a thousand years in the future the Nephites would succumb to a crippling wickedness and would be destroyed by the Lamanites as a result.[6] Likely, Enos's desires for a scriptural preservation came as a direct result of hearing about this prophecy.
The Lord covenanted with Enos that such records would be preserved, and that "he would bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time." Enos was finally satisfied, and ended his session of prayer. He states that his soul rested.