ENOS, THE SON OF JACOB--THE NEPHITES AND LAMANITES OF HIS DAY--HIS
TESTIMONY AND PROPHECIES.
(BOOK OF ENOS.)
In the days of Enos the struggle still continued between the Nephites
and Lamanites. The latter seem to have made it the business of their
lives to harass and annoy their more peaceful brethren. Their hatred
was fixed. They swore in their wrath that if it were possible they
would destroy the Nephites, and also their records, that they might no
longer be compelled to listen to their warnings, or be annoyed by their
appeals for peace and friendship.
The picture that Enos draws of the degradation into which the Lamanites
had fallen at this early day is a very pitiable one. He says they
were led by their evil nature that they became wild and ferocious,
and a blood-thirsty people, full of idolatry and filthiness, feeding
upon beasts of prey, dwelling in tents, and wandering about in the
wilderness with a short skin girdle about their loins, and their heads
shaven; and their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the
axe. And many of them did eat nothing save it was raw meat. This last
named practice they seem to have inherited from their fathers in the
wilderness.
On the other hand, the Nephites at this time were a rural, pastoral
people, rich in grain and fruits, flocks, and herds. They were
industrious in their habits, and committed but few serious offenses.
They observed the law of Moses, but were lacking in faith, hard to
understand gospel principles, way-ward and stiff-necked. The terrors of
the word had to be sounded in their unwilling ears more often than the
gentler strains of gospel invitation.
Enos was one of the most zealous servants of the Lord who ministered
and prophesied to the early Nephites. As the son of Jacob, he succeeded
his father in the sacred offices of priest and historian. He appears
to have inherited his father's faith, gentleness and devotion. Of his
personal life we have no particulars, but it is evident that he was a
very aged man at the time of his death. His father Jacob was the elder
of the two sons born to Lehi in the Arabian wilderness, between the
years 600 and 590 before Christ; let us place the event about 594 B. C.
Enos, in closing his record, states that one hundred and seventy-nine
years had passed since Lehi left Jerusalem. Supposing Enos was born
when Jacob was thirty years old, it would make his age one hundred and
forty-three years at the date of his writing. But we have no direct
statement either of his birth or the exact time of his death; all we
know is that when he left this earth he gave the records and the other
sacred things into the hands of his son Jarom.
One incident in the life of Enos is given us which is very interesting.
It affords a deep insight into the purity and strength of his
character. On one occasion when he went into the forest to hunt, his
whole soul was filled with thoughts of the prophecies and teachings of
his devout father, and he greatly hungered for more light regarding
eternal things. In this fitting frame of mind, surrounded by the
solitudes of the forest, he bowed before the Lord, and in prayers
long and fervent, sought his face. All day long he raised his voice to
heaven, and when the night came he did not cease. At last his steadfast
faith and godly yearnings prevailed. There came a heavenly voice of
comfort to his heart, saying:
Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, thou shalt be blessed.
Lord, how is it done? he anxiously asked.
The answer came: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never
before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall
manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made
thee whole.
Enos continued struggling with the Lord for promises in behalf of both
the Nephites and Lamanites. He received many precious assurances of
things yet to be; amongst others, that the Lord would preserve the holy
records and bring them forth unto the Lamanites in his own due time. Of
these things Enos gladly testified to the people, prophesying of the
mighty events yet in the future, and bearing record of that which he
had both seen and heard.