The Joy of the Saints

Enos 1:1-3 How did Enos' conversion story come about? What prompted it? He went out to hunt beasts. Was it being in the outdoors, with no outside interruptions? The beauty of nature? Many people go hunting but never have spiritual conversions. There must be more than that.

We don't know much about what Enos was like before this experience, but this sounds like it was his first real experience with the Lord. He does tell us a few things about his past.

1. His father (Jacob) was a just man.
2. Jacob had taught him in his language. Some students of the scriptures have suggested that this means that he had taught Enos the Reformed Egyptian which the prophets used for writing on their scriptures, in addition to the Hebrew which the people spoke.
3. Jacob had taught Enos in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. In other words, he had taught him the Gospel.
4. The next verse is the one which touched me as I studied this part of the story: . . . the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the ^ajoy of the saints, ^bsunk deep into my heart. And my soul ^ahungered;

It sounds like the things which touched Enos' soul were the joys and rewards of the Gospel. Yes, he had been taught the commandments, but it was the idea of eternal life and the joy of the saints that sunk deep into his heart.

That caused me to wonder if sometimes I have failed to stress the joys of Gospel living. The peace, the friendships, the love of others, the sweetness of testimony. Those who have felt the stirrings of the Holy Ghost have felt that sweetness, but for those who have not, the Gospel can seem like an unending list of do's and don't's. More of a burden than a blessing. But if we can remember to share with them the "joy of the saints", perhaps they can eventually have an "Enos" experience, and their souls will "hunger".