PEACE

It seems that we are all in search of more peace in our lives.  Sometimes this is physical peace in our surroundings, sometimes this is emotional peace, and sometimes this is spiritual peace we are seeking.  When we reason the Book of Enos in the Book of Mormon, we find a guide to finding peace in all of these realms.

In Enos verses 2-6 we read:

2 And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.

3 Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; 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.

4 And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine 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.

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

Enos “wrestled” before God which I would say means that he was tormented inside about something.  He doesn’t share what this is but it must have been weighing heavily on his mind.  As he was out hunting for food, he was inspired by his thoughts of his father to kneel and pray.  He prayed all day and into the night.  Finally, he heard a voice telling him that he had been forgiven of his sins.  After that Enos’ guilt was swept away and he felt peace.  He continues on to ask God how this is possible.  He learns that it is only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that sins can be forgiven.

Once Enos felt this peace, he immediately wants to share it with others.  Sometimes, people feel that when a person wants to share a spiritual message with others that they are being pushy or nosey or fanatical.  But until a person experiences this amazing peace that comes from accepting the atonement of Jesus Christ, it is difficult to understand how profound that is and how it is followed with a strong desire to share this peace with others.  Enos epitomizes how this peace extends to the spiritual, emotional, and physical realms of our lives as well as he shares his final testimony before his death.

27 And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

Entering The Gate

In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, the prophet Nephi teaches about baptism.  He starts by prophesying about Christ’s baptism which will occur in approximately 590 Years.  We hear of baptism as being a way to repent and be washed clean of our sins, but Christ did not have any sins so why did he need to be baptized?  Nephi explains this very well in Chapter 31.  He gives several reasons why it was still essential for Christ to be baptized even though he had no sins to be forgiven.

He states that Christ needs to be baptized "to fulfil all righteousness,” to show that he was humble, to witness to the Father that he was willing to be obedient to His commandments, to make a covenant with the Father, and finally to set an example for us.  Baptism is an essential covenant that we must make to return to our Father in Heaven after this life.  In both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, baptism is referred to as a gate in which we must enter.  This gate then allows us to start on the straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life.  This is talked about both in 2 Nephi Chapter 31 as well as in the New Testament in Matthew Chapter 7.    The account of Christ’s baptism is given in Matthew Chapter 3.

In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, Nephi also tells us why it is important for us to be baptized.  Starting in verse 13, he reiterates that we must follow the example of Christ and be baptized.  When we are baptized, we must repent of our sins, witness to the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of His son, keep His commandments, always remember Him, and endure to the end faithfully.  In return, we are promised that if we do those things we will always have His Spirit to be with us (i.e. the Holy Ghost) and that we will have eternal life.

Starting in verse 19, Nephi continues to teach.  He asks “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight and narrow path, I would ask if all is done?”  He then explains, “Nay… wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Baptism is an essential covenant in order to return to our Father in Heaven.  In 2 Nephi Chapter 31, we can learn why it is important for Christ to be baptized as well as why it is important for us to be baptized.