Daddy's Here

The Comforting Story of Enos and Prayer

Intro: God

Hi. I’m God.

I know, I know - lot’s of questions and yet we have so little time. See, I want to tell you an interesting story and I’ve got to make it quick. If I meander too much or try to answer every question you have, you’ll just get bored and tap your way out of here.

Now, where to begin?

This is a story that definitely happened in the very real history of Earth, and the characters people involved are absolutely real. This is the story of Enos.

Not the one from the regular Bible, though - this Enos is from the Book of Mormon. I know, not quite as interesting.

But give it a chance. Hell, maybe I’ll even convert you. (If I weren’t above it, I’d be adding the emoji with the two eyes looking to the side here).

Picture a kind of village in a top secret and not-to-be-revealed location somewhere in the Americas. It’s very Hebrew cause it was made by Jewish people who sailed across the ocean blue. But also kind of Native American in some ways cause these people were their ancestors.

Then, drop a twenty-something guy into the village. This is Enos - handsome young man, strong, skilled hunter, and crippled by self-doubt. My kind of guy.

Now, LET THERE BE IMMERSION.

Chapter 1: Be Ye Therefore Perfect

Enos woke in a cold sweat. Was he… no. He was still alive. Living.

That was good.

Wait, did he pray last night? Yes. No?

Reflexively, he reached out to his makeshift nightstand and grabbed his ring in a fist. He held his hand over his heart and breathed, praying that the God who had led his family overseas to their fertile and incredible promised land would hear him.

Again, very fertile, and probably the best land ever created. Kind of like Jerusalem but round 2. This God was pretty damn great. Or, that’s what everyone said about Him, which is pretty cool.

Enos sent his entire being into the cosmos, opening himself to correction, cleansing, and sanctification. His fingers traced the symbols he had carved into the ring. They represented the oft-repeated phrase ‘Choose the Right’.

He would do better today.

He opened his eyes, embracing the momentary reprieve that followed sincere prayer. The room was a mess, he had to clean it - now.

Seriously, why had he even let it get to this point? No wonder he felt so adrift lately; he was slothful and distancing himself from God.

He quickly folded his blanket, placing it neatly at the end of his cot. Then snatched his spare set of robes and placed them in his empty and beautifully woven basket for laundry.

There. That was much better. Time for breakfast.

Chapter 2: Feast on the Words of God

Jacob nodded to Enos as he entered the room, greeting him with a smile. “Good morning, Son. Feeling a little sleepy today?”

He knew he should have gotten up sooner.

“Oh, sorry, Father. I meant to come out earlier but spent some time cleaning my room this morning.” Was that too defensive? Disrespectful?

“I’m teasing - it’s barely dawn!” Jacob chuckled quietly. “That striving energy of yours will take you far, though. Reminds me of my father, your Grandpa Lehi… I see a similar spirit in you.”

Two conflicting waves washed over Enos - one full of pride and gratitude, the other heavy with the weight of responsibility and worry. How does one live up to Lehi’s legacy?

He straightened and tried to force a smile. “Thanks, Father.”

“Hey there, what’s wrong? You seem… tense. Anything you need to tell me?”

“No, no - nothing like that. I’m just, I… worry.” Enos struggled to find the words. His father was not the easiest man to open up to, but he was guided by the Lord. “I worry about my soul, and how I can know if I’ve truly been forgiven…”

“I see. Have you… been indulging in sin lately? Troubled with guilt?”

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, nothing I can think of.” Why was it so damn hard to know? Oh no, language, darn. Ugh.

Jacob nodded knowingly. “It’s okay, Son. Look - if you don’t want to talk it through with me, why not take it directly to God? Hear it from him directly, yeah? But you’ve got to mean it, and you’ve got to show that to him and yourself.”

“I don’t know…” Did he even deserve such an experience? “What if I just can’t be clean? What if I’m… broken?”

“You are, though. We all are.” Jacob smiled kindly, tilting his head as if hearing something in the distance. He smiled, “Something tells me you’ll get the answers you need, you’ve just got to refuse to quit.”

Chapter 3: Afternoon Delight

Enos went out to hunt. But mainly, he just walked through the woods and talked to the birds about his feelings.

“Ok. I know I’ve repented. I’ve done all I can. I’ve made changes. I am changed. I’m good. It’s all good!”

The harder he tried, the less convincing it was. His soul refused to rest.

He picked up a rock and threw it across a clearing. “Why is this so difficult! Where is the peace? Where is the joy?”

His rock bounced loudly off of a tree trunk and a herd of capybaras were spooked out of the nearby bushes. Their stampeding hooves faded slowly into the distance as Enos fell to his knees in the clearing. It was time.

Enos took a deep breath, closing his hand over the ring he now wore, and prepared to commune with the God of his fathers. The Great Creator. The Beginning and the End. The Alpha and Omega. The One, the Only, I AM.

Ahem…

Enos prayed. It was a good prayer, too.

“Oh God… Hear the words of my mouth… Oh God… Hear the words of my mouth… Oh God… Hear the words of my mouth…”

He went on like that for a while. Literally the whole day.

But it seemed it would take more than that to capture the attention of such a wondrous being.

As the golden light of a beautiful sunset filled the cloudy sky above him, Enos renewed his efforts, raising his voice high that it might reach the heavens. “Please, Father! I will do anything to know that I have been made clean.”

Now that caught His interest. The great God above replied.

“Enos…”

Enos looked up with shock at the sound of his name. Was that… could it be?

“I’ll take that deal - I’ll take that deal every time. Consider your sins forgiven.”

Chapter 4: Kills 99.99% of Sins

“Lord… how is it done?” Enos continued looking up in wonder, feeling the divine presence of God surround and penetrate him thoroughly.

“Faith, baby! In Jesus! If you really believe hard enough, I’ll let you start again with a clean slate. Honestly, it’s not nearly as complicated as you make it out to be.”

Enos allowed himself a smile. He was… forgiven, right? Wow. That was a… relief!

Right?

Was something missing? Maybe he was being too selfish about his experience.

“Lord, what about my brethren, the Nephites?”

“Um, yeah. What about them?”

“I mean, can they be made whole, too? Please, Father…” Enos scrunched his eyes, willing his brethren to be made whole.

“Uh, sure. I can give them a visit or two. According to their diligence in keeping my commandments, of course - their transgressions will still come on their own heads. And just the brethren. Agreed?”

“Yes, Lord…” Something was still missing. “Wait - the Lamanites, our enemies.”

“Dude, don’t ruin a good thing. This is the deal of a lifetime, and you’re pushing it.”

Determined, Enos continued. “Please, I desire that, should my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that you would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of your holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation.”

“… Oh. That, uh… is perfectly aligned with my plan already, and it’s actually a little creepy that you got it right. I’m not so sure I want to do it now that you’re telling me to.”

Enos didn’t quit, the guy kept squishing his face into a smaller and smaller grouping in the center of his head, like his eyes and mouth were caught in a whirlpool that fed into his nostrils.

“Alright, fine. I’ll continue as planned. Um, because of your faith and everything.”

Finally. Enos sighed in contentment, and his soul could finally rest. Right?

Outro: Still Me

Aaaand wakey wakey!

Alright, what did you think? Good story, right?

I’m a sucker for a sellout. Nothing gets me going quite like pure, unadulturated obedience. And Enos followed through, too! He went on to preach and stuff after that whole incident, but whenever I wanted a war started or stopped… well, maybe just started… he was ready to do as commanded.

And that’s what I’m going for. I’m here to make the same deal with you! But hey, feel free to give it some time, pray about it, and reach out when it feels right.

But you sure as fuck better be ready to pay your dues when I come calling.

Anyway. Love ya, kiddo! We’ll talk soon.

THE END