"The teaching of the children by the fathers is basic from the beginning. The Lord ordained it so," said Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, in an address at the April 1965 general conference.
"Though Enos had strayed for a time, the teachings of his father prevailed, and he returned to worthiness."Enos begins his part of the record as follows:
" `I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man - for he taught me . . . in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - and blessed be the name of my God for it -
" `And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.
" `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.' (Enos 1:1-3.)
"It is apparent that Enos received his greatest inspiration and training from his own faithful father. And the teachings were frequent and powerful concerning eternal life.
"He was deeply impressed, for he said these teachings from his own father sank into his heart - so deep, so impressive, that now, as conviction of his errors pressed down upon him, he was ready to pay a heavy price for forgiveness.
"The supplication of Enos is written with a pen of anguish and on the paper of faith and with a willingness to prostrate himself totally that he might receive forgiveness. His words are mighty and definitive. He could have said merely, I wanted information.' But he said, . . . my soul hungered. . . .' (Enos 1:4.) He could have merely prayed unto the Lord like so many pray, but in his eagerness for forgiveness, he said, `I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; . . .'
"How impressive his words! `Mighty prayer and supplication' is not the usual prayer. The Lord's agonies in Gethsemane, so long, so earnest, were mighty prayers.
"Enos wept out his pleadings `And . . . said: Lord, how is it done?' (Enos 1:7.)
"And 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; . . . ' (Enos 1:8.)
"What faith! And what was the source of this great sureness except from home and parents?"
