OREM, Utah — Holding a first-edition copy of the Book of Mormon at a Friday, Sept. 9, devotional at the Utah Valley Institute, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced to his listeners: “Let’s put you in the story.”
“The best way to learn from this remarkable book,” he said, “is to put ourselves into its contents — see ourselves addressing the challenges of the prophets and the people in the book and applying its teachings in our own life and circumstances.”
Joined by his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, whose brief testimony of prayer helped set the tone and her family anecdote later on miracles helped solidify his message, Elder Andersen singled out Enos’ prayer (Enos chapter 1) as the day’s example of application, underscoring Enos turning to the Lord as he pondered the words of his father about eternal life and the joy of the saints.
Noting the day was President Russell M. Nelson’s 98th birthday, Elder Andersen asked first the Utah Valley Institute Choir and later all in the congregation to sing “Happy Birthday” that would be videotaped and later sent to the President of the Church.
“We hope he lives to be 120,” said Elder Andersen, before turning to his devotional message.
“You, like Enos, are in a time of contemplation, concerns of life, and decisions you are making weigh upon you,” Elder Andersen told his listeners. “You desire a life of happiness and fulfillment, and you worry to some extent when you see the challenges and temptations of the world.”
He encouraged his listeners to keep their minds alert to the two powerful impressions that had sunk deep into Enos’ heart — the joy of the saints and eternal life.
“Your experiences, your goodness and your time in life should bring you as it brought Enos to very sincere prayer. Enos’ words are powerful concerning his prayer: wrestle, sunk deep, soul hungered, kneeled, cried, mighty prayer, supplication, struggling in the spirit.”
Three lessons from Enos’ prayer
Emphasizing that Enos’ prayer provides many teachings, Elder Andersen cited three.
1. He was willing to invest his time and his whole soul into his prayer.
“Can you see yourself following his example?” said Elder Andersen, who then listed a few possible actions — returning to one’s apartment to pray after morning class, continuing “a prayer beyond words where your deepest concerns and feelings are exposed” in a visit to the temple grounds and an afternoon return to the apartment to continue in prayer.
“I believe Enos’ prayer was somewhat like this, not constantly on his knees, but focused, reflective, sincere praying throughout the day as he pondered eternal questions, seeking peace and understanding.”
He shared a personal example from 23 years earlier, dealing as a General Authority Seventy on a specific question and turning for an answer from President James E. Faust of the First Presidency, who was supervising the matter.
President Faust asked “Have you prayed about it?” and then “Have you prayed like Enos prayed?” adding “I have prayed throughout the night many times to receive an answer to a difficult question.”
Said Elder Andersen: “Our conversation was over. He sent me to discover the answer from the Lord. And with renewed effort on my part, the answer did come, and I learned a very valuable lesson.”
2. Enos not only prayed deeply, he was also seeking forgiveness for his sins.
“Seeking answers to our prayers requires that we come honestly before our Heavenly Father, expressing openly our desire to follow His Son,” said Elder Andersen, adding, “We do not excuse or try to cover our sins before the Lord. Honesty is at the heart of spirituality.”
3. Enos prayed with deep faith in Jesus Christ.
“I have found it extremely important in our prayers to let the Lord know where we stand,” said Elder Andersen, recounting his own commitment at about the age of his listeners and in a time of great decision that he would be a lifelong disciple of Christ.
“I wanted the Lord to know that I wouldn’t be debating, during my life or even during the next few years, if I would follow Him or not. I was with Him, for this life and forever. There was no wondering or going back. He could count on me.”
Answers that come
Acknowledging that a million voices — including social media, text messages and various forms of entertainment — are bombarding from every direction, Elder Andersen said creating quiet times in life is needed “to truly get answers to your prayers and to know the things of God.”
He cited President Nelson from April 2022 general conference: “If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon’s band. … I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life — each and every day.”
Elder Andersen reminded his listeners how after many hours of prayer and pondering, Enos said, “there came a voice unto me” and later, “the voice of the Lord came into my mind again” (Enos 1:5, 10).
Added the Apostle: “The answers from the world come so quickly. Just ask in Google how to obtain happiness, and a thousand answers will appear instantly.
“Answers from heaven are normally not that instant. We are living in our mortality, far from our heavenly home; we are to live by faith and trust in God.”
He offered some counsel as his listeners seek answers from their prayers.
- “You cannot force an answer; you must await the Savior’s influence.” However, one can create the right climate to invite the Spirit.
- “Worthiness is always important,” he said. “You need not be perfect, but answers come more readily when you are making your best efforts to honestly do what is right.” Don’t believe Satan, who says one is not worthy. Rather, by always remembering the Savior, one can receive the Savior’s Spirit.
- Most revelation comes by words, thoughts or feelings in the mind and heart. “The intellect and the emotions are both involved; sometimes the feelings will come without explanation, connecting past thoughts you have had.”
- One’s conscience is important in an answer — “don’t smother it.”
- Sometimes answers come “line upon line” (2 Nephi 28:30). “Don’t be afraid to put a difficult question toward the back of your mind and move forward,” Elder Andersen said. “With faith in Christ, your answers will come.”
- When the Holy Ghost prompts, act and do what is felt. As one gets experience of how answers come, the gift of revelation builds upon itself.
- “Get your mind off yourself and engaged in helping someone else,” said Elder Andersen, pointing out how Enos — as he began receiving answers about himself — the goodness of his spirit and the direction of his prayer shifted to others around him.
“Can you see how you can learn from the experience of Enos?” Elder Andersen asked. “There are hundreds, even thousands, of teachings and experiences in the Book of Mormon that can help us in becoming who we want to be.”
Before concluding with his “sure witness that Jesus is the Christ” and testimony, Elder Andersen offered a blessing — “that as you open the Book of Mormon daily, you will be blessed to see those lessons you should learn” — as well as an expression of his love and confidence in his listeners, who he reminded them as being “children of the covenant.”
