Enos and me

The special edition of the Ensign on the Book of Mormon had an article by elder Neil A Anderson on how to use the Book of Mormon in our families. Having read through the Book of Mormon last year for Sunday School (and my Personal Progress!) I have started a study of the Book of Mormon again this year keeping an eye out for the truths that I could learn that are important for me as a parent raising children in the gospel.

This week I have been time studying Enos. This book has long been a favourite of mine. Only 27 verses long, but so much to learn. In the past this book is where I have learned about developing faith, about repentance, forgiveness and conversion to the gospel, and the effect of this on a person's life. This time around, I was reading looking for counsel for me as a parent given from another parent, ultimately my Heavenly Father.
verses 1 and 3 held the truths I needed to find this time:
1 Behold, it came to pass that I, Enos, knowing my father that he was a just man—for he taught me in his language, and also in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—and blessed be the name of my God for it—
 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.
We don't have much information about Enos before time in his life. We don't know whether he was rebellious, or whether he had just arrived at a point in his life where he was seeking an independent witness and testimony. But at the time he needed it, what he needed to know came to him in the form of his father's testimony. His father had often taught and (I assume) born testimony - words which had travelled with Enos like a seed waiting to sprout.

It reminded me of the importance of having regular gospel conversations, of teaching diligently and with the Spirit, bearing testimony often. As I do so I hope that the Spirit will carry eternal truths to the hearts of my children. I can't predict when or how the moment of conversion will come to my children, but I know what my role is.