In the Book of Mormon, we find one of the most remarkable accounts of transformative prayer. Enos’s experience teaches us that authentic prayer can become far more than a daily ritual—it can be a life-changing conversation with our Heavenly Father.
The Church released a powerful video message a few years ago about prayer that captures this truth beautifully:
“Before you pray, take a moment to get excited. You are about to talk to someone who loves you more than you can imagine. Nothing you’ve done could ever make him stop listening. But he’s more than a perfect listener. He has things to tell you. Things that comfort. Things that empower. And yes, sometimes things that are hard, but always, always things that are true. He’s not a cloud. He is not a mystery. He is your heavenly father. One day, you will look into his eyes and talk to him in person. But until then, we have this gift called prayer.” (Watch Video)
What strikes me most about Enos’s prayer is how it evolved. He began praying for himself (Enos 1:2-4), moved to praying for his brethren (the Nephites) (Enos 1:9), and finally found himself pouring out his soul for his enemies (the Lamanites) (Enos 1:11). This progression reveals a beautiful truth: as we draw closer to God, our circle of concern naturally expands. Personal revelation leads to greater charity.
Enos didn’t start his mighty prayer because someone told him to. He went into the forest because his soul “hungered” (Enos 1:4). Like many of us, he felt a deep, personal need for forgiveness and spiritual connection. His experience teaches us that meaningful prayer often begins when we acknowledge our own spiritual hunger.
The depth of Enos’s experience is captured in his description of “wrestling” before God (Enos 1:2). Sometimes our most meaningful prayers come when we’re completely honest about our struggles, when we persist in faith even through uncertainty. His prayer lasted all day and into the night (Enos 1:4), showing us that some spiritual answers require extended communion with God.
What’s particularly beautiful about Enos’s story is what happened after his prayer. Having received forgiveness, he spent the rest of his life in service to others (Enos 1:19-20). His mighty prayer wasn’t just a spiritual experience—it was a transformative moment that shaped the rest of his life’s mission.
I testify that our Heavenly Father isn’t a distant force or a mystery—He is our Father. One day, we will look into His eyes and talk with Him in person. Until then, we have the sacred gift of prayer. As we follow Enos’s example of sincere, persistent prayer, approaching our Father with the understanding that He has things to tell us—things that comfort, things that empower, and yes, sometimes things that are hard, but always things that are true—we too can experience the transformative power of genuine communion with God.
Elder Linder 