“Enos, Thy Sins Are Forgiven Thee”

Bryan Richards

Enos' first concern was for his own salvation. His strugglings with the Spirit were, presumably, colored by the sins of his life. He now receives the reassuring answer—that his sins are forgiven. The result was that his guilt was swept away (v. 6). The same words were spoken to the Prophet Joseph Smith while he was receiving the First Vision. In the 1838 version of the story, with which we are the most familiar, he leaves out the personal part of the story. It appears from other versions that the first words told to Joseph Smith by the Savior were, 'Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee. Go thy way, walk in my statutes and keep my commandments.' (The Revised and Enhanced History of Joseph Smith by his Mother, ed. by Scot & Maurine Proctor, chapter 17, note #11) That forgiveness of sins would be the first topic of discussion with the Lord is completely natural. Any individual who is approaching the Divine must feel terrible, overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. The recipient of such a magnificent communication could not focus on the message of the Lord without first knowing his standing in the presence of God.

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