I have a few thoughts on this lesson. As I read the book of Enos earlier this week I thought what a legacy his father Jacob left for him. In six words we learn, "My father was a just man".  In Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon it states,...a just man is one that has kept his covenants with exactness and honor".

Who is Enos?  Enos is the son of Jacob, the grandson of Lehi and Sariah.  Now we clearly understand when he indicates that his father was a "just man"...for he was taught by a righteous father...and Enos is grateful for this legacy..."blessed be the name of God for it".

In the book of Omni we learn about Omni, the son of Jarom, the great-grandson of Enos.  Omni tells us he is a wicked man.   He understand who he was and I believe he understood what he has been taught because he tells us "I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done".  My question is: did he ever stop to consider the legacy he'd been given and the legacy he was now leaving,  and the generations that would be affected by his choices?

Read on and you will learn of Amaron and Chemish - son's of Omni.  Now consider, not just them but, their posterity; Abinadom, the son of Chemish and Amaleki, son of Abinadom.  All of these men kept the commandment to preserve the records of their people, but not until Amaleki are there any new prophesies, history, or missionary efforts recorded.   I find this very sobering! 

I think about Amaleki.  How did he obtain his testimony?  My belief is that the testimonies of Lehi, Jacob, and Enos were so strong that even though some of their posterity did not live righteous lives, the examples and teachings were still taught in some manner to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

The question we have to ask ourselve is,  "what legacy will we leave?"  Do we keep the covenants we have made with exactness and honor? As we partook of the Sacrament,  did we think about our covenants and how we might improve just a little more? 

As I listened to Truman Madsen's tapes on the Prophet Joseph Smith, he talked about Elizabeth Rawlins Lightener (not sure of the correct spelling.) She was the young girl who asked to borrow a Book of Mormon to read. She was loaned a copy but told she could only keep it over night. The borrowed copy just happened to belong to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

She read all night! Do we understand the depth of legacy she left for her posterity? I've listened to many people in the church who come from "pioneer stock", who's ancestors are among those who walked across the Plaines to reach the Salt Lake Valley and many who lost their lives along the way. They have beautiful stories of faith and courage to share.

As a convert to the church I have not been able to share rich ancestral stories with my children .... but I realized that I can build that rich gospel related heritage for my posterity now and that I have actually had the opportunity to do so from the moment I knew the church was true up until today. Actually, we all have since the Grand Council in heaven when we made the choice to follow Christ.

In addition to this, as I learn what it means to be of the House of Israel and Tribe of Ephraim I understand even more fully that I have a great heritage. One of the stories I can share is the story of Abraham and Isaac and the great sacrifice that the Lord asked of Abraham and my children can know that we are from "this" family. I can tell them that from this family line, they were "reserved" for this time on earth.

Most importantly, I also understand that it wouldn't matter what kind of family background I have (and I think it would be surprising if I let you see some of the skeletons in the family attic - no they are not in the closet - I leave them way up in the attic (LOL) but what matters is how I conduct "myself" and what I do with the knowledge of the gospel that has been entrusted to me.

©Alice Gifford, All Rights Reserved

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