TWO TRAILS: AFFLICTIONS or ADMONITIONS

photo taken on my hike up to Ensign Peak on September 22, 2011

  

TWO DIFFERENT LIFE PATHS

COMPARISON OF THE LIFE OF  NEPHI AND ENOS

Nephi describes his life's learning as

 "having seen many afflictions in the course of my days,

nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days."

I Nephi 1:1 

Enos describes his life's learning as having been raised

in the "nuture and admonition of the Lord."

Enos 1:1

 Nephi draws attention to "afflictions' first, then to having been "highly favored". In contrast, Enos draws attention first to "nurture", and second to "admonitions". Nephi could see the overriding hand of Providence in the afflictions he endured. He acknowledges God's hand in all that he suffered. He was the better for having passed through his life's ordeals. God's hand in Enos' life was more gentle. He needed admonition, as we all do. However, he was perhaps a more willing student, or a more optimistic personality than Nephi.

Whatever accounts for this difference, Nephi's formula includes "afflictions" first, and God's "favor" second, while Enos follows the formual but adopts "nurture" first, and only secondly "admonition."

The above photo show two trailS side by side. Both going to the same direction and to the same destination. Both are uphill. However, the one on the left looks more difficult, steep, and with more weeds. The path on the right looks more gentle, and steady, clear, without as many obstacles. 

Nephi's path on the left? Enos's path on the right?