Our Portion

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

Ever wonder what limitations there might be to us receiving more light and truth - a greater fullness of inspiration and revelation?  In a world where many pervert the truth, and where it is sometimes hard to understand things as they really are, we are reminded of Isaiah’s warning, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20.  Apparently, this condition has always been present.  It just seems more so today as we find our way in the world and raise children to find their way.

However, we are not left without guidance and inspiration about these things.  Indeed, we have received a grand and glorious promise. “I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:4-5

It appears that to “know the truth of all things,” certain requirements must be met.  We must have a sincere heart, have real intent, and have faith in Christ.   To this doctrine we might also consider that some truths will be revealed to us only on the condition that we keep them to ourselves.  To His trusted servants, God will reveal great and marvelous things, which the world is not ready to receive, for they are not ready to abide certain truths.  The Lord has called that revelatory communication of truth given to us, but not to the world, as “our portion.”

This revelatory contract of trust is explained by a modern prophet who said, “Just as fast as you will prove before your God that you are worthy to receive the mysteries, if you please to call them so, of the Kingdom of heaven—that you are full of confidence in God—that you will never betray a thing that God tells you—that you will never reveal to your neighbor that which ought not to be revealed, as quick as you prepare to be entrusted with the things of God, there is an eternity of them to bestow upon you.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p 93)

This week’s meditation explores and instructs us regarding those personal revelations of God’s truths known as “Our Portion.”

Our Portion

And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.  And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.  And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.

Book of Mormon   Alma 12:9-11

God’s mysteries may be known

By those laid under strict command

Not to impart the knowledge shown

Beyond the portions granted unto man

This according to the diligence and heed

Which they offer to God and His anointed

To receptive hearts greater light is decreed

To harden hearts less truth is appointed

When our heart remains hardened and closed

Less light is given and some may be taken

Until our knowledge is vacant and foreclosed

And we are captured, chained and led away by Satan

May we honor the trust given us as receivers

Of mysteries the Lord will or has revealed

Personally and privately to us as believers

With the constraint that they be concealed

To be trusted with mysteries in their fullness

We must be honest and loyal with all our heart

Having a confidential and trusting mindfulness

Of our portion that the Lord will then impart

Larry Doyle Crenshaw