Once Enlightened

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

 For it’s a sad and somber observation

That once enlightened, but turn away

We become a bitter incarnation

Intent on leading others astray

There is something about our nature that permits us to be neutral when we consider choosing to be for a certain proposition or against it.  If we are uncertain about the proposal we may choose the third option – remain neutral. There are perhaps many things in life, usually mundane and of little importance, for which we have yet to make a choice; thus keeping us in the neutral zone. Remaining neutral about whether or not we like one thing or another, or whether we believe one thing or another sometimes allows us the politically correct posture of being viewed as open minded.

However, we observe an interesting anomaly when it comes to salvational matters of choosing to embrace light or darkness, right or wrong.  The forces of light and darkness seem to pull at us and we may find ourselves initially in the gray center of ambiguity.  In our experience we know of many who were once able to walk the neutral path, but then willingly, receptively, and gratefully, chose to embrace God and to choose to live in the realm of light and truth.  However, once this is done, the anomaly is that it becomes nigh impossible to return to neutral ground. 

Once enlightened by truth and its penetrating and illuminating brightness, middle ground seems to disappear.  The forces of darkness continue their pull, their seductions and enticements, but as long as we embrace and act upon and within the light and truth we receive, we continue to receive even more.  Yet, if we begin to succumb to lesser choices and inducements, and allow ourselves to become progressively blind to the truth that we once received, we slide back, not to neutral ground, but to the embrace of darkness.  Our mental and emotional processes are affected.  The gospel writer, John said it this way, “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”  John 3:20  Jesus put the matter into the context of relationships.  Said He, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24  When the issue is choosing righteousness over sin and darkness, Jesus left no middle, neutral ground for wickedness and happiness cannot coexist in the same space in our soul.

The following actual dialogue between a church leader and church member elaborates this principle of enlightenment.  The passionate member says of his new-found faith that he will never leave it, but will always be valiant.  The church leader replies, “You don't know what you would do…. Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant." (Juvenile Instructor, vol. xxvii, 1892, p. 491.)  Once enlightened, there is no middle ground – no neutrality upon which we can fall back.

On another occasion this church leader explained about those once enlightened, “When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas-like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors. What nearer friend on earth, or in heaven, had Judas than the Savior? And his first object was to destroy Him." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 67.)

This principle of enlightenment applies not only to people but to nations as well. It is with sadness and foreboding that we observe this great nation, the United States of America – one founded upon and once enlightened by Judeo-Christian principles, is now relentlessly retreating from them.  For over 200 years the recognition of our country’s reliance on God and Divine principles existed purposefully and peacefully within the constitutional premise that the state would neither force religious belief nor deny its celebration.  Hundreds of statues, carvings, and references to our country’s Judeo-Christian heritage can be found in many federal buildings and property in our nation’s capital alone – all of which sustain our country’s motto, “In God We Trust.”   What will happen when this once enlightened nation retreats from its religious heritage?  Will God trust and support us, if we no longer place our trust in Him?

Whether a person or a nation is once enlightened by Godly truth and light, it is a dangerous and even disastrous course to retreat and abandon those precepts and principles.  This week’s meditation warns us….

  

And thus becomes our sad plight

That we are worse off than before

For no one can forsake the light

Without anguish of soul even more

Once Enlightened

And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things.

Book of Mormon   Alma 24:30

Once enlightened, clothed in righteousness 

And endowed by the sacred and holy rite

We attain an empowering devotedness

To ordinances and covenants of light

But if we regress and fall away

Into sin and transgressions

We become an easy prey

For Satan and his obsessions

For it’s a sad and somber observation

That once enlightened, but turn away

We become a bitter incarnation

Intent on leading others astray

And thus becomes our sad plight

That we are worse off than before

For no one can forsake the light

Without anguish of soul even more

May we be enlightened to better see

Wisdom beyond our current sight

To firmly grasp and turn the key

To Heaven’s door of truth and light

Larry Doyle Crenshaw