The Sealed Portion

I just shared the impressions that came upon me during my trip to Rome and Spain in my last blog post. It was impressed upon me how individuals, throughout all of history, received more light and truth and then were persecuted for it as they stood firm in the faith of Christ and what He was revealing to them (see “What I Learned on a trip to Rome, the Vatican and to Spain”). Then from these enlightened groups of people, other individuals and groups would receive more light and then be persecuted by their own. It occurred to me that every time this happened, more of the word of God was being revealed. For example, Moses brought forth the higher law and then the lower laws on the tablets of stone, Jesus was the word and brought forth more of His words, the reformers tried to get the word of God into a discernible language so the common person could receive more light and knowledge and then Joseph Smith brought forth another witness of Jesus Christ in the writings of the Book of Mormon. There is a distinct pattern here. If one receives the full word of God then God will find a way to bring more of His word to them. If we say we have enough then we will be condemned for not wanting more and will live in that false world we have created. Nephi and Mormon taught this principle in the Book of Mormon and Jesus taught it in the Doctrine and Covenants.

“Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:27-30).

“And when they shall have received this, [The Book of Mormon] which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation

Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people” (3 Nephi 26:9-11).

In the Doctrine and Covenants 84 we learn more of this pattern,

“17 Which priesthood continueth in the church of God in all generations, and is without beginning of days or end of years.
18 And the Lord confirmed a priesthood also upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations, which priesthood also continueth and abideth forever with the priesthood which is after the holiest order of God.
19 And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20 Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
26 And the lesser priesthood continued, which priesthood holdeth the key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
27 Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments, which the Lord in his wrath caused to continue with the house of Aaron among the children of Israel until John, whom God raised up, being filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb” (D&C 84:17-27).

So, where are we at in this pattern. In Moses’ day he tried to elevate the people to see the face of God. We just read where the Aaronic Priesthood deals with repentance, baptism, remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments (D&C 84:27). This happens every week as the Aaronic Priesthood ordinance of the sacrament is the ordinance that opens the way for a formal remission of sins through covenant and applying the atonement of Jesus Christ as we give away our sins to know Him. We also have had the Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances revealed in the temples. Here we go through the formal ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood to see the face of God. But do we really believe it? Are the covenants sinking into our hearts or do we mistakenly think that if we have gone through the temple then we will be exalted like unto God? We have been taught that it takes much more effort than just the ordinance.

Jesus was the word and He came to a people that had the Aaronic Priesthood ordinances. The church at the time was run by the Pharisees and Sadducees who had distorted truth. Moses had established this church but shortly before the Savior came they had not received the fulness of the gospel still. In fact, they had digressed to the point that John the Baptist came and baptized those willing to follow the Lord and prepare for His coming. He baptized with the Aaronic Priesthood.

Joseph Smith Jr. is compared to Moses. He established the truth and brought forth the word of God. He was given the Melchizedek Priesthood to help elevate the people to see the face of God. We are anticipating the coming of the Lord. Are we as a church more or less prepared than the children of Israel in the days shortly before the coming of the Lord? We have been told that out of ten, five would be wise and will have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide (see Matthew 25:1-13; Doctrine and Covenants 45:57). Elder Oaks taught that that percentage is very accurate of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came” (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks, April 2004 General Conference).

So, are we under condemnation or are we more righteous than the ancient children of Israel?

The Lord shared in 3 Nephi 26:9-10, that the Book of Mormon as we have it will test our faith to see if we believe what is in the Book of Mormon. If we don’t, then the greater things will be withheld. It is interesting to me that in my lifetime, Presidents Ezra Taft Benson, Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson and Russell M. Nelson have all placed renewed emphasis on the Book of Mormon. President Benson also taught what the Lord taught in Doctrine and Covenants, that we are under condemnation until we receive the Book of Mormon. He made it clear we are still under this condemnation. He said, “I reaffirm those words to you this day. Let us not remain under condemnation, with its scourge and judgment, by treating lightly this great and marvelous gift the Lord has given to us. Rather, let us win the promises associated with treasuring it up in our hearts.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, section 84, verses 54 to 58, we read:
“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received--
“Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
“And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
“And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written--
“That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. [D&C 84:54–58]”’ (The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 General Conference).

The question then becomes apparent, do we really want further light and knowledge? Do we really want the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon? If the prophets keep begging us to read the Book of Mormon and believe it, then we must not be believing and applying its sacred messages.

When more of His word comes forth, how will it come forth? Will it come forth as His words have come forth in the patterns we discussed above? Will we have the Spirit as our guide to help us discern if additional scriptures brought forth are the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon? Let us be wise and take the Holy Spirit as our guide that we may not be deceived. If we fully receive all the principles and doctrines taught in this great Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, we will be ready. We will be filled with the light and power of Jesus Christ and detect what additional scriptures are of Him.

I have had the witness of the Holy Ghost burn into my heart and mind the truths of the Book of Mormon. I have intensely studied this great book for the past 26 years. I know this great book comes from God to us and I rejoice with you that He will one day reveal the fulness of this great book to us as the additional portions in the sealed plates are brought forth. Oh come! Please come! Please join with me in receiving the Book of Mormon! Pray to God that He will see fit in His great wisdom and mercy to bring forth these greater truths to us individually and as a people. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.