As Lord Wilmore mentioned in this post, we had some interaction on the topic of knowledge that we both benefited from. I will use a couple of posts to add to the interesting ideas already presented, about "great knowledge" or lack thereof, as covenant blessings and curses, respectively.
I just copy the figure that he included in the previous post, which is a pointed illustration of one of my favorite scriptures in Alma 12:9-11.
While I agree that the shared scripture is silent about the destiny of those who get the "greater portion", I still want to try to fill in that question mark. Because I believe that Alma hints about it later in that sermon when he uses the phrase "enter into his rest". Consider verses 34-35
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a of his sins; and these shall enter into my .
35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do , behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
In the next verse, Alma expands on what it means to not enter into his rest.
And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity him that he sendeth down his upon you as in the provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.
He talks about destruction three times previously in this chapter, one of them in the quoted verses that the figure illustrates. This is the destiny of those who harden their heart and the equivalent of not entering into his rest. There is a similar pattern here to verses 9-11 that are illustrated by the figure. Alma expands on what it means to not enter into his rest. But he never expands on what it means to "enter into his rest", even though the term is used nine times in this sermon.
However, this phrase is one that I have studied a bit before and it has clear temple connotations. It is a quote from Psalm 95 that was composed and used for temple worship. "His rest" is God's presence, symbolized by the Holy of Holies in ancient temples (or the celestial room in modern temples). The phrase may initially seem strange from a modern point of view, but the ancient temple symbolism was that of a journey. Consider how often phrases such as "walking" on a "path of righteousness" or "the way" are used in the scriptures. There are several blog posts on this topic too. The symbolism is not completely lost on us today either, for instance when we speak of the "covenant path". At the end of that path, there is a destination where we rest.
I'll attempt to summarize what this study has taught me. The establishment of a covenant is often initiated by a search for "great knowledge". As we saw in the referenced post, Abraham searched for it before God made a covenant with him. The Book of Mormon, the account of a branch of the House of Israel, a covenant people, begins with obtaining "great knowledge". If we don't harden our hearts, we will receive this knowledge or a "greater portion" of his word. One way this happens is when we enter into the temple and obtain more knowledge, enter into covenants and get a glimpse of what it means to enter into his rest. Then, if we stay true to those covenants and don't sin against the "great knowledge" like the Nephites of old, we will experience the actual realization of what the temple symbolizes and enter into His rest.
It is interesting to me that the "greater portion" and knowing the mysteries of God links to the temple, where those mysteries are available only to those who have not hardened their hearts and are ready to receive.
