Further thoughts on knowledge and covenants -- Part 2

Lord Wilmore already shared some verses from Alma 9 and 45. I just wanted to quote a bit more from Alma 45 to show a connection between the two. First Alma 9, where Alma is preaching to apostate Nephites in Ammonihah:

18 But behold, I say unto you that if ye persist in your wickedness that your days shall not be prolonged in the land, for the Lamanites shall be sent upon you; and if ye repent not they shall come in a time when you know not, and ye shall be visited with utter destruction; and it shall be according to the fierce anger of the Lord.
19 For he will not suffer you that ye shall live in your iniquities, to destroy his people. I say unto you, Nay; he would rather suffer that the Lamanites might destroy all his people who are called the people of Nephi, if it were possible that they could fall into sins and transgressions, after having had so much light and so much knowledge given unto them of the Lord their God

Then Alma 45, where Alma is giving instructions to his son, Helaman.

9 But behold, I have somewhat to prophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.
10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.
11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—
12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come.

There is a certain irony here. The Nephite destruction happens in a time that they know not. The reason that they "know not" is because they have sinned against the knowledge that they once had as a "highly favored" covenant people. Thus, they receive "the lesser portion" (Alma 12:10) and further knowledge is withheld from them. Alma knows, and since Helaman has proved himself faithful, he is also ready to receive "the greater portion" from Alma on this matter. By commanding Helaman to not make it known, he also fulfills his own words in Ammonihah, making sure that those who have sinned against light and knowledge are withheld from it, even the knowledge of their own fate.

It is also interesting to note that when this prophecy is fulfilled, Moroni uses the term, "no one knoweth" in Mormon 8:8 as if to say that Alma's words have been fulfilled and there are no righteous, covenant keeping people left. He then goes on to say

14 And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
15 For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to his glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
16 And blessed be he that shall bring this thing to light; for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God.

The light and knowledge that the Nephites sinned against and lost, would return and we have lived to see this fulfilled. The record where prophets wrote, even things that were not "made known", should "shine forth out of darkness" and it has. Now it's our turn. We have this light and knowledge in front of us. Will we sin against it so we get the lesser portion or abide by its words and receive the greater portion?