What Does it Mean to Partake of Something?

John W. Welch

Lehi partook of the fruit of the tree. Linguistically, what does the word "partake" mean? If you partake, you become a participant, not just a taker of some kind. The word "partake" comes from the Latin particeps, meaning "participant," and thus has a stronger meaning than just eating or taking a piece or a part of something. When you partake of something—as when you partake of the sacrament—you become a participant. It becomes part of you, and you become part of it yourself.

Mark D. Ogletree, "’That My Family Should Partake’," Religious Educator 17, no. 1 (2016).

"Remember Lehi’s encounter with the tree of life? As soon as he partook of the fruit, his deepest desire was that his ‘family should partake of it also’ (1 Nephi 8:12). Lehi’s desire wasn’t to share his initial joy with neighbors or friends, or even fellow Saints. Foremost on his mind was his family; his desires were riveted on sharing his gospel knowledge with those he loved the most." (p. 95)

John W. Welch Notes

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