- The alms of your prayers  (2; also read Alma 34:28)

- What do you understand by the term "alms of one's prayers"?

Alms = money or goods given as charity to the poor

- The extent of Christ's knowledge, power, and influence (6; also read 38:1-8)

- He comprehends all things and penetrates all things (41)

- The Light of Christ  (7-13)

Fundamental power and element in the light of the sun, moon, stars, earth  (7-10)

Activates the human mind  (11)

Fills immensity of space, is in all things, and gives life to all things  (12-13)

It is law and power

- "Soul" means both spirit and body  (15-16)

• Resurrection from the dead is the redemption of the soul
• We will receive the same body we have now in the resurrection (28)

- The earth will receive celestial glory and become a celstial kingdom  (18-19,25-27)

- The law of Christ is designed to prepare for the celestial kingdom (20-21)

- Obedience to the law and ability to endure glory are interconnected (22-24)

- Our obedience (or lack of it) shows our the extent of our willingness (or lack of it) to enjoy eternal glory

- "What doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed ..." (33) 

- The 4 functions of the law: (34)

• to govern
• to preserve
• to perfect
• to sanctify

- Alternative ways--other than by law--to receive sanctification:  (35)

• by mercy
• by justice
• by judgment

- All kingdoms have a law (36)

- Every law has bounds and conditions (37)

- There is no justification outside of these conditions (38)

- We must remain in the liberty that makes us free (86)

- Which suggests that there is a liberty that makes us restricted, limited, subservient

- There is a natural attraction (or "magnetism," if you will) among the following qualities and principles:  (40)

- Intelligence, wisdom, truth, virtue, light, mercy, justice, judgment

- The parable of the twelve kingdoms (51-62)

- It seems to refer to the creation and exaltation of eternal kingdoms

- As we get closer to the Lord, he gets closer to us (63)

- "Seek diligently and ye shall find me"

Diligence: earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort; assiduity; attentive care; heedfulness; persevering, painstaking effort

- Ask only what is expedient--i.e. appropriate; convenient; beneficial (65)

- The voice of the Lord is Spirit (66)

- A body full of light comprehends all things (67)

- Minds must become single to the glory of God in order to see him (68)

- Abandon idle thoughts and excess laughter (69)

- Teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom (77-79)

- Theory, principle, doctrine, law of the gospel, and things that pertain to the kingdom

- Seek words of wisdom out of best books (118)

- This is a preparation for to magnify the calling of warning the people (80-81)

- The four days or "qualities" of resurrections (97-102)

- Saints will be made equal with God (107)

- Satan to be bound for 1,000 years (110-113)

- Organize, prepare all things (119-126)

• Establish a house of: prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order, of God
• Cease: light speeches; laughter; lustful desires; pride; light-mindedness; wickedness; covetousness; idleness; fault-finding; sleepiness
• Do: love one another; impart; retire to bed early; clothe self with charity; pray always

- Instructions to the presidency of the school of the prophets (127-141)

• Arrive first
• Offer oneself to God in prayer
• Salute others as they arrive
• This looks like a very good example to any other presidency

- Read my essay on the Word of Wisdom (2003): "Chocolate, Stem Cells, and Destroying Angels: Contemporary Perspectives on the Word of Wisdom"

Questions for Review

1. List synonyms for the light of Christ. (88:6-13; 84:45-46)

2. Will those sons of perdition who pass through mortality ever resurrect? (88:28-32)

3.  What are the four functions of the law of God? (88:34)

4. As long as a person establishes his or her own good standards, instead of the gospel, will the Lord be satisfied?  (88:35,38-39)

5. What are some of the things in this universe that are somewhat mysterious even to the Lord? (88:41)

6. What happens if we ask something that is not expedient for us? (88:65)

7. How can we see God? (88:68)

8. (Fill in the blanks) The Lord commanded us to cease from our excess ........... and idle ........... . (88:69)

9. (Fill in the blanks) "Abide in the ........... wherewith ye are made ........... ." (88:86)

10. The Lord warned us against what kinds of sins ? (88:123-124)

11. What is an appropriate conduct for presiding officers in the Church? (88:130-131)

12. Was the Word of Wisdom given as a commandment to the Church right from the beginning? (89:2)

13. What are some of blessings the Lord promised to those who obey the Word of Wisdom? (89:18-21)