Doctrine and Covenants 88:15

President Ezra Taft Benson:

“There is no question that the health of the body affects the spirit, or the Lord would never have revealed the Word of Wisdom. God has never given any temporal commandments—that which affects our bodies also affects our [spirits]. …

“… Sin debilitates. It affects not only the [spirit], but the body. The scriptures are replete with examples of the physical power that can attend the righteous. On the other hand, unrepented sin can diffuse energy and lead to both mental and physical sickness” (“In His Steps,” Ensign, Sep. 1988, 5).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:3–4

“Some have thought that the phrase ‘another Comforter’ in Doctrine and Covenants 88:3 refers to the Second Comforter, or a personal visit from the Savior. However, the Lord in this verse promised that this Comforter would ‘abide in your hearts.’ … The Comforter promised in Doctrine and Covenants 88 is ‘the Holy Spirit of promise’ (v. 3), ‘the promise which I give unto you of eternal life’ (v. 4)” (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001, 198).

President Joseph Fielding Smith:

“The Holy Spirit of Promise is not the Second Comforter. The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Ghost who places the stamp of approval upon every ordinance that is done righteously [D&C 132:7]; and when covenants are broken he removes the seal” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:55).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:6–13

True to the Faith:

“The Light of Christ ‘proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space.’ It is ‘the light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed’ (D&C 88:12–13; see also verses 6–11). This power is an influence for good in the lives of all people (see John 1:9; D&C 93:2). In the scriptures, the Light of Christ is sometimes called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Life.

“The Light of Christ should not be confused with the Holy Ghost. It is not a personage, as the Holy Ghost is. Its influence leads people to find the true gospel, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see John 12:46; Alma 26:14–15).

“Conscience is a manifestation of the Light of Christ, enabling us to judge good from evil. The prophet Mormon taught: ‘The Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. … And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged’ (Moroni 7:16, 18)” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 96).

President Boyd K. Packer:

“To describe the Light of Christ, I will compare or liken it to the light of the sun. Sunlight is familiar to everyone; it is everywhere present and can be seen and can be felt. Life itself depends upon sunlight.

“The Light of Christ is like sunlight. It, too, is everywhere present and given to everyone equally.

“Just as darkness must vanish when the light of the sun appears, so is evil sent fleeing by the Light of Christ.

“There is no darkness in sunlight. Darkness is subject unto it. The sun can be hidden by clouds or by the rotation of the earth, but the clouds will disappear, and the earth will complete its turning. …

“The Light of Christ is as universal as sunlight itself. Wherever there is human life, there is the Spirit of Christ. Every living soul is possessed of it. It is the sponsor of everything that is good. It is the inspirer of everything that will bless and benefit mankind. It nourishes goodness itself” (“The Light of Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 2005, 13).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:21–24, 34–35

Elder Delbert L. Stapley:

“Perhaps it would be well for each of us to reassess ourselves to determine where we presently stand in relation to the fundamental law of the celestial kingdom—the law of obedience. The results should reveal to us which kingdom we have chosen as our goal. For instance:

Do I study and ponder the scriptures in an effort to know the will of God and understand His commandments regarding His children?

Do I follow the counsel of God’s living prophet, or do I merely select those things with which I agree, disregarding the others?

Do I seek the advice and counsel of my bishop and stake president on matters of concern to me and my family?

Am I earnestly striving to discipline myself, placing my physical appetites under the subjection of my will?

Am I making every effort to repent of past or present wrongdoings and correct them by doing right?

Do I have an attitude of faith in God even though I experience trials, adversity, and affliction? And do I bear my burden without a complaining spirit?

“Keeping the commandments of God is not a difficult burden when we do it out of love of Him who has so graciously blessed us. The Savior has implored us to ‘take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

“‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matt. 11:29–30.)

“Our willingness to comply with the commandments of God is a witness of our faith in Him and our love for Him. A rebellious disposition cannot inherit the celestial kingdom” (“The Blessings of Righteous Obedience,” Ensign,Nov. 1977, 20–21).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:62–63

President Spencer W. Kimball:

“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 67).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:62–69

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“My dear brothers and sisters, … at times we may … feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him! …

“God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him” (“You Matter to Him,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 22).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:64–65

Elder Richard G. Scott:

“It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. … At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good” (“Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 9).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:67

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:

“As we draw near to Heavenly Father, we become more holy. And as we become more holy, we will overcome disbelief and our souls will be filled with His blessed light. As we align our lives with this supernal light, it leads us out of darkness and toward greater light. This greater light leads to the unspeakable ministerings of the Holy Spirit, and the veil between heaven and earth can become thin” (“The Love of God,” Ensign or Liahona,Nov. 2009, 23–24).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:68

The Guide to the Scriptures defines sanctification as “the process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the atonement of Jesus Christ (Moses 6:59–60).” The entry for the word sanctification in the Guide to the Scriptures includes the following references: 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:10; 13:12; Alma 13:10–12; Helaman 3:33–35; 3 Nephi 27:20; Doctrine and Covenants 20:31; 76:41; 88:68. (See Guide to the Scriptures, “Sanctification,” scriptures.lds.org.)

Elder J. Thomas Fyans:

“From scripture study we receive further direction concerning the way to draw close to the Lord: ‘Sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.’ (D&C 88:68; italics added.) Sanctify means to make sacred or holy—to make free from sin, to purify. This we do to be in tune with his Spirit.

“We are given a guide that regularly reminds us of ways we can remain free from sin and have his Spirit with us. We hear it each time we partake of the sacrament. Listen carefully to the words: ‘O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them’ (Moro. 4:3; also D&C 20:77; italics added.)” (“Draw Near unto Me,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 90).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:86

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“No missionary can be unrepentant of sexual transgression or profane language or pornographic indulgence and then expect to challenge others to repent of those very things! You can’t do that. The Spirit will not be with you, and the words will choke in your throat as you speak them. You cannot travel down what Lehi called ‘forbidden paths’ [1 Nephi 8:28] and expect to guide others to the ‘strait and narrow’ [2 Nephi 31:18] one—it can’t be done” (“We Are All Enlisted,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 45).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:73–76

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

“God is hastening His work. And He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world. …

“… This announcement … isn’t about you. It is about the sweet and pure message you are being asked to bear” (in “Church Lowers Age Requirement for Missionary Service,” Church News,Oct. 6, 2012, ldschurchnews.com).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:81–82

President Henry B. Eyring:

“The duty to warn our neighbor falls on all of us who have accepted the covenant of baptism. We are to talk with nonmember friends and relatives about the gospel. Our purpose is to invite them to be taught by the full-time missionaries who are called and set apart to teach. …

“… We must … invite with testimony. Love and example will open the way. But we still have to open our mouths and bear testimony. …

“Perhaps some of us may find it hard to believe that we love enough, or that our lives are good enough, or that our power to testify is sufficient for our invitations to our neighbors to be accepted. But the Lord knew we might feel that way. Listen to His encouraging words, which He directed to be placed at the first of the Doctrine and Covenants, when He gave us our charge: ‘And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days’ (D&C 1:4).

“And then, listen to His description of the qualifications of those disciples—of us: ‘The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones’ (D&C 1:19).

“And then later, ‘That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world’ (D&C 1:23).

“And then again, ‘And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high’ (D&C 1:28).

“That assurance was given to the first missionaries in the Church and to missionaries today. But it is given to all of us as well. We must have the faith that we can love enough and that the gospel has touched our lives enough that our invitation to choose can be heard as coming from the Master whose invitation it is” (“A Voice of Warning,” Ensign, Nov. 1998, 33–35).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:117

Between January and May 1836, a number of meetings were held in Kirtland. Some of these meetings were solemn assemblies. Solemn assemblies are special meetings distinguished from other Church meetings. During the week of March 27, 1836, solemn assemblies were held as part of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, and another solemn assembly was held three days later on March 30, 1836. Another solemn assembly was held about a year later on April 6, 1837.

Elder David B. Haight:

“A solemn assembly, as the name implies, denotes a sacred, sober, and reverent occasion when the Saints assemble under the direction of the First Presidency. Solemn assemblies are used for three purposes: the dedication of temples, special instruction to priesthood leaders, and sustaining a new President of the Church” (“Solemn Assemblies,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 14).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:118

Elder David A. Bednar:

“Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception. …

“… Learning by faith cannot be transferred from an instructor to a student through a lecture, a demonstration, or an experiential exercise; rather, a student must exercise faith and act in order to obtain the knowledge for himself or herself” (“Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign,Sept. 2007, 64).

President Marion G. Romney:

“I believe in study. I believe that men learn much through study. As a matter of fact, it has been my observation that they learn little concerning things as they are, as they were, or as they are to come without study. I also believe, however, and know, that learning by study is greatly accelerated by faith” (Learning for the Eternities [1977], 72).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:121

President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“You can have a good time. Of course you can! We want you to have fun. We want you to enjoy life. … We want you to be robust and cheerful, to sing and dance, to laugh and be happy.

“But in so doing, be humble and be prayerful, and the smiles of heaven will fall upon you” (“A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 11).

Doctrine and Covenants 88:138–141

Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

“Washing of feet is a gospel ordinance; it is a holy and sacred rite, one performed by the saints in the seclusion of their temple sanctuaries. It is not done before the world or for worldly people. For his day and dispensation Jesus instituted it in the upper room at the time of the Last Supper.

“‘Our Lord did two things in the performance of this ordinance: 1. He fulfilled the old law given to Moses; and 2. He instituted a sacred ordinance which should be performed by legal administrators among his true disciples from that day forward.

“‘As part of the restoration of all things, the ordinance of washing of feet has been restored in the dispensation of the fulness of times. …

“‘The knowledge relative to the washing of feet has been revealed step by step in this day until a full knowledge is now incorporated in the revealed ordinances of the Lord’s house’ (Mormon Doctrine, [2nd ed. (1966), 829, 831])” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 1:708, 710).