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Today, all the students are doing home study seminary. If anyone has lost their instruction sheets, please let me know.

From the New Testament Institute manual, we learn more about Luke 16. It says:

"In the famous parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus we are exposed to two different conditions in the postmortal world: 'Abraham’s bosom' and 'hell.' The former is depicted as a place of rest, the latter a place of torment. Between the two 'is a great gulf fixed' which prevents social interchange between the two. Such was the condition prior to Christ’s visit to the spirit world between the time of his death and his resurrection:

"What is Abraham’s bosom? Read Alma 40:11, 12.

"What is hell? Read Alma 40:13, 14 and 2 Nephi 9:12.

"The Savior’s visit to the spirit world bridged the gulf between paradise (Abraham’s bosom) and hell, making it possible for the spirits in prison to receive the message of the gospel by authorized ministers.

"'There was no intermingling by the spirits in paradise and hell until after Christ bridged the ‘great gulf’ between these two spirit abodes. (Alma 40:11–14.) This he did while his body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea and his own disembodied spirit continued to minister to men in their spirit prison. (1 Pet. 3:18–21; 4:6; Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., pp. 472–476.) ‘Until that day’ the prisoners remained bound and the gospel was not preached to them. (Moses 7:37–39.) The hope of salvation for the dead was yet future.' (McConkie, DNTC, 1:521.)"

I am very thankful the scriptures teach us more about the Spirit World and what our Savior has done for all of us. Thankfully, because of His atonement, we all have the opportunity to learn the truth and choose to return to our Heavenly Father.