Sanctify Yourselves-Sanctification-Holiness
To Sanctify is the process of making sacred or holy
To be Sanctified is to be made Holy or Celestial
It is to be cleansed from all sin.
To become clean from “the blood and sins of this generation” by removing unrighteousness.
Dictionary: To make legitimate or binding.
See the study “Sanctified-Sealed unto Eternal Life”
D&C 133:62 “And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given Eternal Life.” see D&C 105:3
To be sanctified is to become Holy
3 Nephi 28:39:“Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could nottemptthem; and they weresanctifiedin the flesh, that they wereholy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.”
Leviticus 11:44:“For IamtheLordyour God: ye shall thereforesanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for Iamholy.....”
Leviticus 20:7: “Sanctifyyourselves therefore, and be yeholy: for Iamthe Lordyour God.”
“Thus, “saints” is a title borne by members of the Church who through the covenant of baptism are committed to becoming “holy ones” like unto God. The Apostle Paul describes the process and end result of becoming holy as “sanctification,” from the Greek verbhagiazõ,meaning “to make holy,” and solemnly bears witness thatsanctificationcan take place only through the Atonement. The ultimate gift of the Atonement offered to the Saints is eternal life: “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:23) Aug 1999 Ensign “Paul: untiring witness of Jesus Christ”
The people of God are to sanctify themselves
D&C 43:16:“And ye are to betaughtfrom on high.Sanctifyyourselves and ye shall beendowedwith power that ye may give even as I have spoken.”
D&C 88:74-75:“And I give unto you...... a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, andsanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, andcleanseyour hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean; That I may testify unto yourFather, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from thebloodof this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and lastpromise, which I have made unto you, when I will.”
D&C 88:67-68: “And if your eye besingleto myglory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendethall things. Therefore,sanctifyyourselves that yourmindsbecomesingle to God, and the days will come that you shallseehim; 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 133:4-5:“Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded totarry.Go ye out fromBabylon. Be yecleanthat bear the vessels of the Lord.”
Joshua 3:5:“And Joshua said unto the people,sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow theLordwill do wonders among you.”
1 Chronicles 15:12:“And said unto them, ‘Yearethe chief of the fathers of the Levites, sanctify yourselves,bothye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of theLordGod of Israel untothe place thatI have prepared for it.”
2 Chronicles 35:6:“So kill the Passoverandsanctifyyourselves, andprepareyour brethren thattheymay do according to the word of theLordby the hand of Moses.”
How to become sanctified
John 17:17, 19“Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth….And for their sakes Isanctifymyself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”
It is necessary to love and serve God
D&C 20:31:“And we know also, thatsanctificationthrough the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those wholove and serve God with all theirmight, mind, and strength.”
D&C 100:15-16:“Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; forallthings shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church.For I will raise up unto myself apurepeople that will serve me in righteousness.”
To take upon ourselves the name of Christ, to remember Him, to keep His commandments
D&C 20:77:“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify thisbreadto the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, andwitnessunto 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 hiscommandmentswhich he has given them; that they may always have hisSpiritto be with them. Amen.” See D&C 20:79
Sanctified through Christ and His Law
D&C 43:8-10: “And now, behold, I give unto you acommandment, that when ye areassembledtogether ye shallinstructandedifyeach other, that ye may knowhowto act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given.Andthus ye shall become instructed in the law of my church, and besanctifiedby that which ye have received, and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me—That inasmuch as ye do this, glory shall beaddedto the kingdom which ye have received. Inasmuch as ye do it not, it shall betaken, even that which ye have received.”
D&C 76: 41-42: “That hecameinto the world, even Jesus, to becrucifiedfor the world, and tobearthe sins of theworld, and tosanctifythe world, and tocleanseit from all unrighteousness;That through him all might besavedwhom the Father had put into hispowerand made by him.”
D&C 88:21: “And they who are notsanctifiedthrough thelawwhich I have given unto you, even the law of Christ, must inheritanother kingdom, even that of a Terrestrial kingdom, or that of a Telestial kingdom.”
D&C 88:34-36:“And again, verily I say unto you, that which isgovernedby law is also preserved by law and perfected andsanctifiedby the same.That whichbreaketha law, andabideth notbylaw, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy,justice, norjudgment. Therefore, they must remainfilthystill. All kingdoms have a law given.”
D&C 101: 5:“For all those who will notendurechastening, butdenyme, cannot be sanctified.”
Helaman 3:35: “Nevertheless they didfastandprayoft, and did wax stronger and stronger in theirhumility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to thepurifyingand thesanctificationof their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of theiryieldingtheir hearts unto God.”
3 Nephi 27:20:“Now this is the commandment:Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and bebaptizedin my name, that ye may besanctifiedby the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotlessbefore me at the last day.”
Ether 4:7: “And in that day that they shall exercisefaithin me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctifiedin me, then will Imanifestunto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ.”
Acts 26:18:“To open their eyes,andto turnthemfromdarknesstolight, andfromthe power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
Genesis 2:3:“And God blessed theseventh day, andsanctifiedit: because that in it he hadrestedfrom all his work which Godcreated and made.”
Man is sanctified through the ‘blood of Christ’ therefore an appreciation and knowledge of the atonement is essential
Alma 13:11: “Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were sanctified, and theirgarmentswere washed white through the blood of the Lamb.”
Moroni 10:33: “And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are yesanctifiedin Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of thebloodof Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of yoursins, that ye becomeholy, without spot.”
Moses 6:60, 62:“For by thewaterye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye arejustified, and by thebloodye aresanctified..... And now, behold, I say unto you: This is theplan of salvationunto all men, through thebloodof mineOnly Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.”
Hebrews 10:10:“By the which will we aresanctifiedthrough theofferingofthebodyof Jesus Christoncefor all.”
The Temple is a sanctified place
D&C 109:12-13:“That thyglorymay rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house. And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a placeof thy holiness.”
Each Temple has the insignia “Holiness to the Lord”
2 Chronicles 30:8 “Now be ye notstiffnecked, as your fatherswere, butyieldyourselves unto theLord, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve theLordyour God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.”See 2 Chronicles 29: 3-6 below
Both man and earth are sanctified to become Celestial
D&C 88:2: “Behold, this is pleasing unto your Lord, and the angels rejoice over you; the alms of your prayers have come up into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded in the book of the names of the sanctified, even them of the Celestial world.”
D&C 88:18:Therefore, it must needs besanctifiedfrom all unrighteousness that it may be prepared for theCelestialglory.”
D&C 88:21: “That bodies who are of theCelestialKingdom maypossessit forever and ever; for, for thisintentwas it made and created, and for this intent are theysanctified.”
D&C 88:26:“Wherefore, it shall besanctified; yea, notwithstanding it shalldie, it shall bequickenedagain, and shall abide the power by which it is quickened, and therighteousshallinheritit.”
D&C 130:9:“Thisearth, in itssanctifiedandimmortalstate, will be made like untocrystaland will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon....”
Judgment delayed for those who are sanctified
D&C 39:16-18:“Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that the people in..... call upon me in much faith, thinking I willstaymy hand in judgment upon the nations, but I cannotdenymy word.Wherefore lay to with your might and call faithful laborers into my vineyard, that it may beprunedfor the last time.And inasmuch as they do repent and receive the fulness of my gospel, and become sanctified, I will stay mine hand injudgment.”
D&C 105: 31:“But first let my army become very great, and let it besanctified before me, that it may become fair as the sun, and clear as the moon, and that her banners may be terrible unto all nations.”
Removing that which is not right is part of the sanctification process for the whole
D&C 43:11: “Purgeye out theiniquitywhich is among you; sanctify yourselves before me.”
Joshua 7:13:“Up,sanctifythe people, and say,Sanctifyyourselves against to morrow: for thus saith theLordGod of Israel,There isan accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.”
2 Chronicles 29: 3-6:“He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of theLord, and repaired them.And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites,sanctifynow yourselves, and sanctify the house of theLordGod of your fathers, and carry forth thefilthinessout of the holyplace.For our fathers havetrespassed, and donethat which wasevil in the eyes of theLordour God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of theLord, and turnedtheirbacks.”
Holiness
Dictionary: Holiness is dedication to God; morally and spiritually excellent
D&C 20:69: “And the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by agodlywalk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works andfaithagreeable to the holy scriptures—walking inholinessbefore the Lord.”
Zion is a place of Holiness
D&C 82:14:“ForZionmust increase inbeauty, and inholiness; her borders must be enlarged; herstakesmust be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion mustariseand put on herbeautiful garments.”
Obadiah 1:17:“But upon mountZionshall bedeliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shallpossesstheir possessions.”
Moses 7:19:“And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, evenZion.”
2 Nephi 8:11:“Therefore, theredeemedof the Lord shallreturn, and come withsingingunto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow andmourningshall flee away.”
The Holiness of God
Psalms 30:4:“Sing unto theLord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”
2 Nephi 9:20:“O how great theholinessof our God! For heknowethallthings, and there is not anything save he knows it.”
Moses 7:35: “Behold, I am God;Manof Holiness is my name; Man of Counsel is my name; and Endless and Eternal is myname, also.”
The saints are to develop Holiness
D&C 21:4: “Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt giveheedunto all his words andcommandmentswhich he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in allholinessbefore me.”
D&C 38:24: “And let every manesteemhis brother as himself, and practicevirtueand holiness before me.”
D&C 43:9: “....and ye shall bind yourselves to act in all holiness before me” See 43:8-10
D&C 46:7:“But ye are commanded in all things toaskof God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in allholinessof heart, walking uprightly before me,consideringthe end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer andthanksgiving, that ye may not beseducedby evilspirits, or doctrines of devils, or thecommandmentsof men; for some are of men, and others of devils.”
D&C 46:33: “And ye must practicevirtueand holiness before me continually.”
D&C 107:30: “The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in allrighteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness andlong-suffering, and infaith, andvirtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity.”
3 Nephi 4:29: “May the Lord preserve his people in righteousness and in holiness of heart.”
2 Nephi 9:48: “Behold, if ye were holy I would speak unto you of holiness; but as ye are not holy, and ye look upon me as ateacher, it must needs be expedient that Iteachyou the consequences of sin.”
Moses 5:26: “And Cain was wroth and listened not any more to the voice of the Lord, neither to Abel, his brother, who walked in holiness before the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7: “For God hath not called us untouncleanness, but unto holiness.”
Ephesians 4:24:“And that ye put on thenew man, which after God is created inrighteousnessand true holiness.”
Hebrews 12:14: “Followpeacewith allmen,andholiness, without which no man shallseethe Lord.”
Leviticus 20:26: “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord [am] Holy, and have severed you from [other] people that ye should be mine.”
2 Chronicles 31:18:“....For in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness.”
Scriptures Used in this Study
Doctrine and Covenants
D&C 20:31; 20:69; 20:77; 21:4; 38:24; 39:16-18; 43:9; 43:8-10; 43:11; 43:16; 46:7; 46:33; 76:41-42; 82:44; 88:2; 88:8; 88:21; 88:26; 88:34-36; 88:67-68; 88:74-75; 100:15-16; 101:5; 105:31; 107:30; 109:12-13; 130:9;; 133:4-5; 133:62
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 8:11; 9:20; 9:48; Alma 13:11; Helaman 3:35; 3 Nephi 4:29; 27:20; 28:39; Ether 4:7; Moroni 10:33;
Pearl of Great Price
Moses 5:26; 6:60, 62; 7:19; 7:35;
New Testament
John 17:17, 19; Acts 26:18; Hebrews 10:10; 12:14; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:7:
Old Testament
Genesis 2:3; 1 Chronicles: 15:12; 2 Chronicles 29: 3-6;30:8; 31:18; 35:6; Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus: 20:7; 20:26; Joshua 3:5; 7:15; Psalms 30:4; Obadiah 1:17;
Quotes
Joseph A. Cannon “Sanctify”Mormon Times 11 June 2008 “Sanctify”
“Though the word "sanctify" appears relatively infrequently in the scriptures, it is one of the most constant words that we hear in our Sabbath day observance (note that the Lord blessed and sanctified the Sabbath day). Forty-eight Sundays a year we hear — and sometimes to ourselves, say — the words "bless and sanctify this bread" and "this water." The sacrament, therefore, is sanctified in order to help sanctify us. This word, then, is at the heart of our Sabbath day worship.
The word "sanctify" comes from the root to make holy or dedicated. The Oxford English Dictionary defines sanctify as, to consecrate a thing; to set it apart as holy or sacred; to make a person holy; to purify or free from sin. Sanctify also means to set apart religiously for an office or a function, such as temples, chapels or, as noted, the Sabbath day itself.
Another aspect of sanctify is to render a person or a thing productive of or conducive to holiness.
In the Old Testament, sanctify is generally used in describing ritual cleansings and anointing that would prepare us, at least outwardly, to be free of ritual impurities. Thus, Moses "poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him" (Leviticus 8:12). In our day, we are expected to do all in our power to make ourselves pure and holy that we can be worthy for the Lord to sanctify us. We are commanded to "sanctify yourselves; yea purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean" (D&C 88:74).
In order to do our part we need to separate ourselves from unholy and ungodly things (Moroni 10:32-33). How do we do this? We fast and pray, we "wax stronger" in our humility, and become "firmer in the faith of Christ ... even to the purifying and the sanctification of (our) hearts, which sanctification cometh because of (our) yielding (our) heart unto God" (Helaman 3:35).
If we "come unto Christ" and "deny (our)selves of all ungodliness" and yield our hearts to God, then are we "sanctified in Christ by the grace of God through the shedding of the blood of Christ." It is through this covenant that we can "become holy (sanctified) without spot" (Moroni 10:32-33).
As noted by Elder D. Todd Christofferson in the May 2008 Ensign, "The spirit brings the atoning grace of Christ, symbolized by His blood, both to justify (or pardon) our sins and to sanctify (or cleanse) us from the effects of sin, making us spotless and holy before God." Joseph A. Cannon Mormon Times 11 June 2008
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