KEEP YOURSELVES FROM ALL UNCLEANNESS; BE HOLY.

Leviticus 17-25

In the Bible Dictionary, we read that things that are holy are “set apart for a sacred purpose.” We also read that this referred to a moral state, defined by the quality of one’s character. Sanctification, then, is the process through which we can become holy, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

The Lord gave the Israelites rituals through which they could become sanctified, achieving this holiness. These rites and ceremonies were intended to cleanse, guard against disease, and make them worthy to approach the Lord; clean, and through constant attention and devotion, also holy.

Jehovah could demand His people be holy, because He, himself is holy (see Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7, 26; 21:8).

We need to remember the importance of our “rituals,” and not become complacent in our obedience (I call this “hollow obedience,” a.k.a. “checking the box” or “phoning it in”). We need to understand the laws we choose to obey, and be more mindful in our choices—this should extend to becoming more mindful in recognizing and acknowledging the consequences of our obedience or disobedience.
When we don’t recognize the blessings we receive through obedience, or the loss of the Spirit that occurs when we disobey, we are living in a kind of spiritual disconnectedness. I think it takes constant focus to make sure our spirits are aligned with/engaged in our actions. When we do this, the ritual becomes transformative; it sanctifies us, and we become holy. Whew. 

In Leviticus 18:4-5, it says:

“Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God.

 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.”

If we seek to keep the commandments fully, they will cease to be mandates, but will become a part of our character, our daily living. 

We will become holy, our lives sanctified.

In Leviticus we also have the reiteration of many of the Ten Commandments, with some elaborations. We are told not to gossip, to treat each other equally, without respect to position. We are reminded to judge righteously, to love our neighbor. We are also commanded against infidelity in marriage, idol-worship, and incest.

I think the thing that the world struggles with most, with respect to these commandments, is idol-worship. I think that I struggle with this. I think that the idol differs for all of us, and sometimes it changes. 

Our idols can be anything that competes with the Lord for our devotion.

For me, sometimes it’s a stupid game on my tablet that I waste time with. 

Sometimes it’s a series on Netflix. 

Aren’t these things okay in mediation? 

Well, sure…but I’ll tell you this, I’ve never in my life stayed up late reading scriptures, or reasoned with myself, “Just one more chapter in the Book of Mormon—then I’ll quit!”
 

I need to discipline myself and live in exercising my devotion to God, knowing that when and if I can do this, everything else will fall into place.

It has to.     

  It’s His plan.            

       

These are the sister missionaries who were in the Missionary Training Center at the time of the last Relief Society broadcast. At about 2:19 you can see Sister Hartung from our ward at the center of the screen in the pink top! She's now serving faithfully in Kansas.