Sanctification & Preparation
Inspired by Doctrine and Covenants 88:68, 74, 119
Sanctification: Becoming Holy Through Alignment
There’s a word that carries both weight and wonder: sanctification. At its heart, it means to be made holy, to be set apart, to be purified. It is not a single event, but a lifelong process of becoming more aligned with what is divine.
One scripture puts it this way:
“Therefore, 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…” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:68).
Sanctification is about direction more than perfection. It is the ongoing work of turning our lives toward what is true, shedding what no longer serves, and allowing our thoughts and actions to be refined. It’s the clearing away of noise so the sacred can take root.
And this longing to be purified, to be aligned with God or ultimate truth, is echoed in many traditions:
Christianity (New Testament): Paul writes, “This is the will of God, even your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). To be sanctified is to live as one wholly devoted to God.
Judaism: The Hebrew word kadosh (holy) means set apart. Sanctification is the practice of setting our lives apart for higher purposes, moving away from distractions that pull us off course.
Islam (Qur’an, Surah 87:14–15): “Successful is he who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord and prays.” Purification is not just ritual but remembrance—a re-centering of life on God.
Hinduism (Bhagavad Gita 5:7): “One who is self-controlled and pure, of firm determination… is dear to God.”Sanctification here is tied to self-mastery and devotion.
Buddhism: Though not expressed in the same language, the concept of purification is central. In the Dhammapada it reads: “Purity and impurity depend on oneself; no one can purify another.”
Different languages, different traditions—yet the same heartbeat. To be sanctified is to be cleansed, realigned, renewed. It is a lifelong journey of becoming whole.
Preparation: Organize Yourselves… Establish a House of God
Later in the same section, another invitation appears:
“…organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of God.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:119).
On the surface, these are instructions for building a holy place. But looked at more deeply, they are a call to bring order to our lives: to prepare what is needed, to remove what is not, and to create space where the sacred can dwell.
How do we “prepare every needful thing”?
Physically: caring for our bodies, homes, and daily rhythms.
Mentally: creating clarity in our thoughts and priorities.
Spiritually: setting aside time and space to encounter the divine.
Many traditions echo this wisdom:
Buddhism: Mindfulness is the daily act of “housekeeping” for the mind, clearing distraction so compassion can find room.
Islam (Hadith): The Prophet Muhammad taught, “Cleanliness is half of faith.” Outer preparation reflects inner devotion.
Judaism: When the Tabernacle was built, every detail mattered—not because God required gold or fine fabric, but because careful preparation itself was an offering.
Christianity (New Testament): Paul reminds, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Preparation is both physical and spiritual.
The call is universal: to build not just temples of stone, but lives that can hold God’s presence.
Living It Out in This Season
Sanctification and preparation belong together. To sanctify is to prepare; to prepare is to sanctify. Both are practices of intention—clearing away distraction, choosing what endures, and making space for the sacred.
For me, it looks like asking:
What am I doing each day that invites light into my life?
Where am I holding on to clutter—physical, mental, or emotional—that needs to be released?
How can I make my home, my schedule, and my inner life more of a dwelling place for the divine?
And I’ve learned this: it doesn’t have to be dramatic. Sanctification can be found in the quiet choices—a moment of prayer, a clean space, a forgiving word, a simple act of love. Each one becomes a stone in the house we are building.
Closing Reflection
Sanctification is not about arriving—it is about opening. It is the courage to make room, to realign, to live each day in a way that reflects the sacred.
So this week, may we listen for the invitation to clear space.
May we prepare what is truly needful.
And may we build, with patient hands and open hearts, a life where the holy feels at home.
👉 Reflection Question:
What is one “needful thing” you could prepare this week—in your home, your mind, or your spirit—that would make more room for the sacred?
