What Does It Mean to Become Holy?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 1: 4: 16: 19 in a lesson titled “Holiness to the Lord.” The following information introduced the lesson.

Leaving Egypt—as important as that was—didn’t fully accomplish God’s purposes for the children of Israel. Even a comfortable life in the promised land wasn’t God’s ultimate goal for them. These were only steps toward what God really wanted for His people: “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). How did God plan to make His people holy after they had lived in captivity for generations? He commanded them to create a place of holiness in the wilderness—a tabernacle. He gave them covenants and laws to guide their actions and change their hearts. And He commanded them to make animal sacrifices to teach them about atonement for their sins. All of this was meant to point their minds, hearts, and lives toward the Savior. He is the true path to holiness, for the Israelites and for us. We have all spent some time in the captivity of sin, and we are all invited to leave sin behind and follow Jesus Christ, who has promised, “I am able to make you holy” (Doctrine and Covenants 60:7).

The scripture block includes the following principles: (1) The Lord wants me to become holy (Exodus 35-40; Leviticus 19); (2) The Lord asks me to make my offerings with a willing heart (Exodus 35:4-35; 36:1-7); (3) Temple ordinances were given anciently (Exodus 40:12-14); (4) Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, I can be forgiven (Leviticus 1:1-9; 4; 16). This essay will discuss Principle 2 making sacrifices willingly.

In the first year after leaving Egypt, the relationship of the children of Israel with Jehovah could be described as inconsistent. However, Exodus 35:4-35 and 36:1-7 show that the Israelites willingly donated personal materials to build the tabernacle. We will look at Exodus 35:4-10 to see the commandment of God and Exodus 36:1-7 to see the results.

4 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,

5 Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

6 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,

7 And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood,

8 And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,

9 And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.

10 And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the Lord hath commanded;

[Exodus 35:11-35 lists all the work that God commanded.]

 1 Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom                                            the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the                         service of the sanctuary, according to all that the Lord had commanded.

2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

3 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.

4 And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;

5 ¶ And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the Lord commanded to make.

6 And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

The Israelites showed an acceptable way to respond to commandments from God. They willingly brought materials, so much that they were told to stop. What can we learn from the Israelites that could help us to better serve the Lord?

God may not ask us for precious metals, linens, or wood for a tabernacle, but He will ask us to make sacrifices. He asks young men to give two years of their lives and young women to give eighteen months of their lives to missionary service. He also asks couples to sacrifice time with their grandchildren to serve as senior missionaries, mission presidents, and temple presidents. What is the Lord asking you to sacrifice to help you to become holy?