Holiness to the Lord - Infuse Daily Living with the Sacred

In the early days of the church, the Lord instructed the saints to inscribe the words "Holiness to the Lord" over almost all church buildings. (Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 15) Such an inscription is a reminder to us every time we enter a House of the Lord that we, too, should show Holiness to the Lord in our own lives.

Sis. Michelle D. Craig, formerly of the General Young Women presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, once said, "these words carved into this temple and every temple are words I want carved into my heart."

How can we show Holiness to the Lord in our daily lives? Elder Gerritt W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also said, "All around us are opportunities to laugh, delight, see with grateful eyes. Ours is a gospel of joy and holiness in everyday life. Holiness sets things apart for sacred purpose. But holiness also invites us to infuse daily living with the sacred—to rejoice in daily bread amidst this world’s thistles and thorns. To walk with the Lord, we must become holy, for He is holy, and to help us become holy, the Lord invites us to walk with Him." (Holiness to the Lord, Oct. 2024 General Conference)

Infusing daily living with the sacred leads us steadily along a path that follows Him. This includes simple acts, such as daily prayers to our Heavenly Father, obeying His commandments, and attending church meetings. It also includes acts that help us stretch ourselves, such as fulfilling a calling, attending the temple, fulfilling covenants, and serving our neighbor. Infusing sacred acts into our daily lives leads us to becoming better disciples of Jesus Christ, bringing Holiness to Him and into our own lives.

Showing Holiness to the Lord is not a one-time thing. It is not something we do on Sunday and then carry on our normal lives for another week. Our lives must be infused with sacred things daily so that the blessings of discipleship and Holiness can also come into our lives.

Showing Holiness to the Lord is not for us alone. As we show Holiness to the Lord, others will be blessed, either by hearing our testimonies or through service. Those recipients are then likewise invited to show Holiness to the Lord, and thus bless the lives of many others.

May we ever, as the apostle Paul once said, have Holiness inscribed "not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart." (2 Corinthians 3:3) May we daily seek the Holy Spirit, that we can follow the Savior, Jesus Christ, to the Holy Homes prepared by our Heavenly Father. May we share this spirit, "and so fill up the world in these last days." (Saints, Vol. 1, Chapter 15)

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Invitation: Seek do something each day that will infuse our daily lives with the sacred. Share with others how doing this has affected you and others you have served.

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