"Ye shall be holy," the Lord told Israel. Then He provided specific instructions for holy behavior, including caring for the vulnerable, dealing honestly, and loving our neighbors. King Benjamin taught these principles to his people, reminding them that no list could could anticipate every situation they would face.
Their Love Can Sanctify
We do many things to show our devotion to God, but we must remember that these actions represents an invitation for God to bless us, an opening of our hearts to receive His sanctifying power. We seek for holiness, but only He can make us holy.
Preparing to Stand on Holy Ground
God commanded Moses to remove his shoes as he stood on holy ground. The Lord also commanded early church members to ensure that holy buildings are not defiled. We demonstrate our desire for holiness by removing our shoes and repenting of our sins. Then, the Savior makes us holy.
Unspotted
James urges us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. In modern revelation, the Lord explains that regular worship enables us to "more fully" keep ourselves unspotted. Moroni describes a process in which we intentionally "deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness," inviting God's grace to sanctify us, so that we eventually "become holy, without spot."
Practicing Virtue and Holiness
Modern revelation twice urges disciples to “practice virtue and holiness.” Practice means deliberate, repeated action. Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. Holiness means being purified from sin. Consistent effort (practice) invites God's transforming power, so that He can sanctify us and help us become holy.
Walking in Holiness
God wants us to become holy. In 1830, he instructed church members to "[walk] in holiness before the Lord." Walking in holiness includes avoiding the profane, but it also includes inviting good and virtuous things into our lives and finding joy in our daily activities.