Doctrine and Covenants 88: 67-76

What does the the Lord’s command to “sanctify yourselves” mean to you exactly?

"67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.

68 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, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.

69 Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.

70 Tarry ye, tarry ye in this place, and call a solemn assembly, even of those who are the first laborers in this last kingdom.

71 And let those whom they have warned in their traveling call on the Lord, and ponder the warning in their hearts which they have received, for a little season.

72 Behold, and lo, I will take care of your flocks, and will raise up elders and send unto them.

73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.

74 And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;

75 That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will.

76 Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth." (Doctrine and Covenants 88: 67-76)

And here's the commentary entitled: "I can become clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." : 

"The Lord’s command to “sanctify yourselves” appears twice in section 88 (verses 68, 74). What do you think this phrase means? You might review some of the passages under “Sanctification” in the Guide to the Scriptures (Gospel Library). How do we become sanctified? Let this question guide your study of Doctrine and Covenants 88:67–76, and record any spiritual insights you gain."

The word “Sanctification” is defined as "The process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" (Guide to the Scriptures). So, for me, the phrase, "sanctify yourselves" means going through that process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean and holy through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

 Helaman 3: 33-35 tells us exactly what we can do to go through the sanctification process. It says: 

"33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—

34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." 

I really love the last part of this passage: "sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts to God." This also goes along with what Doctrine and Covenants 88:67–76 says about how we can sanctify ourselves: "sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God". The heart and the mind are mentioned. They represent what we choose to feel and what we choose to think. When our choices align with God's will, we are sanctifying ourselves. And I love the phrase "sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God". Having our minds single to God, to me, means getting the 100% focus of the thoughts of our minds to God, it's laser-beam focus. Most of all, I love the promise God gave us if we are able to do give Him our mind's full focus or 100% attention most of the time: "And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things." The phrase "your eye be single to my glory" is another way of saying "your minds become single to God" and I love that analogy of the eye because it does makes so much sense to me. Our eyes go to where our attention is. We choose where will our attention go with our minds. And when we choose to give our full attention to God, being single to Him or single to His glory, we receive His promised blessing of having our bodies filled with light, having no darkness in us, and most of all, being able to comprehend all things. The Lord is the light who comprehendeth all things. So we become like Him when we, ourselves are able to comprehend all things as well.