How can we be "wholly dedicated unto the Lord"?
"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, August 2, 1833. Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter are appointed as a Church building committee.
1–9, The Lord gives a commandment relative to the erection of a house for the work of the Presidency; 10–12, A printing house is to be built; 13–17, Certain inheritances are assigned.
1 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall commence a work of laying out and preparing a beginning and foundation of the city of the stake of Zion, here in the land of Kirtland, beginning at my house.
2 And behold, it must be done according to the pattern which I have given unto you.
3 And let the first lot on the south be consecrated unto me for the building of a house for the presidency, for the work of the presidency, in obtaining revelations; and for the work of the ministry of the presidency, in all things pertaining to the church and kingdom.
4 Verily I say unto you, that it shall be built fifty-five by sixty-five feet in the width thereof and in the length thereof, in the inner court.
5 And there shall be a lower court and a higher court, according to the pattern which shall be given unto you hereafter.
6 And it shall be dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, according to the order of the priesthood, according to the pattern which shall be given unto you hereafter.
7 And it shall be wholly dedicated unto the Lord for the work of the presidency.
8 And ye shall not suffer any unclean thing to come in unto it; and my glory shall be there, and my presence shall be there.
9 But if there shall come into it any unclean thing, my glory shall not be there; and my presence shall not come into it.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, the second lot on the south shall be dedicated unto me for the building of a house unto me, for the work of the printing of the translation of my scriptures, and all things whatsoever I shall command you.
11 And it shall be fifty-five by sixty-five feet in the width thereof and the length thereof, in the inner court; and there shall be a lower and a higher court.
12 And this house shall be wholly dedicated unto the Lord from the foundation thereof, for the work of the printing, in all things whatsoever I shall command you, to be holy, undefiled, according to the pattern in all things as it shall be given unto you.
13 And on the third lot shall my servant Hyrum Smith receive his inheritance.
14 And on the first and second lots on the north shall my servants Reynolds Cahoon and Jared Carter receive their inheritances—
15 That they may do the work which I have appointed unto them, to be a committee to build mine houses, according to the commandment, which I, the Lord God, have given unto you.
16 These two houses are not to be built until I give unto you a commandment concerning them.
17 And now I give unto you no more at this time. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 94)
"10 Verily I say unto you, that it is my will that a house should be built unto me in the land of Zion, like unto the pattern which I have given you.
11 Yea, let it be built speedily, by the tithing of my people.
12 Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion—
13 For a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;
14 That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.
15 And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
16 Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
17 But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples." (Doctrine and Covenants 97: 10-17)
And here's the commentary entitled: "I can be “wholly dedicated unto the Lord.”:
"In Doctrine and Covenants 94, the Lord gives instructions about constructing administrative buildings in Kirtland—an office and a printing house. What impresses you about what the Lord says about these buildings in Doctrine and Covenants 94:2–12? How does it compare with what He says about the temple in 97:10–17?
What does it mean to you to be “wholly dedicated unto the Lord”?"
To be "wholly dedicated unto the Lord" means being "perfected in understanding of our ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth" and being "pure in heart", with no more disposition to do evil but to do good continually. This means having a repentant heart all the time because despite having a perfect understanding...and having a pure heart, we still have the tendency to make mistakes and sin. And so we always need to repent. We always need to be forgiven by the Lord. Being wholly dedicated unto the Lord is having all our thoughts and affections directed unto the Lord so He could purify our hearts and keep our hearts pure.
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