613. We are to purify and cleanse ourselves from all sin.
614. No unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God.
615. The pure in heart shall see God.
613. We are to purify and cleanse ourselves from all sin.
quoted by John
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (An epistle of the Apostle John ) 1 John 3:2-3
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Mormon preaches in the synagogue, prior to A.D. 384) Moroni 7:48
He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest, notwithstanding he is the least and the servant of all.
27. Wherefore, he is possessor of all things; for all things are subject unto him, both in heaven and on the earth, the life and the light, the Spirit and the power, sent forth by the will of the Father through Jesus Christ, his Son.
28. But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.
29. And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done. (Revelation for the elders of the Church, May 1831) D&C 50:26-29
receiving the Word of the Lord
And a commandment I give unto thee—that thou shalt write for him; and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in mine own bosom, to the salvation of mine own elect;
21. For they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified, even as I am pure. (Revelation to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Dec. 1830) D&C 35:20-21
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (Paul's letter to his assistant Timothy, about A.D. 64) 1 Timothy 5:22
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (Paul's letter to his assistant Timothy, about A.D. 64) 2 Timothy 2:20-22
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (Paul's letter to the Church at Corinth, Greece, about A.D. 55) 2 Corinthians 7:1
quoted by Jesus,
quoted by Mormon
And then shall a cry go forth: Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. (The resurrected Jesus Christ teaches that when the fulness of the gospel is preached to the Israelites, "they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ," A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 20:41
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (Letter of James to his brethren in the Church) James 1:21
Related Witnesses:
A clean conscience with a chaste body and a virtuous mind brings power, happiness, and peace which no unvirtuous person can or ever will enjoy to the same extent. ACR(Sydney)1976:54
There is a great cleansing power. Know that you can be clean. If you are outside of the Church, the covenant of baptism itself represents, among other things, a washing and a cleansing.
For those of you who are in the Church there is a way, not entirely painless, but certainly possible. You can stand clean and spotless before him. Guilt will be gone, and you can be at peace. Go to your bishop or your branch president. He holds the key to this cleansing power. Go and have an interview with him, and then you do what he says, and you can become clean again. ACR(Stockholm)1974:84
And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. (Revelation to Moses for the children of Israel) Numbers 19:9
And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. (Isaiah sees the Lord, his sins are forgiven) Isaiah 6:7
614. No unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God.
As no unclean thing can enter the presence of the Lord, so no liar nor cheat nor hypocrite can abide in his kingdom. . . .
. . . . We Latter-day Saints believe in God, and because we believe in him, we also believe there is a devil. But the devil himself is a liar—the father of lies—and those who choose to cheat and lie and deceive and misrepresent become his slaves. CR1971Oct:64-65
But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.
35. And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken. (Nephi interprets his father Lehi's dream to his brothers, between 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 15:34-35
The road of life is plainly marked according to the divine purpose, the map of the gospel of Jesus Christ is made available to the travelers, the destination of eternal life is clearly established. At that destination our Father waits hopefully, anxious to greet his returning children. Unfortunately, many will not arrive.
The reason is forthrightly stated by Nephi—" . . . There cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God. . . ." (1 Nephi 15:34) And again, " . . . no unclean thing can dwell with God. . . ." (1 Nephi 10:21) To the prophets the term unclean in this context means what it means to God. To man the word may be relative in meaning—one minute speck of dirt does not make a white shirt or dress unclean, for example. But to God who is perfection, cleanliness means moral and personal cleanliness. Less than that is, in one degree or another, uncleanliness and hence cannot dwell with God. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 19) DGSM:39
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia in Asia Minor, about A.D. 55) Galatians 5:19-21
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Paul's letter to the Saints at Ephesus in Asia Minor, about A.D. 62) Ephesians 5:5
quoted by Mormon
And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins. (Amulek contends with the wicked Zeezrom, about 82 B.C.) Alma 11:37
quoted by Mormon
And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. (The resurrected Jesus Christ instructs his disciples, A.D. 34-35) 3 Nephi 27:19
Related Witnesses:
Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever. (Nephi's writings, 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 10:21
translating the Book of Moses
Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time. (The record of Moses : Enoch recounts God speaking to Adam) Moses 6:57
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, . . .
27. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. (John sees the earth in its millennial state) Revelation 21:10,27
615. The pure in heart shall see God.
recorded in Matthew
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Jesus Christ to the multitude, about A.D. 30) Matthew 5:8
quoted by Mormon
And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (The resurrected Jesus Christ teaches the Nephite people, A.D. 34) 3 Nephi 12:8
receiving the Word of the Lord
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. (Revelation dealing with the affairs of the persecuted Saints in Missouri, Aug. 2, 1833) D&C 97:15-17
Related Witnesses:
But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
2. O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
3. But, wo, wo, unto you that are not pure in heart, that are filthy this day before God; for except ye repent the land is cursed for your sakes; and the Lamanites, which are not filthy like unto you, nevertheless they are cursed with a sore cursing, shall scourge you even unto destruction. (Jacob addresses the Nephites, those who are pure in heart, 544-421 B.C.) Jacob 3:1-3
Therefore, marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure; ye can not yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you, from the days of Adam to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and his apostles, and from Jesus and his apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants, and by mine own voice out of the heavens, to bring forth my work; (Revelation received at Winter Quarters, Jan. 14, 1847) D&C 136:37
616. Righteousness binds the devil; we are to take upon us the armor of righteousness as a protection against the evil one.
The more righteous and upright, pure and undefiled, the Latter-day Saints become, the less power will Satan have over them, for in proportion to your unity and uprightness, honesty, and fidelity to the cause in which you are engaged, in such proportion will the power of the adversary be weakened, and those who are seeking to entice your sons and daughters into haunts of shame, and dens of wickedness, that they might be defiled, corrupted, wicked and like the rest of them will have less power over you, if you will watch your children better, and live better lives yourselves. CR1911Oct:11
receiving the Word of the Lord
Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.
16. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
17. Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
18. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen. (Revelation received through a heavenly messenger, Aug. 1830) D&C 27:15-18
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Paul writes to the Saints at Ephesus in Asia Minor, about A.D. 62) Ephesians 6:11-17
And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth. (Nephi explains the prophecies written on the plates of brass, 588-570 B.C.) 1 Nephi 22:26
And I said unto them that it [the rod of iron] was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. (Nephi interprets his father Lehi's dream to his brothers, between 600-592 B.C.) 1 Nephi 15:24
Related Witnesses:
receiving the Word of the Lord
Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble. (Revelation regarding lost manuscript pages, July 1828.) D&C 3:8
quoted by his son Nephi
Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust. (Lehi exhorts his sons to put on the armor of God, 588-570 B.C.) 2 Nephi 1:23
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James writes his brethren in the Church) James 4:7
