“They call themselves of the holy city”—as hypocrites said in Jesus’ day, “we have Abraham [for] our father” (Luke 3:8); “we be Abraham’s seed” (John 8:33). They thought themselves worthy of some preferential status, but they did not stay themselves on (that is, depend on, rely on, trust in) the God of Israel.
Of this verse professors McConkie and Millet wrote: “Salvation is not obtained by living in a particular place, but rather by living in a particular way. There are no holy cities without a holy people.” 53