Alma, speaking more than a hundred years before the ministry of Christ, observed that many had exercised “exceeding faith,” repented of their sins, and lived righteously. These, he said, were ordained to the “holy order,” were sanctified and washed their garments white through the blood of the Lamb.
Those magnifying their callings in the priesthood in our day have been promised that by so doing they too “are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies” (D&C 84:33).
By the magnifying of our callings, that is, by serving faithfully where and as as we are called to serve, we sanctify ourselves. Sanctification is the process of becoming clean, pure, and spotless before the Lord. That process involves faithful service, which in turn is essential to the remission of sins and the refining of our souls.