Who would ever wash their clothes in blood? What stains are removed with blood? Unfortunately, the stains of sin cannot be cleaned with water. The only solution capable of removing the stain of sin is blood—but not just any blood, it must be the blood spilt by the Only-Begotten. Though our sins are as crimson, we can still put on white robes, if we have washed them, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14).
Interestingly, it is us who must do the washing. We must be willing to remove our stained garments, soak them in Christ’s blood, and then scrub out the stains, one by one. Christ can’t do it for us. He has provided the amazing cleaning solution, but his sanctifying soap must be used in order for us to cleanse ourselves and enter into his rest. The scripture tells us that we use his soap when we exhibit faith, repentance, and faithfulness unto the end.
“We cannot cleanse our sin-stained lives by mere washing in the strong detergent of self-discipline. It requires a celestial cleanser, one which we cannot purchase for ourselves but is purchased for us by the grace of God--the blood of Christ.” (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 180)