While attending the recent groundbreaking and dedication for the Gilbert, Arizona Temple site, I noticed that everyone’s shoes were coated with thick desert dust. Leaders who attended other meetings that day still had sacred ground imbedded onto their shoes.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could stand on holy ground 24/7?

We can.

While some wear religion on their sleeves, others bear holy ground in their hearts. As God of the Old Testament, the pre-mortal Jesus told Moses on Mt. Sanai: “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5).

Holy ground depends upon its nature and character. The Bible Dictionary defines “holy” as “set apart for a sacred purpose,” and refers to moral character. We are commanded to “stand in holy places” (D&C 87:8).

In the scriptures, mountains are symbols of holy places. Such places require those who tread there to be of high and holy character. Thus, Moses on Mt. Sanai, the brother of Jared on Mt. Shelem, and Jesus standing in majesty on the Sermon on the Mount, are literal examples of standing in holy places with sacred character.

Elder Claudio R. M. Costa of the seventy dedicated the Gilbert Temple site as “holy ground.” All who witnessed the dedication recognized the saving, eternal ordinances that will soon take place there.

But holy ground is not limited to mountains or temples. We stand in holy places whenever we reject the world’s unholy playground. Rooted to the principles of righteousness, we stand with Jesus as His witnesses in “all places that ye may be in” (Mosiah 18: 9).

We stand with Him in our cars when the traffic of rude behavior beckons us to react. We stand with Him in our homes as sanctuaries of prayer and peace, even in neighborhoods torn by tumult. We stand with Him in stakes of Zion as “a defense, and for a refuge from the storm…”(D&C 115:6). And we stand with Him on holy ground as we open our mouths to bless others with the safety of the iron rod at the headwaters of the tree of life; whose “fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits” (1 Ne. 15:36).

While a little temple dust coated our shoes, a transforming love enrobed our souls. May our lives reflect that love in the holy ground of our hearts, wherever we stand.