L. Tom Perry on spiritual housecleaning

Elder L. Tom Perry (1922-2015) was called as an Assistant to the Twelve in 1972, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1974. At the time of his passing at age 92, he was the oldest living general authority and the third in seniority among the leading quorums.

"We must create regimens that foster spiritual housecleaning—ongoing and continual processes that draw us closer to the Lord our Savior so that we can be numbered among His disciples.

"The central purpose of our mortal probation is to prepare to meet God and inherit the blessings He has promised to His worthy children. The Savior set the pattern during His earthly ministry and encouraged those who followed Him to become His disciples....

"When the spirit conquers the flesh, the flesh becomes a servant instead of the master. When we have cleaned out the corners of worldliness and are ready to be obedient to the Lord, then we are able to receive His word and keep His commandments.

"A dramatic change occurs in the lives of individuals when they dedicate themselves to becoming disciples of the Lord....

"For many of us, an equally challenging test is to shed our bad habits and worldly thoughts so that we are unconflicted and uncompromised in our devotion to the Lord's service.

"As true disciples of Christ, may our lives reflect His example. May we take upon ourselves His name and stand as witnesses of Him at all times and in all places (see Mosiah 18:9).

"Moreover, may God bless us that we will earnestly desire to do our spiritual housecleaning, getting into all the corners, cleaning out all those things that would diminish us as a disciple of the Lord so that we can move forward in our service to Him who is our King and Savior."

- L. Tom Perry, "Discipleship," Ensign, Nov. 2000, pp. 60-61
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This is an interesting description — "spiritual housecleaning." It involves "cleaning out the corners of worldliness" in order to be capable of better discipleship.

I love the language of the "test" Elder Perry describes: "to shed our bad habits and worldly thoughts so that we are unconflicted and uncompromised in our devotion to the Lord's service." Too often there are too many things competing for our devotion, and so the "spiritual housecleaning" clears the way for complete discipleship.