PROVO, Utah -- The subtleties of the two types of holiness in the Hebrew language were not on Gaye Strathearn's mind as she climbed Mount Sinai 22 years ago.

It was cold and dark and the backpack was getting heavier. It didn't help that she and the other students from BYU's study abroad program were rousted out of bed at 3:30 a.m. to beat the sunrise to the top of the mountain declared holy ground. All she wanted to do was stop climbing.

Strathearn, a professor of ancient scripture at BYU, began her class at the Sperry Symposium by telling of her climb up that holy mountain. She told how there are two different words in Hebrew that are translated as "holy" in English.

One word, "qodesh," means a static holiness. It usually is used to refer to a place -- such as the ground in Exodus 3:5: "Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

Holy ground. A static concept. "Holiness to the Lord," uses the static version of holiness.

On the mountain 22 years ago, the encouragement of other students kept her going -- although she would have rather had them carry the pack for her. Near the top were 700 steps carved into the rock hundreds of years ago. She paused, but then climbed the steps -- counting each one as she ascended.

The other Hebrew word for holiness, according to Strathearn, is "qadowsh," an active holiness. God wants a holy people. He wants us to be holy. But he is not trying to make us "qodesh" or static holy. He wants us to be "qadowsh" or active holy.

In Deuteronomy 14 God said, "For thou art an holy people." Active holy. In Leviticus 11:44 he said, "For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy." Again: active holy.

"God's greatest desire for his people," Strathearn said, "is that they can become as he is."

Some 22 years ago, at the top of the steps, at the top of Mount Sinai, she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. The sun then rose glorious over the desert.

"God's hope for us, as it was for ancient Israel, is that we not only become 'qodesh' (static holy), but more importantly that we become 'qadowsh' (active holy)," Strathearn said.

The temple is like climbing Mount Sinai. It leads to holiness. "By worthily entering the temple and keeping our thoughts centered on holiness, we are in a position to seek becoming qadowsh (active holy). In the temple we can receive a measure of being holy, because frankly we are surrounded by holiness," Strathearn said.

Testimonies were shared more than two decades ago on top of Sinai. Scriptures were read. Hearts were changed. Her heart was changed.

"Our temple experience . . . should be something more for us then just becoming temporarily qodesh (static holy) because we enter a holy place," Strathearn said. "It is meant to transform us so that we can be holy as God is holy and do the work of helping to sanctify others."

Today, she climbs a symbolic Sinai when she goes to the temple. "Temple worship is much more than just removing our shoes because we are standing on holy ground. It is embarking on a journey so that I can have God come and dwell with me so that I can be his."

So that she can be holy -- active holy. And so that she can help others climb that same mountain.