SACRIFICE

Brother Truman G. Madsen and President Hugh B. Brown, a past member of the First Presidency, were together visiting the location of Abraham’s tomb. Brother Madsen asked President Brown what the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were. President Brown answered and said, “Posterity.”

Brother Madsen then asked, “Why, then, was Abraham commanded to go to Mount Moriah and offer his only hope of posterity?”

“It was clear that President Brown, nearly 90, had thought and prayed and wept over that question before. He finally said, “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham.”

“Sacrifice allows us to learn something about ourselves.” We learn who we really are and we learn “what we are willing to offer the Lord through our obedience.” Elder M. Russell Ballard.

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Through sacrifice and service one comes to know the Lord.”

TEACHINGS OF SACRIFICE

As members of the Lord’s church much is required of us as we are blessed with opportunities to make covenants with our Heavenly Father. Many blessings await us if we obey these higher laws that are expected of us to obey if we are to qualify for his kingdom.

“He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. If you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:22; 78:7.)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught the law of sacrifice as a celestial law.

We must be able to live the law of sacrifice and because of this requirement we must know what it means to live that law. Do not be confused with it meaning the same as consecration, it is different.

Elder McConkie also taught that sacrifice and consecration are inseparable intertwined. “The law of consecration is that we consecrate our time, our talents, and our money and property to the cause of the Church: Such are to be available to the extent they are needed to further the Lord’s interests on earth.

The law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truth’s sake – our character and reputation; our honor and applause; our good name among men; our houses, lands, and families: all things, even our very lives if need be.”

You could sum up consecration as giving and sacrificing as giving up; both for something greater. Sacrifice is not always convenient.

“Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing.” (2 Samuel 24:24.)

David understood that true sacrifice comes as a great cost to us. When little is required, little blessings are in store. As well as great blessings await when great costs are required.

We have been given much in ways of heavenly knowledge and spirit. The Lord expects much from us. We are different because of this and must put his kingdom first. Yes, we must obey the commandments but we must also live according to the laws given to us such as sacrificing all things in the name of the Lord if needs be. We must conform to the conditions of the law of sacrifice.

What we want is knowledge that what we are doing is pleasing unto the Lord and that it is according to his will. This only comes through much obedience and sacrifice. By doing so we are enabled to receive eternal life.

OLD VS. NEW SACRIFICE

Elder M. Russell Ballard taught that although the practice may have changed during New Testament times the purposes of the law of sacrifice remains the same even after the Atonement of Christ fulfilled the Law of Moses.

The Law of Moses is not the same as the law of sacrifice. “After the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice, two adjustments were made. First, the ordinance of the sacrament replaced the ordinance of sacrifice; and second, this change moved the focus of the sacrifice from a person’s animal to the person himself. In a sense, the sacrifice changed from the offering to the offerer.” How ancient animal sacrifices and sacrifices performed today relate to each other are in purpose. There are two major purposes for the law of sacrifice. They are to test and prove us and to assist us in coming unto Christ.

“I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy. For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me.” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:14-15.)

This is the process for perfection and because it is perfection it is very difficult. However, it is a way for us to prove to the Lord that we love him more than anything else.

Jesus taught his disciples to now offer up a broken heart and a contrite spirit and that he would no longer accept burnt offerings. The Lord wants us to give up all that is ungodly. All that will prevent the Spirit of the Lord from taking precedence in our lives.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said that, “Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!” He also said that, “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we “give”… are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.”

We show this by living the first and second commandments; for we cannot live one without living the other. We must love with all our heart, soul, and mind. Do we sacrifice our desires and put God first in our lives? When we covenant to do so we then are living the law of sacrifice. Sacrifice equals pure love. What are we doing with our time and means to build up the kingdom of God here on earth?

Joseph Smith said, “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life; and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God…”

“It is vain for persons to fancy to themselves that they are heirs with those, or can be heirs with them, who have offered their all in sacrifice, and by this means obtain faith in God and favor with him so as to obtain eternal life, unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice, and through that offering obtain the knowledge that they accepted of him.”

We must be able to live the law of sacrifice to the fullest and we have all been called to do so. We will not be able to live this law if we cannot sacrifice the smaller things in life that we are more commonly asked to sacrifice such as time, money, means, etc…

DEDICATION TO SACRIFICE

If we are struggling or if we are having problems, we need to forget about them and find someone else who is also struggling and with problems by focusing our efforts on them. We will see that our problems and whatever it is that we are struggling with will be almost forgotten.

The answer to most of life’s problems is service. Server your fellow man, serve your God. Look for things to do for them, and do not be afraid of the things that will be of great sacrifice to you. Befriend your fellow ward members and your neighbors. Magnify your calling, better yet, magnify your membership in the church and magnify every aspect of your life. That is living the gospel.

“He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39.)

A friend of mine once told me that he used to complain about going to church early. He said that now you can’t catch him not in his seat at least ten minutes early listening to the prelude music. He told me that if you want your problems to go away, go to church early.

The majority of the young adults in Provo go to BYU, a school where you are encouraged to put the Lord and his kingdom first. Because of this blessing there should be no excuse to doing home and visiting teaching, magnifying callings, and being active in our ward by attending activities such as Family Home Evening and those put on by the other committees of the ward and stake.

Elder LeGrand Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve once said that, “ I have seen this verified many, many times; the more one gives away in service in this church, the more influence and power of that spirit he enjoys himself. The Spirit of God is in the Church, and I thank him for it.”
At any time of your life you can obtain a testimony of these things. If you are at a point in your life where you are saying my spirituality is weak, I wish I was more like I was when I was on my mission, I’m not enjoying my scripture study, I don’t feel apart of my ward, etc… then sacrifice more.

Elder Ballard taught that the principles learned in sacrifice help us to become more self-sufficient. An increase in self-sufficiency and sacrifice increases our faith. The person will feel more confident, positive, and assured, and they reflect these feelings in their actions.

President Harold B. Lee said, “I am persuaded of one great truth: Whenever the Lord has a great blessing for one of his children, he puts that son or daughter in the way to make a great sacrifice.”

“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

He saith unto him, which? Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honour thy father and thy mother: and, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:16-29.)