YEA, AND THEY DID OBEY AND OBSERVE TO PERFORM EVERY WORD OF COMMAND WITH EXACTNESS; YEA, AND EVEN ACCORDING TO THEIR FAITH IT WAS DONE UNTO THEM; AND I DID REMEMBER THE WORDS WHICH THEY SAID UNTO ME THAT THEIR MOTHERS HAD TAUGHT THEM. (ALMA 57:21.)
This verse often times leaves me speechless. Exact obedience! This verse is up on my bedroom wall and I put it there so that I won’t forget its teachings. These young warriors, the ones referenced in this verse, observed every commandment to exactness. We know how greatly they were protected and blessed by the Lord. I have to get to that point and obtain perfection in my obedience. I want that life!
I find it very interesting that their mothers’ teachings were referenced later in the same verse. It makes me wonder if I realize how powerful mothers can be and how their teachings can have eternal effects on their children. I know that I have benefited greatly from my mothers teachings but do I truly comprehend the level of its magnitude?
There are some great teachings found in this verse about obedience and mothers.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
HOME TEACHING
There are three reasons why people do not obey.
1. They don’t know; meaning they were never taught.
2. They don’t understand what was taught.
3. They choose not to which is willful disobedience.
In most cases, it is because they do not understand. As a steward, it is your responsibility to understand and just as importantly, it is your responsibility to help those who you preside over understand.
Home teaching is one of the greatest blessings that we have been given. It provides us an opportunity to serve and watch over. It allows us to apply missionary work to the members of the church. It also gives return missionaries an opportunity to be the type of person that they were when they were on our missions.
If we do not home teach, we do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. Home teaching is a spiritual indicator of our well-being. Whether we do it or not and how we do it, tells us where we are spiritually and where our priorities are at in our life.
Disobedience is a sign of lack of doctrines studied and lack of prayer. Prayer and doctrine are for opening up hearts and changing behavior. President Boyd K. Packer taught this principle. Trough this we can make the changes that we need to make to be worthy to be in the presence of our Father in Heaven.
We must lose ourselves in this work. The gospel is work. It does not take a mission to lose yourself in this work. Home teaching is a great opportunity to lose yourself in the work of the Lord.
Our level of obedience depends on the level of our faith and the level of our faith depends on the level of our knowledge. We need to emphasize prayer and doctrine in our teaching. The church teaches doctrine and leaves the application to its members. We need to do the same when we home teach.
They say that there is more in life for the one who gives than receives. I believe that to be true. There is more in store for the home teacher then for the home teachee. Where else do we have an opportunity to serve and watch over? Try it and see, and be believing in your work.
Home teaching is a priesthood assignment that should be magnified. We do not magnify the priesthood because it is God’s but we magnify the callings and the assignments that are given within the priesthood.
There are five points that need to be applied in home teaching.
1. Analyze needs. This is done by visiting frequently throughout the month, spending time with them, and getting to know them and their needs.
2. Identify principles of the gospel found in the scriptures and in the words of prophets to help meet their needs. Pray for them and pray to know how to help them.
3. Search and study the doctrine behind the principles.
4. Teach the doctrine found in the First Presidencies message. Bring the doctrines together and take the teachings back to the Atonement. Help them identify their love for the Savior and help them love him more.
5. Help them identify the principles of the doctrine that is being taught. Help them understand how the principles being identified can help them in their lives.
Home teachers represent the Lord when they are doing His work. Respect your assignment and your message in your delivery and in your appearance.
“And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.” (Abraham 4:18.) Accountability is part of the gospel. Home teaching is a priesthood responsibility where we will be held accountable. We must be accountable and it is the responsibility of the steward to hold those who they have a stewardship over accountable as well.
It is wise to keep the home teaching “in house.” If the presidency makes the calls and takes the reports from the home teachers it emphasizes its importance and allows the presidency to find out why the work is not being done. The presidency then has a greater feel to create plans to resolve. If calls are made on the 20th of each month to remind and to evaluate then the presidency knows how the companionship is doing. Then calling one or two days before the end of the month to get the monthly report if it has not been turned in by the home teacher, the presidency shows that they assume the home teachers work is already done. It also demonstrates that the presidency does not think that the home teacher is the type to put off their assignment. If it has not been done yet a reminder is given again if necessary and assistance is offered to go with them but not to do the work for them. Ask them if the work will be done tomorrow.
Take the report from the home teacher by name to be able to verify the assignment and to take a personal report on the status of each individual, which is then reported to the bishop.
“And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.” (Jacob 1:19.) There must be accountability. We must teach diligently the word of God. We must magnify our membership in the church through magnifying our home teaching responsibility or we will be damned.
We need to teach the home teachers how to be good and better home teachers. Help them love the Savior more and to love others more, especially their home teachees. This love must be instilled in the hearts of the home teachers.
“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10) Love and obey the Lord and he will be obligated to bless us. It is imperative that we all have a testimony of this promise. We will be blessed. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:21-23.) We need to learn to obey out of love. “John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:3.) The Father and the Son can and will appear to us if we obey their commandments. If we understand this and if we chose to obey will be blessed with the second comforter. This should be our main priority and we must help others desire the same.
We need to love the Lord more; this will only help us love others more, which will in return help us love the Lord even more. Home teaching allows this to take effect in our lives if we chose to take advantage of it.
What would you do if you had the priesthood of God? Do you work at fulfilling that wish or help it be accomplished? For most of the men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it has been given to them and their line of authority can be traced back to Jesus Christ.
“And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them; They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:51, 53, 59.) “Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God. And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the office of my calling; but I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.” (Jacob 2:2-3.) That is a home teacher! Home teaching gives blessings of the priesthood to those without it. There needs to be love, home teaching must be done with love.
Help the home teachers understand what home teaching is and how to do it. If we cannot learn and choose to do it and to do it the right way now, can we expect that we will learn and do it later?
1. They don’t know; meaning they were never taught.
2. They don’t understand what was taught.
3. They choose not to which is willful disobedience.
In most cases, it is because they do not understand. As a steward, it is your responsibility to understand and just as importantly, it is your responsibility to help those who you preside over understand.
Home teaching is one of the greatest blessings that we have been given. It provides us an opportunity to serve and watch over. It allows us to apply missionary work to the members of the church. It also gives return missionaries an opportunity to be the type of person that they were when they were on our missions.
If we do not home teach, we do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. Home teaching is a spiritual indicator of our well-being. Whether we do it or not and how we do it, tells us where we are spiritually and where our priorities are at in our life.
Disobedience is a sign of lack of doctrines studied and lack of prayer. Prayer and doctrine are for opening up hearts and changing behavior. President Boyd K. Packer taught this principle. Trough this we can make the changes that we need to make to be worthy to be in the presence of our Father in Heaven.
We must lose ourselves in this work. The gospel is work. It does not take a mission to lose yourself in this work. Home teaching is a great opportunity to lose yourself in the work of the Lord.
Our level of obedience depends on the level of our faith and the level of our faith depends on the level of our knowledge. We need to emphasize prayer and doctrine in our teaching. The church teaches doctrine and leaves the application to its members. We need to do the same when we home teach.
They say that there is more in life for the one who gives than receives. I believe that to be true. There is more in store for the home teacher then for the home teachee. Where else do we have an opportunity to serve and watch over? Try it and see, and be believing in your work.
Home teaching is a priesthood assignment that should be magnified. We do not magnify the priesthood because it is God’s but we magnify the callings and the assignments that are given within the priesthood.
There are five points that need to be applied in home teaching.
1. Analyze needs. This is done by visiting frequently throughout the month, spending time with them, and getting to know them and their needs.
2. Identify principles of the gospel found in the scriptures and in the words of prophets to help meet their needs. Pray for them and pray to know how to help them.
3. Search and study the doctrine behind the principles.
4. Teach the doctrine found in the First Presidencies message. Bring the doctrines together and take the teachings back to the Atonement. Help them identify their love for the Savior and help them love him more.
5. Help them identify the principles of the doctrine that is being taught. Help them understand how the principles being identified can help them in their lives.
Home teachers represent the Lord when they are doing His work. Respect your assignment and your message in your delivery and in your appearance.
“And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed.” (Abraham 4:18.) Accountability is part of the gospel. Home teaching is a priesthood responsibility where we will be held accountable. We must be accountable and it is the responsibility of the steward to hold those who they have a stewardship over accountable as well.
It is wise to keep the home teaching “in house.” If the presidency makes the calls and takes the reports from the home teachers it emphasizes its importance and allows the presidency to find out why the work is not being done. The presidency then has a greater feel to create plans to resolve. If calls are made on the 20th of each month to remind and to evaluate then the presidency knows how the companionship is doing. Then calling one or two days before the end of the month to get the monthly report if it has not been turned in by the home teacher, the presidency shows that they assume the home teachers work is already done. It also demonstrates that the presidency does not think that the home teacher is the type to put off their assignment. If it has not been done yet a reminder is given again if necessary and assistance is offered to go with them but not to do the work for them. Ask them if the work will be done tomorrow.
Take the report from the home teacher by name to be able to verify the assignment and to take a personal report on the status of each individual, which is then reported to the bishop.
“And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.” (Jacob 1:19.) There must be accountability. We must teach diligently the word of God. We must magnify our membership in the church through magnifying our home teaching responsibility or we will be damned.
We need to teach the home teachers how to be good and better home teachers. Help them love the Savior more and to love others more, especially their home teachees. This love must be instilled in the hearts of the home teachers.
“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10) Love and obey the Lord and he will be obligated to bless us. It is imperative that we all have a testimony of this promise. We will be blessed. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:21-23.) We need to learn to obey out of love. “John 14:23—The appearing of the Father and the Son, in that verse, is a personal appearance; and the idea that the Father and the Son dwell in a man’s heart is an old sectarian notion, and is false.” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:3.) The Father and the Son can and will appear to us if we obey their commandments. If we understand this and if we chose to obey will be blessed with the second comforter. This should be our main priority and we must help others desire the same.
We need to love the Lord more; this will only help us love others more, which will in return help us love the Lord even more. Home teaching allows this to take effect in our lives if we chose to take advantage of it.
What would you do if you had the priesthood of God? Do you work at fulfilling that wish or help it be accomplished? For most of the men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it has been given to them and their line of authority can be traced back to Jesus Christ.
“And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties. The teacher’s duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them; They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:51, 53, 59.) “Now, my beloved brethren, I, Jacob, according to the responsibility which I am under to God, to magnify mine office with soberness, and that I might rid my garments of your sins, I come up into the temple this day that I might declare unto you the word of God. And ye yourselves know that I have hitherto been diligent in the office of my calling; but I this day am weighed down with much more desire and anxiety for the welfare of your souls than I have hitherto been.” (Jacob 2:2-3.) That is a home teacher! Home teaching gives blessings of the priesthood to those without it. There needs to be love, home teaching must be done with love.
Help the home teachers understand what home teaching is and how to do it. If we cannot learn and choose to do it and to do it the right way now, can we expect that we will learn and do it later?
Thursday, January 3, 2008
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.)
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.)
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