Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 26: Sacrifice
Comments and Resources "Sacrifice has always been a fundamental part of our religion. President Harold B. Lee, quoting the prophet Joseph Smith, gave the following instructions concerning the law of sacrifice: "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation" (Address at welfare services meeting, 6 Oct 1973, pp 8-9). "For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor, and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life...requires more than mere belief or supposition that he is doing the will of God; but actual knowledge, realizing that when these sufferings are ended, he will enter into eternal rest, and be a partaker of the Glory of God... "...A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation... "It is vain for persons to fancy themselves that they are heirs with those...who have offered their all in sacrifice, ...unless they, in like manner, offer unto him the same sacrifice" (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, 6:5, 7-8)." During the study of this topic, we will learn what the Lord expects us to sacrifice, what the purpose of sacrifice is, and the results of willing sacrifice. Resources:
Gospel Principles: Chapter 26
Truth Restored, Chapters 8-10 Scriptures:
Jacob 4:5"5 Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name.And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son." 3 Nephi 9:19-21
"19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin." D&C 13; 98:11-15
SECTION 13
1 Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." D&C 98:11-15
"11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
12 For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and prove you herewith.
13 And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name s sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.
14 Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for 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.
15 For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me." Genesis 4:3-8; 22
"3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord .
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Genesis 22"Abraham commanded to sacrifice Isaac, his son Both father and son yield to the will of God Abraham's seed shall be as the stars and the sand in number In his seed all nations shall be blessed Rebekah is born to Bethuel." 1 Kings 18:17-46 "Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven They fail He calls down fire, slays the prophets of Baal, and opens the heavens for rain." Matthew 10:39"He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Acts 5:40-42
"40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 ¶ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and 5/42a">preach Jesus Christ." Hebrews 9:26 "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Moses 5:5-8
"5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord.And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." Topical Guide:
Blood, Symbolism of
Contrite Heart
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God
Jesus Christ, Types of, in Anticipation
Oblation
Passover
Self-sacrifice Bible Dictionary:
Altar
Feasts
Lamb of God
Laver
Law of Moses
Moriah
Priests
Sacrifices Guide to the Scriptures:
Sacrifice
Atone, Atonement
Blood
Broken Heart
Jesus Christ
Sacrament