Sacrifice has always been an intrical part of the gospel.

From the time of

Adam and Eve when the Lord commanded them to build and alter and to
sacrifice, without explaination they were obident. It wasn't until later an angel
came and taught Adam and Eve that their sacrifices were "In similitude of the
sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth."
(Moses 5:7)
The Bible Dictonary says this of animal sacrifice :__________ I believe that this
is true of the sacrifice that the Lord requires of his people today.
What does the Lord require of us now? In 3 Nephi 9:20 we find the answer.
________ In D&C 64:23 _______we know that now until the Savior returns in His
glory to the earth we are required to sacrifice. The Savior has said "So
Likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he
cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33)
I want to discuss two situations found in the Bible of the Lord asking people to
sacrifice and what the outcome was. First in Matthew 19 Where a man
approched the Savior asking what he needed to do to have eternal life. The
Savior ansered him to keep the commandments. In verses 20-22 and 29 it
reads ________ This young man was not willing to sacrifice all to follow the
Savior.
Second, in Matthew 4:18-20__________ I think there is profound significance in
them straightway leaving their nets. There was no hesitation. They knew that
the way to eternal life stood before them and they were willing to sacrifice all,
even their livlihood, to follow him. What an amazing contrast to the previous
scripture. I know I would much rather have the faith that Peter and Andrew
had and be willing to sacrifice all to claim the blessings and prevliges given to
those who Follow the Savior.
In what ways does the Lord expect his people to sacrifice? We know that this
is a day of sacrifice and of tithing. We are asked to give of our means to help
support the church and it's efforts to help ease the burdens of others.
Whether it is tithing itself or any other finicaial donation we give. It may not
always be easy, but the blessings that come are beyond measure as is
promised in Malachi 3:10 _____ I have seen this blessing in my own life as I
supported our family while my husband finished school. I worked as a RN and
worked on Sundays at times. I know that as I was faithful in paying my tithing
I felt my spiritual cup be filled even on those weeks that I could not be at
church. I recognize that many of the blessings in my life can be traced back
to our faithful payment of tithes.
Sacrifice also involves what we do in our day-to-day personal lives. We can
see that as we live our lives the way the Lord has asked and look at the world
around us. Our standards are often mocked and seen as old fashion, but we

hold by them anway. Elder Oaks in a Gneral Conf address in April 2012 shared
this "Today the most visible strength of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the unselfish service and sacrifice of its members. Prior to the
rededication of one of our temples, a Christian minister asked President
Gordon B. Hinckley why it did not contain any representation of the cross, the
most common symbol of the Christian faith. President Hinckley replied that
the symbols of our Christian faith are the lives of our people. Truly, our lives
of service and sacrifice are the most appropriate expressions of our
commitment to serve the Master and our fellowmen." This also includes the
sacrifices we make within our families. Elder Oaks in that same address went
on to say this "The sacrifices involved in the eternally important service to
our families are too numerous to mention and too familiar to need
mention...The Lord sees you also, and He has caused His prophets to declare
that as you sacrifice for each other and your children, the Lord will bless
you.
I think one of the best known examples of sacrifice is that of our missionaries,
and I also include here their families. These missionaries give up all to share
the gospel. They spend every day trying to bring people to the knowledge of
Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. Many of the people they teach also
sacrifice in some case all they have to heed the Lord in his statement Come
unto Me. President Hinckley shared this story in the Oct 1993 general conf. "
As this man was about to return to his native land, President Gordon B.
Hinckley asked him what would happen to him when he returned home as a
Christian. My family will be disappointed, the young man answered. They
may cast me out and regard me as dead. As for my future and my career, all
opportunity may be foreclosed against me.
Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel? President Hinckley
asked.
Tearfully the young man answered, Its true, isnt it? When that was
affirmed, he replied, Then what else matters? What an amazing outlook.
What else does matter? As we choose to follow our Savior we will be asked to
sacrifice things that we hold dear as the young man who had many great
possessions. I hope and pray that I can have this understanding in my life of
what else matters?
Lastly I want to talk about Temple Service. As an Assistant to the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, Elder James E. Faust said the construction of a temple
means great and endless blessings. It also means great sacrifice. President
Spencer W. Kimball said , No temple has ever yet been built that did not
require sacrifice and hard work The hours of time spent doing our family
history work, finding names and doing their work in the House of the Lord
requires sacrifice. We must sacrifice our time in choosing the best vs the

good or the better. We then must be obeident and faithful in all the that Lord
has asked of us so we may be worthy to hold a temple recommend. It is
through temple service that we can learn to be Saviors on mount zion.
I know that it's not always easy to sacrifice at times, afterall it's not much of a
sacrifice if it's always easy. Sacrifice is a demonstartion of pure love of the
Savior. President Hinckley once said this, It is not a sacrifice to live the
gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you
give. It is an investment, a greater investment than any. Its dividends
are eternal and everlasting I know that that is true. We are asked at times to
do hard things, to sacrifice much, but in the etenal perspective it is small in
comparison to the promised blessings of salvation and exualtation.