Animal sacrifice was one of the first commandments given to Adam and Eve. Adam offered up sacrifices without evening knowing why he was doing it—except that the Lord had commanded him. An angel explained, saying, “This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. 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.” (Moses 5:7)
Animal sacrifice was a strenuous, physical practice that was required of Adam’s seed to remind them of that future event, the sacrifice of the Lord as He atoned for the sins of the world. The atonement made it possible for each of us, through repentance, to one day enjoy eternal life in the Father’s presence. After the Lord was crucified, animal sacrifice was no longer required. Just prior to His Crucifixion the Lord, Himself, instituted the Sacrament during the Passover celebration and during the last supper.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink ye…For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’”
Matthew 26:26–28
Today, we partake of the sacrament of bread and water, as a frequent reminder of His atoning sacrifice in our behalf. We also partake of the sacrament to promise and commit ourselves to remain faithful and to keep His commandments. (Moroni 4-5)
Obeying, or keeping His commandments, is greater than sacrifice. In the Old Testament, there is a story about Samuel, the Prophet, who anointed Saul to be the first King over all of Israel. Shortly after becoming King, he was commanded to destroy a city of the Amalekites and everything in the city because it was such a wicked place. Saul was disobedient in that some of the choice animals were spared to be used for a sacrifice unto the Lord. Samuel chastised Saul by saying,
“Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”
1 Samuel 15:22
To be obedient, sometimes we must sacrifice.
Sacrifice has a different meaning for each of us. The reason it has a different meaning to each of us is because of our varying abilities and talents, as well as our varying degrees of spirituality. In our day, to sacrifice may include paying tithing and service in the church. Service that might include teaching Gospel lessons, missionary service, administrative responsibilities, physical labor at a cannery, etc. To some, teaching the Gospel Doctrine class in Sunday School would be a major challenge (a sacrifice). To others, it would be an enjoyable calling (not a sacrifice). For those who are shy and fearful of being in the limelight, physical labor at the Bishops’ storehouse is a blessing. For some, it might be considered a sacrifice just to get to church, as they may have to walk many miles each way. We are all different and have varying degrees of spirituality as well as varying talents or gifts as described by Paul to the Corinthians,
“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”
1 Corinthians 12:18–20
The Lord was willing to sacrifice all for us and we, too, must be willing to sacrifice all that we have and are for Him. Sacrifice is a relative term, a sacrifice for one may not be for another. I, also believe, that the degree of one’s willingness to sacrifice is determined by their level of spirituality and commitment to the work as well as how strongly they are tied to the things of this world. I love this statement from a Native American “Our commitment to an idea means that we will be making sacrifices, but if done with a good heart, we will not know that a sacrifice was made.”