"A
few years ago, my family and I visited Palmyra, New York; Kirtland, Ohio; and
Nauvoo, Illinois. We reviewed the early history of the Church on that trip and
were reminded of the overwhelming sacrifices the founders of the Church made to
establish the kingdom of God in this last dispensation.
"Reflecting
upon their humble obedience focused my mind on the eternal nature of the law of
sacrifice, a vital part of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
"Our
Mormon forebears covenanted their lives!--and not a few gave them. The
following places hallow the memory of the latter-day martyrs: Jackson County;
Crooked River (where one of the Twelve was martyred); Haun's Mill; Carthage;
Nauvoo; and the unmarked graves along the Mormon trail. They gave their
fortunes!--and many, if not most, lost their lands, homes, and businesses. They
gave their sacred honor!--this by covenant to God.
"They
came west with the faith that God had 'set his hand again the second time' (2
Ne. 21:11) to restore the house of Israel. They knew that they were a part of
this great movement. They were converted to the truth that the Church of Jesus
Christ had been restored again on the earth through the instrumentality of a
latter-day Prophet, Joseph Smith, and that following his martyrdom, the keys of
the priesthood had been continued through Joseph's ordained successor, Brigham
Young. They believed themselves to be God-directed and prophet-led. Their
conviction inspired their sacrifices."
"That sacrifice—the Atonement of Jesus Christ—is at the center of the plan of salvation."
- Dallin H. Oaks, Sacrifice, April 2012.
"Anywhere you are in the world, with prayer, faith, determination, diligence, and some sacrifice, you can make a powerful contribution. Begin now. I promise you that the Lord will help you find a way. And it will make you feel wonderful."
- Richard G. Scott, The Joy of Redeeming the Dead, October 2012
"I
testify that the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith is the Savior's work. In the
Lord's service the path is not always easy. It often requires sacrifices, and
we will likely experience adversity. But in serving Him, we discover that His
hand is truly over us. So it was for Wycliffe, Tyndale, and thousands of others
who prepared the way for the Restoration. So it was for the Prophet Joseph
Smith and all who helped usher in the restored gospel. So it is and will be for
us."
"For most followers of Christ, our
sacrifices involve what we can do on a day-to-day basis in our ordinary
personal lives. In that experience I know of no group whose members make more
sacrifices than Latter-day Saints. Their sacrifices—your sacrifices, my
brothers and sisters—stand in contrast to the familiar worldly quests for
personal fulfillment.
Those who remain at home—parents and
other family members—also sacrifice by forgoing the companionship and service
of the missionaries they send forth. For example, a young Brazilian received a
missionary call while he was working to support his brothers and sisters after
his father and mother died. A General Authority described these children’s
meeting in council and remembering that their deceased parents had taught them
that they should always be prepared to serve the Lord. The young man accepted
his missionary call, and a 16-year-old brother took over the responsibility of
working to support the family.Most of us know of many other examples of sacrifice to serve a mission or to
support a missionary. We know of no other voluntary service and sacrifice like
this in any other organization in the world."
-Dallin H. Oaks, Sacrifice, April 2012
"How does sacrifice help us come unto
Christ? No one will ever accept the Savior without having faith in Him first.
Hence, the first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ."
-M. Russell Ballard, The Law of Sacrifice,
October 1998
"An acceptable sacrifice is when we give up something good for something of far greater worth.
Giving
up a little sleep to help a child who is having a nightmare is a good
sacrifice. We all know this. Staying up all night, jeopardizing our own
health, to make the perfect accessory for a daughter’s Sunday outfit may
not be such a good sacrifice."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Forget me Not, October 2011
"Sacrifice allows us to learn something
about ourselves—what we are willing to offer to the Lord through our obedience."
-M. Russell Ballard, The Law of Sacrifice,
October 1998
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