Sacrifice

In studying Doctrine and Covenants Section 19 this week, I loved learning about the comparison Jesus Christ makes between His atoning sacrifice and Martin Harris' potential sacrifice related to the Book of Mormon. In Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 8 we learn that Martin Harris was the only one of Joseph Smith's friends who had enough money to finance the printing of the Book of Mormon. Martin had agreed to help, but when he found out how much it was going to cost and that he'd have to mortgage his farm to pay for it, he began to worry about whether or not he should follow through with his promise.

In consequence of his hesitation, we have Section 19 where the Lord reaches out to Martin and essentially says "I know what you're feeling. I've had a similar experience. I didn't want to do what I said I would do. But I did. And you need to too." (v. 18-19, 26). The parallel between these two sacrifices is significant. Without the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ we would not be able to repent and return to live with our Father in Heaven. Without the Book of Mormon we wouldn't be able to gather scattered Israel. Both sacrifices were necessary for others to receive salvation. 

I have always loved this quote about sacrifice from Joseph Smith: "a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things, never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” (Lectures on Faith).

The following account related by Linda K. Burton in her talk Certain Women has helped shape my perspective of sacrifice as I prepare to send my children out into the world for full-time missionary service: 

Anciently, certain women sacrificed as they testified and lived the teachings of Jesus. Certain women in the early days of the Restoration did the same. Drusilla Hendricks and her family were among those who, as new converts, suffered during the persecution of the Saints in Clay County, Missouri. Her husband was permanently paralyzed during the Battle of Crooked River. She was left to care for him as well as provide for her family.

At one particularly distressing time, when the family was out of food, she remembered that a voice told her, ‘Hold on, for the Lord will provide.

When her son was needed to volunteer for the Mormon Battalion, at first Drusilla resisted and wrestled in prayer with Heavenly Father until “it was as though a voice said to her, ‘Do you not want the highest glory?’ She answered naturally, ‘Yes,’ and the voice continued, ‘How do you think to gain it save by making the greatest sacrifices?

For me, sending my children away is a tremendous sacrifice, but is necessary in order to build the kingdom of God and I know that I need to prioritize sacrifices that build the kingdom of God.

I learned more about sacrifice while I was a student at Brigham Young University. I don't have a very good memory for certain things, but I can clearly remember where I was sitting in the Marriot Center, listening to Elder Maxwell say these words and this concept struck me to the very core: "The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. It is a hard doctrine, but it is true. The many other things we give to God, however nice that may be of us, are actually things He has already given us, and He has loaned them to us. But when we begin to submit ourselves by letting our wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him. And that hard doctrine lies at the center of discipleship." (Sharing Insights from my Life). This quote took me back to Martin Harris's problem-sacrificing his farm. But was it actually Martin's farm? No. It was the Lord's farm. The lesson for Martin was that he needed to do the Lord's will just like Jesus did the will of His Father (v. 24).

Learning about church history helps me put into perspective the principle of sacrifice. When I read about what early members of the church sacrificed for the gospel, I am amazed at what little I am asked to do. Men gave up their careers as paid preachers to join a church that offered them no work for their trained profession. Women sent their husbands off on missions, taking the burden of caring for a family upon themselves. Families moved from place to place as communities became hostile to the gathering of the Saints. The early saints sacrificed so much to build up the kingdom of God! I hope to follow their examples and sacrifice what I can to be a part of this great work of building the kingdom of God here on earth.