I have thought a lot about the nature of sacrifice over the
past week – what it meant anciently, and what it means in these latter-days.
In Moses chapter 5, we read about the first sacrifices that
man (Adam) offered to the Lord. The nature of those sacrifices was more than
many of us could probably stomach today. In class we discussed how hard it must
have been for a good shepherd to carefully observe and wait for a first born
lamb, without blemish, and then take its life and offer its flesh as a burning
sacrifice on the alter. While the emotional attachment to that lamb would be
real—and the sacrifice difficult—the true offering up to the Lord is the heart
of the servant.
In Moses 5:6 it says, “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.” I am
incredibly overwhelmed by Adam’s humility. He obeyed the Lord solely to be obedient; and he did so
multiple times.
The angel then taught Adam and Eve about the mission of the
Savior and his role in redeeming them from their fallen state.
In 2 Nephi 11:17 we read Nephi’s response to the angels
question about understanding the condescension of God, he says, “I know that he
loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” Like
Adam, Nephi was not acting on a complete knowledge, but rather demonstrated
great faith—which was followed by an increase of knowledge about the Savior and
his plan.
I believe that as we accept that we do not know all things, rather
trust in the savior and offer our hearts as a sacrifice to him, we will gain
greater spiritual insight like Adam and Nephi. Our knowledge will grow, and Heavenly
Father will bless us to understand the power of the atoning sacrifice of His
Beloved Son to a greater degree than we had before. Just as Nephi and Adam rejoiced
and were blessed by the greater knowledge of their Savior’s redeeming sacrifice,
so will we as we offer our hearts to Him.
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