1 Nephi 2: Sacrifice

Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice, I hear it all the time. It is one of the fundamental laws of heaven. At baptism we implicitly covet to give our all to Christ through obedience and remembrance so that he may save us. In the Old Testament people were sacrificing things at every turn, an obsession that I believe caused a real big shortage of lambs, rams and other sacrificial beasts.

In 1 Nephi 2 the story is about sacrifice. Lehi, called as a prophet of God, is commanded to leave Jerusalem before the destruction. Unfortunately, Lehi does not hate Jerusalem. In chapter 1 he bemoans the destruction of Jerusalem, his home, the home of his fathers and grandfathers. Additionally, Lehi is a rich man. In verse 4 it recounts the many possessions of Lehi. And in chapter one, where it says "goodly parents" there is an argument that "goodly" means "wealthy". So it is not like this guy has no where to live in the first place. He has a lot to lose.

His sons know that. Laman and Lemuel are furious. They bemoaned leaving Jerusalem due to the loss of their inheritance, everything that was about to be theirs. Now what did they have to look forward to? Desert, sand, death? Or all three?

That is why the shortest verse in the second chapter of Nephi is so beautiful. Verse 15 states: "And my father dwelt in a tent." The inherent dichotomy between the tent and the previous dwelling of Lehi and his family shows the complete and holy nature of Lehi's sacrifice. He did not complain. He did not hold back or hold onto some of his precious belongings. He left Jerusalem, the home of his fathers, journeyed into the wilderness and dwelt in a tent. That is sacrifice.

Sacrifice is taught everywhere from the scriptures to family home evening to the ancient and modern temples. If we were to generalize the first principles and ordinances of the gospel - we shouldn't do this often, they are difficult enough without generalities - the path to salvation could be faith, sacrifice, confirmation and then salvation. Repentance and obedience to the principles of the gospel such as baptism and recieving the Holy Ghost considered as parts of our sacrifice, this is an interesting path. Let's analyze this path.

Faith is the principle of action in all things. Joseph Smith emphatically taught this doctrine in the Lectures on Faith, and it is true. To have faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ motivates us to approach him, to become more like him, to sanctify ourselves. But to attain the faith necessary to sanctify ourselves for the presence of God the key is sacrifice. Joseph Smith said, "From the first existence of man, the fiath necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life, and it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth's sake, not even withoholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do his will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering, and that he has not, nore will not seek his face in vain. Under these circumstances then, he can obain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life. (Lectures on Faith 6:58)

And what type of sacrifice brings total confirmation? The type that shows God that without a doubt we will do all that he asks, no matter what. To Abraham his trial seemed wrong. Why would God, a loving God who had blessed him with so much, as him to kill his only son, his only happiness? God had promised to him that his son would be the beginning of his posterity, the promised posterity to Abraham. Maybe Abraham was thinking to himself while hearing this commandment, "What have I done to upset God?" or "I though that God couldn't lie." Nevertheless, he obeyed and was willing to sacrifice all that he had for God. Nephi was asked to kill. But Nephi had heard his father say many times while reading through the book of Deuteronomy, "Thou shalt not kill." Nephi knew that this was a commandment, but he also knew that God was then commanding him to kill. Nephi followed God, sacrificing himself and all the knowledge and strength that he though that he had to follow God. Joseph Smith again said,"When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p 150).

Faith, sacrifice, and confirmation. The calling and election made sure is the confirmation. Joseph Smith taught the saints to seek after their calling and election. "I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and elction sure for yoursleves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it." (Teachings, p.299) The calling and election is one of the deepest doctrine of the church but at the same time, as I have shown, it is one of the most fundamental. Faith, sacrifice, and confirmation. With that confirmation comes the peace that is the attribute of the Holy Ghost. "I think the peace here referred to is implicit in the Prophey's statement, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offense toward God and toward all men." (DHC, 6:555). And it is the same peace implicitly spoken of in Ether 12:4, "Wherefore whose believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith . . ." The word peace is not there, but I feel it. The better world, the right hand of God, that is peace. And that peace is attained through faith, sacrifice and confirmation, with faith and sacrifice like that of Lehi.