What does the modern definition of sacrifice mean?
“the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.” [dictionary.com]
Is it fair to say that someone who gives up a valuable couple of dollars for a burger is sacrificing?
No. The money is technically valuable, and hunger is technically a more pressing claim, but we all agree this is not a sacrifice. This is a transaction. It might even be a bargain. It seems that, in order to sacrifice, the worth of the thing you give up and the thing that is obtained cannot really be comparable. Otherwise it’s just business. It almost seems like the things that can actually be sacrificed are all the things at the end of mastercard commercials: priceless. You can’t compare the worth of a life sacrificed in battle, the worth of all the years in the prime of their lives that many professionals put into their training, the worth of loneliness that families of soldiers endure day in and day out, and even the worth of time spent doing things like home teaching. None of these things are really very comparable, so we say they are sacrifices.
The title of today’s chapter is “faithful, energetic service in the Kingdom of God.” With this subject as the subject of the lesson, I found it interesting that many of quotes from Lorenzo Snow that were pulled together for this lesson revolve around sacrifice.
The first reference to sacrifice in this lesson is a personal one that Lorenzo Snow makes. He seems to have had a lifelong dream, and he ended up sacrificing it to fulfill his service to God. On page 183, the beginning of chapter 15, let’s read the section on “From The Life of Lorenzo Snow”.
Toward the end of 1851, the First Presidency published an epistle in which they requested that all members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles “arrange the affairs of their various missions” and return to Salt Lake City by April 1853.1 Thus Elder Lorenzo Snow’s mission in Italy began to draw to a close. In February 1852, he placed the work there under the leadership of Brother John Daniel Malan, a recent convert, and journeyed with Elder Jabez Woodard to the island nation of Malta. From Malta, Elder Snow hoped to board a ship to India. The first missionaries in that land were working under his supervision, and he felt a great desire to join them. From there he planned to “accomplish the circumnavigation of the globe,” returning home by way of the Pacific Ocean to the western United States.2
Elder Snow’s plans changed when he and Elder Woodard reached Malta. He learned that he would be delayed on the island several weeks because a steamer had broken down in the Red Sea. Rather than complain about the delay, he decided to go to work. In a letter dated March 10, 1852, he wrote, “I feel that much good will result from the manner in which the Lord may direct the employment of the time now at my command, as I am surrounded by an interesting people, and in a most important field of labour, where a great work will be accomplished, extending to adjacent nations.” He reported that he had sent for Elder Thomas Obray, a missionary in Italy, “to come immediately, and bring a good supply of pamphlets and books.” While Elder Snow did not know exactly what he and his companions would do in Malta, he expressed a desire to establish a branch of the Church there. This action, he said, “would loosen the spiritual fetters of many nations, as the Maltese in their commercial relations, are spread along the shores of Europe, Asia, and Africa.”3
On May 1, 1852, Elder Snow sent a letter reporting the progress of the work in Malta. He wrote: “People are now constantly making calls to inquire concerning this ‘strange religion;’ a few evenings since, we had at one time, at our private lodgings, gentlemen from eight different nations, having come from various parts of the city to hold conversation in reference to our doctrines: among the number were those from Poland and Greece, who are now reading our works with peculiar interest. Two intelligent and enterprising young men, the firstfruits of our ministry upon this island, will ably assist in moving forward the cause in which we are engaged; one of whom we have ordained an Elder who speaks with fluency several languages.”4
Elder Snow never realized his dream of serving in India and circumnavigating the globe. Instead, he diligently followed the will of the Lord during his unexpected stay in Malta, building a foundation formissionary work there. When he was finally able to board a ship in May 1852, he went west rather than east, following his leaders’ instructions to return to Salt Lake City. About two months later, Elders Woodard and Obray organized a branch of the Church in Malta.5
President Snow sacrificed his dream of circumnavigating the globe, and he wasn’t even bummed about it. Later, he goes on to mention specifically how he feels about sacrifice, and on the top of page 186 he says:
… We have the same Priesthood that Jesus had, and we have got to do as He did, to make sacrifice of our own desires and feelings as He did, perhaps not to die martyrs as He did, but we have got to make sacrifices in order to carry out the purposes of God, or we shall not be worthy of this holy Priesthood, and be saviors of the world. God intends to make us saviors not only of many that now dwell on the earth, but of many in the spirit world: He will not only place us in a position to save ourselves, but He will make us competent to assist in the redemption of many of the offspring of the Almighty.
The line that really stands out to me is that “we have got to make sacrifices in order to carry out the purposes of God”. What are God’s purposes? What are God’s purposes that we need to make sacrifices for?
- Moses 1:39: For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Before we discuss what it means for us to sacrifice for this purpose, I think its inspiring to think how God has sacrificed to bring about his purpose.
We know that God chose to organize our spirits. We don’t actually know this for sure, but I don’t think he had to. He chose to. And he did this out of pure benevolence, wanting to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. In other words, he saw a bunch of intelligences far inferior to himself, and he wanted to raise them up to be like him. At what cost? What did God sacrifice? Of course, we are all familiar with the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ. And that in itself is infinite.
Enoch, however, let’s us know of a different kind of sacrifice. He sees the vastness and greatness of God, and then he sees God weeping, and he says:
“how is it thou canst weep? The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood; …. But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and misery shall be their doom; and the whole heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?
As Terryl Givens puts it, Enoch shows us that our God chooses to be vulnerable for us. By choosing to invest in us and love us and mourn for us, on some level, even if it’s just emotionally, our all powerful God sacrifices his invulnerability. Thoughts?
Pulling this back and relating it to ourselves, there is another quote from President Snow that ties in sacrifice on a personal level directly to the title of this lesson, i.e. energetic and faithful service. Page 186, first paragraph under the heading “Every calling and responsibility is important in the Lord’s work.”
Now the question is, do we sense our position, do we comprehend fully the nature of the work we have undertaken to consummate? I am sometimes led to believe that some of our brethren, Elders in Israel, are too ready and willing to shirk the obligations they are under by reason of their covenants, the faith they once possessed seems to be almost exhausted, and they appear to settle down into the quiet satisfaction of a mere nominal membership in the Church.
Notice that President Smith does say that a nominal membership in the church is satisfying [haha]. But we can do so much more.
What is the nature of the work that we are doing? Moses 1:39! It’s about helping and serving others! And President Snow is saying that if we sense that, if we comprehend the potential for good that we have to help others, then we will be willing to sacrifice to help them, that we will try harder and give more faithful and more energetic service!
To me, this actually is motivating. Speaking candidly, church service for the sake of serving the church is utterly uninspiring. I care for people far more than I care for the church institution, and remembering this helps me serve. Remembering my love for other people makes me more willing to sacrifice.
What is the relationship between love and sacrifice?
We love what we sacrifice for. Zappos employees forfeit a 4000 quitting offer if they stay past their training. Knowing that evberyone made this sacrifice to work there, this engenders the employees to the company, and its one of the most beloved companies ever by employees. The same can be said for initiation ceremonies and sororities / fraternities.
From Elder Ballard’s 1992 conference talk titled “The Blessings of Sacrifice”
Sacrifice is a demonstration of pure love. The degree of our love for the Lord, for the gospel, and for our fellowman can be measured by what we are willing to sacrifice for them.
Thus, it follows that:
God = Love = Sacrifice [write this on the board]
We sacrifice not only to help others, but to become like God and Jesus. The pathway to godhood is sacrifice. If that’s not motivation to serve energetically and faithfully, then I’m not sure what else is.
If still have time, can discuss the parable of the talents in this lesson, explaining how it doesn’t matter what calling you have in the church. Just do your part to try and serve in your sphere, and that’s all.
