The Law of Sacrifice

 

I remember my dad telling us growing up that anything of worth requires sacrifice.  And, after years of experience, I have found that to be true.  The things in my life with most value have taken the most sacrifice: motherhood, marriage, education, my mission...  It's like it is a law of nature that applys to all of us: You (or someone else) must make a sacrifice to have something of more value.  When I think of the things I value most, sacrifice isn't the primary word that comes to mind because the value of what I have far exceeds the sacrifice.

Yesterday, we dropped Andrew off to the MTC to begin his mission to Anaheim, California.  Right now I'm really feeling the sacrifice.  Moms love their kids like nothing else.  Andrew's a homebody, and I've spent a lot of time with him over the years.  He's been my little buddy for 19 years.  We have talked about just about everything together and had many experiences together.  Our family will miss him a lot.  But, I know if I'm feeling the sacrifice so deeply, this is of great worth. Plus, I know it because I've done it.  The mission is a time of my life that has great value.  It has shaped the way I think and choices I have made since then.  It is of great worth, because the gospel of Jesus Christ is of great worth, more than we know.  Joseph Smith said, "a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”  How true, and he would know!

Sacrifice brings about faith (and requires faith), gratitude, knowledge, and blessings that outweigh the sacrifice. It helps us become more like Christ. God has asked us to obey the law of sacrifice.  Even He obeys the law of sacrifice.  He sacrificed his son for the benefit of all of us.  It was the greatest of all sacrifices.  The value of His sacrifice is the greatest of all- It leads to eternal life. God has asked us to make the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit, basically to be humble and willing to do what he asks (which means a whole bunch of little sacrifices over and over again).  Well, I'm doing it now.  I don't always, but today I am.

I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  It is of the most worth for me now, and will be after this life.  If you who are reading this have beefs with the church, criticle questions over controversial issues, doubts and concerns about the gospel, I reccommend searching those topics on fairlatterdaysaints.org.  But the truth is, feeling the real value and testimony comes from making the sacrifice: studying the words of the prophets, praying, keeping commandments, serving the Lord.   I know it's true, and so does Andrew.  He will come to know it more over the next 2 years.

So, how have I recognized the hand of the Lord in my life?  I recognize the blessings that come from obeying the law of sacrifice.  Making the effort to have a broken heart and contrite spirit is worth it, and the Lord will support us and be with us because of it.