The Law of Sacrifice

“After the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice, two adjustments were made in the practice of [the law of sacrifice]. First, the ordinance of the sacrament replaced the ordinance of sacrifice; and second, this change moved the focus of the sacrifice from a person’s animal to the person himself. In a sense, the sacrifice changed from the offering to the offerer. 

“After His mortal ministry, Christ elevated the law of sacrifice to a new level.  Instead of the Lord requiring our animals or grain, now He wants us to give up all that is ungodly. This higher practice of the law reaches into the inner soul of a person. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: ‘Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. Instead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!’ (‘Deny Yourselves of All Ungodliness,’ Ensign, May 1995, 68).

“When we overcome our own selfish desires and put God first in our lives and covenant to serve Him regardless of the cost, we are then living the law of sacrifice” (M. Russell Ballard “The Law of Sacrifice,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 10).