This Is a Day of Sacrifice

By President Ezra Taft Benson

(Adapted from an April 1979 general conference address. See Ensign, May 1979, pages 32–34.)

While in South America, I was touched by the sacrifices made by many of our Saints to have their families sealed to them for eternity. I shed tears of gratitude as I heard some of the experiences recounted.

One of our stake presidents brought his family to the São Paulo Temple from Lima, Peru. It is normally a nine-day bus ride, but, because of bus strikes and other problems, the journey took them fourteen days of travel.

Upon their arrival at São Paulo, the family went to the first session they could, and the sealing ceremony was performed. Then they immediately prepared to leave. The temple president asked them if they were staying the night. The father replied that the family had to leave immediately since they did not have sufficient money for lodging and food. He said that they would have to travel several days without food as it was. That represents the spirit of sacrifice of many of our Saints worldwide.

No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. I testify to you that this is a day of sacrifice, that it is part of the Lord’s plan to bless us, His children. I pray that we will do as the Psalmist exhorted—“offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put [our] trust in the Lord” (Ps. 4:5).

Illustrated by Kay Stevenson