Sacrifice, a Fruit of Righteousness

By Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran

Of the Seventy

Abraham’s example teaches us that when we put the Lord first, blessings follow.

Abraham about to sacrifice his son Isaac

When I was a branch president in Nigeria, a young sister who was a convert expressed her desire to serve a mission. Her father, not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, strongly disagreed with her plan. Our branch council discussed the situation. We decided it would be appropriate for the branch presidency to visit her father.

The visit was initially unsuccessful until I felt inspired to share with her father the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac, as described in Genesis chapter 22. Abraham is an example of trust and faith in God. Even though Isaac was Abraham and Sarah’s only son, born when they were both old, when the Lord asked for a sacrifice Abraham willingly obeyed.

As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, an angel intervened. “Lay not thine hand upon the lad,” he said, “neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me” (Genesis 22:12). The word fear in that verse means “to feel reverence and awe for [God] and to obey His commandments.”¹

A Softened Heart

The father was touched by this reminder of Abraham’s obedience. He said he never expected that he could be asked to do something similar, albeit not of the same magnitude. He accepted to have his daughter serve and to support her financially for 18 months.

The sister served honorably. When she returned, she married a man in the same branch. They still serve faithfully in the Church and have three children. All of her siblings have become members of the Church. Her brother also served a mission. And her youngest sister is married to my youngest brother.

When I think back about this father’s decision, I am impressed. He let his first child, a convert to a faith different from his, serve a mission. I am also reminded of the blessings his family received as more of his children became members of the Church. Today they are happily married to worthy spouses, faithfully living the gospel of Jesus Christ. The father never joined the Church, but surely his sacrifice, like Abraham’s faith in God, is “counted … to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

A Similitude

Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice is, of course, “a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son” (Jacob 4:5). This chart highlights some similarities:

Jesus Christ, Son of God	Isaac, Son of Abraham
God describes Jesus Christ as His Beloved Son (see Matthew 3:17; Joseph Smith—History 1:17).	God describes Isaac as the son that Abraham loves (see Genesis 22:2).
The Savior is the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world (see John 1:29; 1 Nephi 11:21, 33; Mosiah 14:7; Alma 7:14).	Isaac is a lamb to be sacrificed by Abraham (see Genesis 22:7–8).
God gave His Son because of His love for us (see John 3:16).	Abraham is willing to give his son because of his love for God (see Genesis 22:12).
The Savior is the heir to the throne of the Father (see Romans 8:17; Hebrews 1:2).	Isaac is the heir of Abraham (see Genesis 15:4).
Through Christ, we are heirs to the kingdom (see Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29).	Through Isaac (or through covenants), we are counted the seed of Abraham (see Genesis 21:12–13).
The Lord’s sacrifice is essential for redemption. Through faithfulness, ordinances, and covenants, we can become like Him.	Because of promises made to Abraham and Isaac, we can become children of the covenant, the elect of God.

When we willingly obey the Lord’s commandments, we make sacrifices for Him. As we do, we feel more of His enabling power, which allows us to lay hold on eternal life after we have expended our own best efforts (see 2 Nephi 25:23; Moroni 7:25). When we embrace the Savior’s Atonement, our love for Him increases. We feel a greater affinity toward Him. This makes it possible for us to do all He requires of us.

A Willing Sacrifice

The scriptures provide many examples of those who willingly sacrificed and were then empowered by God.

Father Lehi, for example, left everything behind to go to the land of promise. Then God helped Lehi’s sons to obtain the brass plates from Laban, provided the Liahona to guide them through the wilderness, showed Nephi how to build a ship, and protected his family members as they crossed the ocean. (See 1 Nephi 2–18.)

Alma the Younger sacrificed his seat as chief judge to dedicate himself to the holier calling of high priest (see Alma 4:11–20). He then established “the order of the church” (Alma 6:4), worked with Amulek to teach many souls, and escaped from prison through the power of the Lord (see Alma 8–16).

Alma’s sacrifice of one position to focus on another reminds me of my own experience when I was called as an Area Seventy. Soon after I was called, the company I worked for wanted me to accept a four-year assignment in Europe. The assignment would mean relocating, so I declined. To those who were surprised by my decision, I explained that the Lord would not have called me to serve in the Africa West Area in April only to have me quit and go to Europe in May. I remembered the Old Testament story of Jonah (see Jonah 1–3). I knew the Lord had called me, and I wasn’t going to abandon my calling.

A Gospel Essential

Sacrifice is a fruit of righteousness. It requires overcoming the natural man as we yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit (see Mosiah 3:19). As members of the Church, here are some sacrifices we regularly make.

Keeping the law of tithing. “Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:23). Imagine the Lord saying to you, “Now I know you reverence God, since you have not withheld your tithing.”

Honoring the Sabbath. We sacrifice our own pleasures to make the Sabbath a delight unto the Lord, and He promises great blessings to those who honor the Sabbath (see Isaiah 58:13–14). “Now I know you reverence God, because you honor the Sabbath.”

Missionary service. Can the rising generation “straightaway [leave] their nets” (Matthew 4:20), or whatever holds them back, and follow the Lord by serving a mission? “Now I know you reverence God, because you have not withheld yourself from serving a mission.”

Accepting and faithfully magnifying callings. When we willingly accept callings to serve the Lord, we seek His guidance to do all that we can. “Now I know you reverence God, because you do all that is required and more.”

Serving others. Sacrificing our time and resources in ministering to, visiting, supporting, and lifting others makes us true disciples of Christ. Doing family history work and serving in the temple provide service to those across the veil. “Now I know you reverence God, because you serve His children.”

A Demonstration of Love

President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, said: “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.”²

As we hold nothing back in fulfilling the Lord’s commands, we grow to become more like Him, and we become Israel, as President Russell M. Nelson taught. He asked: “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life. … Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?”³

When we allow God to prevail in our lives, we see our offering to Him as an appreciation of His love. We see service in His kingdom as a privilege, not a burden. Sacrifice becomes easy through faith in the Lord as we bask in His redeeming love.