Sacrifice

For Dan, finding his old Mustang is ‘truly a blessing.’

The experience of feeling torn between two children taught Marilee Killpack about the love of Heavenly Parents.

Adassa chose to step away from her dream of singing with Disney to pursue her dream of motherhood and a family centered on Christ. And yet God never forgot her childhood wish upon a star.

The holiday season is a time of reflecting gratefully on those experiences that have drawn us closer to our family and the Savior. These touching, true Christmas stories will warm your heart and help you remember the blessings in your own life.

As we prepare for another inspiring general conference weekend, we wanted to reflect on and share past messages shared by our Church leaders over the pulpit. The following story was originally told in 1976 by Jacob de Jager during general conference.

Jean Mathews and her husband, John, served a mission in the Manila Philippines Temple, where this story took place.

With different opinions and needs in a marriage, it is important that we remember to think of our spouse as a person with feelings and needs. The following true story helps illustrate how a simple change in perspective and a desire to help each other can make all the difference in helping us break out of a pattern of unintentional self-sabotage.

The messages and stories Church leaders shared in the wake of the devastation on 9/11 are ones we can apply in times of division, darkness, and even in times of prosperity. They are messages to live by that remind us what is most important in a world filled with death, destruction, hate, and also love.

Throughout history, the Lord has tried His chosen people by requiring them to make significant sacrifices. Though the sacrifices required of us today for the building of temples are very different from those required by the Saints in the early days of the Church, we are still blessed with opportunities to contribute and serve. Here are a few stories of children and youth who made their own contributions for the construction of the house of the Lord.

As is taught in the temple, the Lord has always required his people to offer sacrifice, from the time of our first parents onward. The type and place of sacrifice have changed over the ages, but the fundamental principles undergirding the doctrine of sacrifice have not. Righteous sacrifices are really symbols of our obedience to the Lord, of Jesus Christ and His atonement, of our desire to imitate the Savior and live as He does. Our offering of sacrifice demonstrates our commitment to follow the Lord above anyone or anything else.

This article is republished with permission from Book of Mormon Central. For more inspiring and instructive content on the Book of Mormon visit Book of Mormon Central, subscribe to our mailing list, see our YouTube videos, and follow us on Facebook.

Larry Miller was well known for his philanthropy and generosity. This excerpt from the book Behind the Drive: 99 Inspiring Stories from the Life of an American Entrepreneur details Larry's friendship with Jon Hunstman Sr.

During Jesus’s last earthly meal, the Passover, He said to Peter:

Conference Talk: For more information on this topic read "A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit," by Bruce D.Porter (general conference, October 2007).

As the mission president of the Zambia Lusaka Mission from 2013–2016, Leif Erickson and his wife, Linda, had the incredible opportunity to observe the faith and optimism of the Zambian Saints up close. “Just like anywhere else in the world, there are setbacks and struggles,” Erickson says, “but the goodness of these Saints and the strength of their faith and reliance on the Lord inspires us.”

While the Lord continues to pour blessings upon us when we choose to serve Him and follow the Spirit, there are undoubtedly sacrifices we are asked to make as members of His Church. There's no doubt that with a calling as an apostle, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has had to adjust much of his life to his Church service. Yet his perspective shows us what truly counts when it comes to serving the Lord.

There is a saying that has gone around for years: “If you want something to get done, give it to a busy person.” I believe that saying to be true, but I also think that saying is cruel. It assumes that since a person is working hard, being responsible, and accomplishing many things, that they can easily handle “just one more thing.” But as the world continues to heap more and more on people's shoulders, it's going to get harder and harder for busy people to cope with the excessive demands.

Over the past several years I have witnessed the dedication of several temples. I suspect that many of you have also. Our wonder and awe were renewed at what is happening in the world. When my oldest child was 4, he could name by sight every temple built in this dispensation, including the Nauvoo and Kirtland Temples. Now there are probably less than five people in the Church who could accomplish such a feat. I have a painting in my office that shows 55 temples in one frame! I think that painting included all the temples in the world when a junior in high school painted it to pay for his mission. And we are not done yet. Brigham Young expressed an interesting insight about this in a talk given many years ago.

The word sacrifice usually makes people think of hard or even excruciating work. But is there a way we can see this divine principle with a new perspective, one that will help us grow closer to God and to our spouse even as we find more joy in life?

They were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II when Nouméa, the capital of New Caledonia, served as the U.S. naval and military headquarters in the South Pacific. Years later, more Church members, these ones from French Polynesia, came to New Caledonia to work in the nickel mines. Those Saints were organized into New Caledonia’s first branch in October 1961. At the time, the branch was part of the French Polynesian Mission almost 3,000 miles away.

MR says: How far would you go and what would you give to hear your Heavenly Father or your Savior's voice? This weekend, no matter where you are in the world, you can hear God's voice and his counsel to you through his chosen prophets.

Sister Nelson spoke of an email she received from a woman who needed help putting together a presentation for her ward. The Relief Society sister was asked to speak on the topic of “stress,” and in preparation she had gathered responses to a survey, including 75 women.

Flannery O’Connor, the Catholic novelist, said it surprised her how many people of her faith “constantly underestimated the cost of salvation.”

If you or someone you know came home from the mission before the time that the mission call originally prescribed, even if it was an “honorable release,” it isn’t easy. I want to provide a few reminders for you (even if you didn’t and you want to know how to help those who have). Whether you are the one who came home early or it is your son or daughter or niece or nephew or grandchild, these are important things to remember.