A Prayer of Faith

This was something sent to me by my brother-in-law. I was deeply moved by his words; I asked if I could share them here. He kindly consented. -Michelle

I recently attended a Sunday School class in which the teacher solicited stories of personal sacrifice. She had no takers. Most of us shifted awkwardly in our seats and hoped that somebody else would raise a hand. As I considered my own reticence, I realized that I don’t really think of everyday obedience as a sacrifice. For me (and for many, I imagine) paying tithing, obeying the word of wisdom, and keeping the Sabbath day holy don’t really feel like sacrifice because I give up so little and get so much in return. In almost every instance, obedience to gospel principles seems less like a sacrifice than an investment. And a pretty solid investment, at that. Rarely do I worry whether I will be blessed for keeping basic gospel laws or covenants. The peace of mind and spiritual happiness that immediately follow my obedience provide plenty of payoff, and this initial return is often compounded by fairly tangible increases—in health, in wealth, and in wisdom.

Nevertheless, sacrifice is supposed to be a central part of every saint’s life. Indeed, we are all under covenant to render sacrifice to the Lord. If everyday obedience, however, is less a sacrifice than an exercise in enlightened self-interest, where does this sacrifice occur? What do stories of sacrifice sound like? Read the rest of this entry »