Through our earthly lives, we strive to be like our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He gave his life as a sacrifice so we might be able to repent and live with our Heavenly Father again.  Despite being a perfect man, he atoned for the sins of the world.  It is important for us to experience sacrifice in our own lives so that we can, in a small way, understand what Christ endured.  Mormons believe that through sacrifice, true happiness can be found.  Sacrificing can bring us closer and strengthen our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Mormons are asked to sacrifice in various ways to show their faith in Jesus Christ.  One way is through tithing.  Mormons pay one-tenth of all their earnings to the Mormon Church.  The tithing goes to buy books, resources, build Mormon temples, and help fund the Mormon missionary program.  It is not always easy for members to sacrifice their earnings to the church.  However, most can attest that great blessings come from making this sacrifice.

One of the best stories of sacrifice comes from the Bible, when the Lord asks Abraham to forsake his son, Isaac.  Abraham loves his son and doesn’t want to kill him.  Yet, he does because of his great faith in the Lord.  The Lord stops him right before he is about to commit the act, telling him that because he showed such great faith, he would spare his son and bless them both. 

If we look at Mormon history, the early members of the church sacrificed much for the church.  The early Mormon temples never would have been built without the sacrifice of the members.  Early saints were run out of Missouri and Nauvoo.  They left behind their belongings, friends and homes.  They were persecuted, and some were even tortured because of their membership in the church.  Still, the members remained faithful and the Lord finally blessed them and led them to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Prophet Joseph Smith sacrificed his life for the church.  He was torn from his family, was falsely imprisoned, and endured torture.  Despite the opposition, he continued to persevere and do the Lord’s work here on earth.  He died a martyr, sacrificing his life for the church in Carthage jail.

Once a month, Mormons fast for the period of a day to draw closer to Heavenly Father.  They sacrifice food and water.  Mormons keep the Sabbath day holy, which means they refrain from shopping on Sunday.  They abstain from coffee, tea, tobacco, and recreational drugs.  These sacrifices are small, yet they show serious commitment.  All of these sacrifices make us more pure and Christ-like.  They help us remember Christ and His atonement in our everyday lives.
 
Mormons also sacrifice much of their time to callings and jobs within the church.  The Mormon Church does not pay their clergy, teachers, or anyone in a position of leadership.  Members invest a lot of time and energy in their callings.  Due to the sacrifice of church members, the church can work as well as it does.

We are told that when we sacrifice for the Lord, we will receive blessings.  By sacrificing, we can feel empathy for the Lord’s atonement.  Many Mormons have witnessed the validity of this statement in their own lives.  Anyone can make a sacrifice for the Lord, no matter how small it is.  Any sacrifice made unto the Lord will not go unnoticed and blessings will be given for doing so.