"From Adam to the present hour, true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has always been linked to the offering of sacrifice, our small gift to be a symbolic echo of His majestic offering. With his eye firmly on the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that a religion that does not include covenants of sacrifice cannot have the power to bring the promise of eternal life" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Called to Serve," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 37).

"It is not a sacrifice to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never a sacrifice when you get back more than you give. It is an investment. And the living of the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a greater investment than any of which we know because its dividends are eternal and everlasting" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 567-68).

"Since the natural man is too attached to his possessions anyway, the plan requires that we must have experience in giving possessions away—in sharing and even losing them—in order to give us experience with the principle of sacrifice without worrying about getting credit or receiving recognition as we worship Him who made the 'great and last sacrifice' (Alma 34:10)" (Neal A. Maxwell, The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book [1997], 292).

"I realize that today many faithful members of the Church are sacrificing a great deal to support sons and daughters serving on missions and render other great service in many ways. As I have pondered these simple acts of faith, I have asked myself, however, 'How many of us really measure up to our potential in living the spirit of the law of sacrifice?' . . .

". . . We must not lose the spirit of sacrifice demonstrated by the handcart pioneers. Some of the Lord's choicest blessings await those who practice this eternal principle through extending themselves in service to God and to their fellowmen. The sacrificing spirit and the happiness that come through service to others can bring peace and joy even amid trials" (M. Russell Ballard, "The Blessings of Sacrifice," Ensign, May 1992, 77).

"Our commitment to the kingdom should match that of our faithful ancestors even though our sacrifices are different. They were driven from comfortable homes and compelled to journey one thousand miles by ox-drawn wagon and handcart to reestablish their families, homes, and Church in safety. Our sacrifices may be more subtle but no less demanding. Instead of physical deprivation and hardship, we face the challenge of remaining true and faithful to gospel principles amidst such evil and destructive forces as dishonesty, corruption, drug and alcohol misuse, and disease often caused by sexual promiscuity. Also, we find ourselves in combat daily with immorality in all of its many forms. Pornography and violence, often portrayed in insidious television shows, movies, and videos, are running rampant. Hate and envy, greed and selfishness are all about us, and families are disintegrating at an ever-increasing pace. In the midst of all of this, my brothers and sisters, we must never forget the source of our abundant blessings" (M. Russell Ballard, "The Blessings of Sacrifice," Ensign, May 1992, 75).

"To be a good father and mother requires that the parents defer many of their own needs and desires in favor of the needs of their children. As a consequence of this sacrifice, conscientious parents develop a nobility of character and learn to put into practice the selfless truths taught by the Savior Himself" (James E. Faust, "The Greatest Challenge in the World—Good Parenting," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 33).

"There can be no true worship without sacrifice, and there can be no true sacrifice without a cause. The cause that earns our love and priority is the cause of Jesus Christ.

"Speaking of his own atonement, the Savior proclaimed, 'To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world' (John 18:37). His example of worship, sacrifice, and commitment to cause becomes ours! His is the ultimate source of all our power to do good" (Russell M. Nelson, "Protect the Spiritual Power Line," Ensign, Nov. 1984, 32).

"The law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truth's sake—our character and reputation; our honor and applause; our good name among men; our houses, lands, and families; all things, even our very lives if need be" (Bruce R. McConkie, "Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice," Ensign, May 1975, 50).

"The atoning sacrifice of Christ was the supreme example of unselfish love. While Jesus was our only brother who could make such a sacrifice for us, each of us can and should make Christlike sacrifices daily for one another through unselfish actions and willing service. It is in the home that we experience many opportunities to do this" (Rex D. Pinegar, "The Family—A Divine Blessing," Ensign, May 1974, 68).

"Sacrifice is the very essence of religion; it is the keystone of happy home life, the basis of true friendship, the foundation of peaceful community living, of sound relations among people and nations. . . .

"Without sacrifice there is no true worship of God. I become increasingly convinced of that every day. 'The Father gave his Son, and the Son gave his life,' and we do not worship unless we give—give of our substance, give of our time, give of our strength, give of our talent, give of our faith, give of our testimonies" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Without Sacrifice There Is No True Worship, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Oct. 17, 1962], 4).

"Sacrifice is the evidence of true love. Without sacrifice love is not manifest. Without sacrifice there is no real love, or kindness. . . . We love no one unless we sacrifice for him. We can measure the degree of love that we possess for any man or cause, by the sacrifice we make for him or it.

". . . Sacrifice lifts us toward the likeness of God, the likeness of our Elder Brother Jesus Christ" (John A. Widtsoe, in Conference Report, Apr. 1943, 38).

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