The Law of Sacrifice and the Sacrament

As the Young Men’s President of my Ward, I have the opportunity of being connected to the administration of the Sacrament every week. Recent reading, Temple attendance, and pondering have given me some interesting insights to the relationships between the Law of Sacrifice as explained in the Old Testament, and the Sacrament instituted at the Last Supper of the Savior, and ultimately to the Sacrament we take each week as Latter Day Saints.

This is a rather difficult subject, and one that will continue to play out in my mind throughout my life but I would like to express my feelings today. I pray I can do the topic justice. Please know these ideas are mine and by no means do they represent doctrine of the LDS faith.

We read in Moses in the Pearl of Great Price that after Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden for disobedience, (Moses 4:27) “Unto Adam, and also unto his wife, did I, the Lord God, make coats of skins, and clothed them.” In the very next chapter we read (Moses 5:5-8)” And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth .
Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.”

I don’t think that it was a coincidence that the “coats of skins” and the sacrifice of animals came at the same time. It seems to reason that the Lord taught Adam the Law of Sacrifice while He was making the coat of skins for him. Where else would he have taken the skins from? We know that Adam had recent named all of the animals: Were these coverings made from animals that Adam was familiar and fond of?

Any time there have been covenant people of the Lord on the earth, the Lord has required the Law of Sacrifice from them. Nowhere are the ordinances of the law better outlined than in the book of Leviticus. Brigham Young, and many others for that matter, taught that all things in the Old Testament point to Christ. Many of the symbols found in the Law of Sacrifice in Moses’ day are obvious; the lamb was to be the first born, without blemish, no bones were to be broken etc. The relationship of these to Christ is without question. How do they compare however, to the Sacrament today?

In the Old Testament, as I understand it, the sacrifice was laid upon the alter. There were specific steps to follow for each part of the animal, the meat and the blood. There is no question that flesh was cut of “torn” apart and the blood was sprinkled around the alter. Interestingly the meat was not to be consumed by the fire, but along with the hide of the animal, was to be used for the use of the priests and their families (coats of skins?).

In Leviticus 4 we read “ 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.
4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.
5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

And in verse 20 we read “And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

The Sacrament in our own Wards today takes place at the front of the chapel where all can see. How is it similar to an alter that might have been found in an ancient Temple or a Latter Day Temple? (This is a point for all to ponder). Ancient sacrifices were performed behind a veil. Is the tablecloth covering the sacrament a type of veil? (Another point to ponder). The Priests tear the bread (Christ’s body) into pieces, and water (the blood) is poured into cups.

After the “offerings” are prepared, the Priests kneel (as at an alter) and offer the following prayers: (Moroni 4) “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.

And (Moroni 5) “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.”

Through modern revelation we learn that through this ordinance we are able to renew the covenants we made at baptism. Through proper preparation and sincere repentance, this offering is able to give us forgiveness for our sins.

In Ancient Israel a lamb without blemish was able to be offered as a sacrifice to allow for forgiveness from sins. In our day, as we offer a sacrifice of a broken heart, and a contrite spirit, and are willing to give up the things of the world and repent, a Lamb, without blemish is able to wash away our sins, and we are able to receive forgiveness so that we too may be found “spotless at the last day”.