Sacrament Attendance Chart - November 17, 2013

Sunday, November 17th, we were pleased to hear from Brother Jim Long during Sacrament meeting. To begin his talk, Brother Long asked all the veterans in the congregation to stand and be recognized. He went on to speak of the sacrifice that these men have given in defense of freedom and how service in the gospel can mean sacrifice as well.

Brother Long referenced the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:27-35 which reads:

"...Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

...A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on  him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him.

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and give them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee."

Perhaps the good Samaritan considered the sacrifices he was making in order to help the wounded man. But even still, he gave his effort, his time, and his money to help this downtrodden stranger.

Perhaps the Samaritan knew that what may seem like sacrifice in a moment is never such in the eternal scheme of things as we are told in Luke 10  "Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself....this do, and thou shalt live." Eternal life is our reward for such selflessness, which reward transforms sacrifice from merely loss into the currency required for something greater.

Brother Long went onto to relate other stories of men who sacrificed for their friends and for the Church. But, of course, the greatest sacrifice that Brother Long spoke of was that of the Savior. Hymn 191 "Behold the Great Redeemer Die" captures the sentiment of His great and loving sacrifice for us.

"Behold the great Redeemer die,
A broken law to satisfy.
He dies a sacrifice for sin,
That man may live and glory win.

While guilty men his pains deride,
They pierce his hands and feet and side:
And with insulting scoffs and scorns,
The crown his head with plaited thorns.

Although in agony he hung,
No murm'ring word escaped his tongue.
His high commission to fulfill,
He magnified his Father's will.

'Father, from me remove this cup.
Yet, if thou wilt, I'll drink it up.
I've done the work thou gavest me,
Receive my spirit unto thee.'

He died, and at the awful sight
The sun in shame withdrew its light!
Earth trembled, and all nature sighed
In dread response, 'A God has died!'

He lives -- he lives. We humbly now
Around these sacred symbols bow
And seek, as Saints of latter days,
To do his will and live his praise."

May we ever strive to show our gratitude to all those who give up so much on our behalf, especially those in the military and most especially our Savior. He died that we might live again. That is the greatest sacrifice of all. Let it not be in vain.