Broken Heart & Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 9:19&20

19: "And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away...

20: And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

Back in the day, sacrifice by the shedding of blood was a means of worship and was a type or a symbol of the sacrifice of 'The Lamb of God'. In this scripture, the Savior is speaking to his people in the Americas, the Nephites, and teaching them this important aspect of His gospel. He had just atoned for the sins of the world. Literally. He had just spent 3 hours in Gethsemane, half way around the world, suffering the pains and sicknesses and sins of everybody who had ever lived or would ever live, only to be arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. After suffering incomprehensibly in Gethsemane, he was beaten, humiliated, spit upon, whipped, ridiculed, and made to carry His own cross on the long road to Golgotha. He was then nailed to a cross and hung between two criminals. The perfect Son of the Living God. While on the cross, he suffered AGAIN for the pains and sins of the whole world (you and me and all the stupid things we have ever done or will do), pleaded with the Father to forgive His condemners, and then finished His mortal work.

In America, a thick darkness filled the land and the earth shook and trembled. The whole face of the land was changed, mountains arising out of the ground, cities being completely destroyed, fire consuming the land... for the space of 3 full days. Complete darkness. No light. Listen with your spiritual ears... no LIGHT! The third day, he rose from the grave to become the first fruits of them that slept. He not only conquered sin (offering us the ability to repent and be clean), but also death (allowing each and all of us to be resurrected and reunited with our perfect bodies). And so he teaches us that we do not need to offer sacrifices by the shedding of blood anymore; the ultimate sacrifice by the shedding of blood had been accomplished! Instead, he instituted a new, higher law; 'Ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.' It is easy to sacrifice an animal in the name of the Lord... but much more difficult to sacrifice the animal within each of us unto the Lord! To offer Him a broken heart and a contrite spirit means that we offer Him our will, our obedience, our humility. It means that we cast off our pride, repent of our mistakes, and recognize our dependence on Him. It means we are teachable and moldable. Much more difficult. And it truly means much more to Him. If we love Him, we will want to make this offering. He wants your heart. The deep part. Not the superficial part that occasionally thinks of Him when you need something. The deep part that strives daily to be a better you; a happier, cleaner, more loving you. He wants to know that you mean it when you say you believe in Him and love Him. We have to mean it. And thus this change in our offering.

I know He lives. I know He was slain for our sins, because He loves us. I know I am a happier, better man because of His gospel than I would ever be on my own. I know His suffering for me was not in vain, because I repent. I have tasted the sweet fruit of forgiveness. I have felt the peace that comes when His great atoning sacrifice in my behalf has been properly applied. We need Him. All He asks is for us to offer for a sacrifice unto Him our broken hearts and our contrite spirits. Note the word OFFER. He requires it of everybody, but will force it on nobody. It is a true offering.

Love you all.

Gunnar