Usually, in a doctrinal debate, my wife wins - but I think I can finally out one in the W column.
She was gracious enough to share this quote with me:
In regards to animal sacrifice, the Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–1844) gave the following explanation:
“It is generally supposed that sacrifice was entirely done away when the Great Sacrifice [i.e., the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus] was offered up, and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of sacrifice in future: but those who assert this are certainly not acquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood, or with the Prophets.
“The offering of sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the Priesthood. It began with the Priesthood, and will be continued until after the coming of Christ, from generation to generation. …
“These sacrifices, as well as every ordinance belonging to the Priesthood, will, when the Temple of the Lord shall be built, and the sons of Levi be purified, be fully restored and attended to in all their powers, ramifications, and blessings. This ever did and ever will exist when the powers of the [Melchizedek] Priesthood are sufficiently manifest; else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by the holy Prophets be brought to pass? It is not to be understood that the law of Moses will be established again with all its rites and variety of ceremonies; this has never been spoken of by the Prophets; but those things which existed prior to Moses’ day, namely, sacrifice, will be continued” (in History of the Church, 4:211–12).
President Joseph Fielding Smith provided further clarification about animal sacrifice in the last days: “The sacrifice of animals will be done to complete the restoration when the temple spoken of is built; at the beginning of the millennium, or in the restoration, blood sacrifices will be performed long enough to complete the fulness of the restoration in this dispensation. Afterwards sacrifice will be of some other character” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1955], 3:94).
Sacrifice after that will be of some other form… isn’t already in another form… where we offer a book (record) of the dead (temple work) to God (a type of sacrifice of time and research) to do our part in Christ’s work to redeem the dead? That is our oblation. Christ’s oblation was His atonement. D&C 128:24
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