The Law of Consecration

In a recent General Conference Address, Elder Dallin H. Oaks talked about the unselfish service that the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints uniquely practice. It isn't that others don't practice unselfish service, but as a group we are unique in the extent of our unselfish service.

How many other organizations send tens of thousands of young adults and seniors into full-time missionary service all over the world at their own expense for up to 2 years? Hundreds of thousands serve in the Temples that dot the earth to give unselfish service as workers and patrons with no thought of "what's in it for them" other than to have the privilege of serving their fellowman both living and dead. We serve in unpaid positions throughout the Church in all kinds of callings from Stake President to teacher, to librarian, to nursery work and everything in between. We work on welfare farms and humanitarian aid. Home bound members make blankets, toys, hygiene kits and other items they can donate to the humanitarian aid programs of the Church. We serve part time service missions throughout the church in such capacities as LDS Social Services workers, Employment specialists, Family History specialists, Bishop’s Storehouse, Deseret Industries and many other opportunities.

We believe this is part of the covenants and commandments make and keep so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father in the Celestial Kingdom. Bruce R. McConkie lists them as:

“We are under covenant to live the law of obedience.

“We are under covenant to live the law of sacrifice.

“We are under covenant to live the law of consecration.”

In a conference talk given in April of 1975 he described living the laws of consecration and sacrifice. They go hand in hand. He said:

“It is written: ‘He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.’ (D&C 88:22.) The law of sacrifice is a celestial law; so also is the law of consecration. Thus to gain that celestial reward which we so devoutly desire, we must be able to live these two laws.

“Sacrifice and consecration are inseparably intertwined. The law of consecration is that we consecrate our time, our talents, and our money and property to the cause of the Church: such are to be available to the extent they are needed to further the Lord’s interests on earth.

“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.

“Joseph Smith said, ‘A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation.’ (Lectures on Faith, p. 58.)

Of course we are not usually called upon to sacrifice all things; but, as Elder McConkie says “we must in fact live them to the extent we are called upon so to do.

“How, for instance, can we establish our ability to live the full law of consecration if we do not in fact pay an honest tithing? Or how can we prove our willingness to sacrifice all things, if need be, if we do not make the small sacrifices of time and toil, or of money and means, that we are now asked to make?”

The Lord has said: “If you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.” (D&C 78:7.)

I love how Elder McConkie phrases our opportunities to serve. He says, “It is our privilege to consecrate our time, talents, and means to build up his kingdom. We are called upon to sacrifice, in one degree or another, for the furtherance of his work. Obedience is essential to salvation; so, also, is service; and so, also, are consecration and sacrifice.

“It is our privilege to raise the warning voice to our neighbors and to go on missions and offer the truths of salvation to our Father’s other children everywhere. We can respond to calls to serve as bishops, as Relief Society presidents, as home teachers, and in any of hundreds of positions of responsibility in our various church organizations. We can labor on welfare projects, engage in genealogical research, perform vicarious ordinances in the temples.

“We can pay an honest tithing and contribute to our fast offering, welfare, budget, building, and missionary funds. We can bequeath portions of our assets and devise portions of our properties to the Church when we pass on to other spheres.

“We can consecrate a portion of our time to systematic study, to becoming gospel scholars, to treasuring up the revealed truths which guide us in paths of truth and righteousness.

“And the fact that faithful members of the Church do all these things is one of the great evidences of the divinity of the work. Where else do the generality of the members of any church pay a full tithing? Where is there a people whose congregations have one and two and three percent of their number out in volunteer, self-supporting missionary work at all times? Where does any people as a whole build temples or operate welfare projects as we do? And where is there so much unpaid teaching and church administration?

“All our service in God’s kingdom is predicated on his eternal law which states: ‘The laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion, for if they labor for money they shall perish.’ (2 Ne. 26:31.)

“And every member of his church has this promise: That if he remains true and faithful—obeying, serving, consecrating, sacrificing, as required by the gospel—he shall be repaid in eternity a thousandfold and shall have eternal life. What more can we ask?”