Up in Smoke

Twice in the wilderness Lehi and his family give thanks and offer burnt offerings. When Nephi and his brothers return from Jerusalem after obtaining the brass plates, the record states, "They did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel" (1 Nephi 5: 9).

Then again at the end of Chapter 7 in First Nephi, it states,

"And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him" (1 Nephi 7: 22).

The latter reference occurs right before they gather seeds, grain, and fruit in preparation for the long journey into the wilderness. The timing of these events is significant.

The Book of Mormon uses the term "burnt offering" in an almost generic manner. Almost all the sacrifices are burnt offerings. But in the Old Testament there are three basic kinds of sacrifice. There is the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering. And they go in that order when performed consecutively.

The Bible Dictionary states, "The fat of the sin offering, as the choicest part of the flesh, was in every case burnt upon the altar" (Bible Dictionary, "Sacrifices"). The sin offering represented atonement, as sins were expiated. 

The burnt offering came next, and it represented sanctification and surrender to God. "The burnt offering got its Hebrew name from the idea of the smoke of the sacrifice ascending to heaven. The characteristic rite was the burning of the whole animal on the altar" (Bible Dictionary, "Sacrifices"). This is the kind of sacrifice emphasized by Lehi and his family in the wilderness.

The instruction for burnt offering in the Old Testament goes as follows:

"But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord" (Leviticus 1: 9).

The Hebrew word for burnt offering means "to ascend." Click here for a link to the Hebrew word. You may be interested in the second definition of "ascent, stairway, steps." 

This kind of sacrifice and surrender is a symbolic, heavenly ascent. It's the kind of offering that brings us closer to the Father and His Beloved Son. 

There are two aspects to the burnt offering and its symbolism. Notice the whole animal is burnt on the altar. We become willing to fully sacrifice the animal inside and put off the natural man and put on Christ (see Mosiah 3: 19; Galatians 3: 27). 

The smoke of the sacrifice represents self will. I must be willing to let my will go up in smoke. When I picture such imagery in my mind, I can see myself clawing and fanning the smoke to hold on to my own will, but the best sacrifices are, of course, voluntary. 

The timing of this sacrifice is important because Lehi and his family are getting ready to depart into the wilderness. Such a journey can only be navigated successfully with full purpose of heart and complete trust in God. Can you imagine how difficult the journey could be with even an ounce of self-will or selfishness?

Later, Alma would describe the journey and those times when total surrender to God was not achieved. "They tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions" (Alma 37: 42). I often wonder if it was really the lack of food and water, or if perhaps holding onto self-will prevented them from having their pains "swallowed up in the joy of Christ" (see Alma 31: 38).

This book really can bring us closer to God!