The Purpose of Life

My assignment this morning comes from Preach My Gospel and I am asked:  What is the purpose of life?

Alma 34:10 stopped me.  It says: For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

Expedient – wise, good thing

Great and last sacrifice – there will be no other.  Christ was sacrificed for our sins, but he was really a human sacrifice.  What exactly is being said here?  Could it be that we sacrifice ourselves?  It is what we put on the altar – those sins we cling to we must sacrifice. 

Infinite – never ending.  As we sin daily, we must sacrifice these sins for eternal life.

Eternal – forever

Why did this stop me in my tracks?  Christ’s atonement is the “great and last sacrifice”.  (v14)  It will bring salvation to all who believe on his name (v15).  What is salvation?  It is eternal life.  He sacrificed his life for us.  For some reason, my mind slipped into the fact my daughter is making a great sacrifice to bring her baby into the world.  This baby will call her ‘mother’.  She will have delivered this baby.  Christ has delivered us as well.  He made the ultimate sacrifice of his life so that we might have eternal life, and he is the father of our spirits.  He created us. 

So what is our purpose in this life?  We are here to prepare to meet God (v32).  To perform our labors.  What are our labors?  Our labors are to grow in the gospel, to raise righteous families and to help others.  Interesting to me that the Relief Society purpose is exactly that. 

We are to improve our time while in this life.  What does that look like?  We are required to learn all we can while on this earthly existence. 

We are to work our out salvation before God and not deny the coming of Christ.  We are not to contend with the Holy Ghost, but receive it.  We are to take upon us the name of Christ, aka we ARE Christians.  We are to be humble, worship God at all times, be thankful daily for the many mercies and blessings that he doth bestow (v38).  Pray continually to be led away from temptation.  Be patient and bear afflictions.  Have hope that one day we will rest from all our afflictions.  And I would say these are my marching orders today and every day.