We can remember 3 Nephi 9 verse 20 as the very moment in time when the Savior tells us personally what He expects of us by way of our offering unto Him: not the shedding of blood on the sacrificial altar, but the shedding of pride and sin on the altar of contrition and repentance; not the burning of firstlings of the flock, but the burning away of unrighteous desires and evil deeds through the atoning power of the gospel. What He requires is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.” How great a bargain is that! Immortality and eternal life—in exchange for a broken heart and a contrite spirit—leading to baptism by water and the Holy Ghost and our full compliance with the principles of salvation and exaltation. There are fourteen places in the scriptures where the phrase “broken heart and contrite spirit” (or a close variant) is used: Psalm 34:18; 51:17; 2 Nephi 2:7; 4:32; 3 Nephi 9:20; 12:19; Ether 4:15; Mormon 2:14; Moroni 6:2; D&C 20:37; 56:17–18; 59:8; 97:8. Two of these are personally announced by the Savior in 3 Nephi.
“The New Sacrifice—Your Sacrifice”
The law of Moses has been fulfilled and the Lord requires of us a new sacrifice. A broken heart and contrite spirit involves godly sorrow for sin (see 2 Corinthians 7:10), a truly penitent heart and soul, meekness and humility born of a true and understanding relationship with God, and recognizing our total dependence upon Him for all things. It involves a condition of being easily entreated and teachable—a willingness to submit to all things that the Lord requires of us. The sacrifice that requires the offering of one’s self is the greatest sacrifice. The Lord has offered Himself as a ransom, the ultimate sacrifice, that all mankind might be redeemed through the infinite and eternal Atonement. To make the Atonement efficacious in our lives and to become worthy of baptism as well as renewing our covenants following baptism, we are required to offer a sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit (see Moroni 6:2; D&C 20:37). Offering sacrifice to the Lord is a form of worship. The Prophet Joseph taught the importance and power of sacrifice:
Let us here observe, that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. (Lectures on Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1985], 6:7).