Why did the sacrament replace animal sacrifices?

Thomas R. Valletta

“As sacrifice was thus to cease [see 3 Nephi 15:2–5] with the occurrence of the great event toward which it pointed, there must needs be a new ordinance to replace it, an ordinance which also would center the attention of the saints on the infinite and eternal atonement. … Sacrifice stopped and sacrament started. It was the end of the old era, the beginning of the new. Sacrifice looked forward to the shed blood and bruised flesh of the Lamb of God. The sacrament was to be in remembrance of his spilt blood and broken flesh, the emblems, bread and wine, typifying such as completely as had the shedding of the blood of animals in their days” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:719–20).

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