Sacrificial Meals, Partaking of

Priests and Israelite worshippers had the privilege of partaking of a portion of the sacrificial offerings of the temple. This was not simply a way to enjoy a meal or to eat to satiate; this was part of an extraordinarily sacred ceremony. The Mosaic code set forth a number of regulations regarding partaking of the sacrificial meat or animal’s flesh (see, for example, Ex. 12:4, 11, 46–48; Lev. 6:16, 18, 23–30; 7:11–36; 10:11–15). The Lord revealed who, where, what, and when they were to partake of the sacrifices. The Lord also instructed that individuals could not partake if they had uncleannesses, otherwise they would “be cut off” (Lev. 7:20).

Sacrificial sheep (representative) beside the altar of sacrifice.

In multiple ways, the ancient sacrificial meal was similar to our sacrament: (1) Both ancient and modern Saints partook/partake in holy places (anciently, the temple precinct; in modern days, the chapel); (2) Both ancient and modern Saints must be clean or worthy to partake; (3) Both the terms sacrifice and sacrament originate from the Latin sacer, meaning “sacred”; (4) Most importantly, both the sacrificial meat and the sacrament bread symbolize Jesus Christ’s flesh. President Boyd K. Packer explained, “Both sacrifice before, and the sacrament afterward, are centered in Christ, the shedding of His blood, and the atonement He made for our sins.”273