All we have to offer

In 3 Nephi 18 of the Book of Mormon, Christ gives the sacrament to the people. He commanded them that they should "bring forth some bread and wine unto him" (verse 1). In my Book of Mormon class this past week, we discussed the irony of this situation. Christ could have easily made the bread appear on His own. Instead, he had the Nephites go and get of the bread they had. Most likely this bread was of much poorer value than the bread that Christ could have given them. In fact, in chapter 20 of 3 Nephi, Christ does just this. Verses 6 and 7 read, "Now, there had been no bread, neither wine, brought by the disciples, neither by the multitude; But he truly gave unto them bread to eat, and also wine to drink". If Christ didn't need the Nephites to get the bread then why did he? I think it is because, like all things in life we learn better by doing. Christ asked something of the people. They followed through. I believe that obedience to this one request would have helped them to gain a testimony of the promises associated with being obedient: happiness, safety, peace, power, blessings, and the ability to become like our Savior by submitting our will to His. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about doing. We cannot progress without doing the will of the Father and sacrificing our own desires for something of eternal reward. Heavenly Father knows this which is part of why he asks us to fast, to pay our tithing, to serve others, to attend a 3 hour long church, to pray, and to read our scriptures. Heavenly Father doesn't benefit personally from any of these sacrifices we make. They are for us. They help us to grow and to ultimately become like Him.