NAME OF THE ORDINANCE AND TYPE OF OFFERING

EMBLEMATIC OBJECTS USED FOR THE ORDINANCE

PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE

WHEN ADMINISTERED

BURNT OFFERING
(Lev. 1; 6:9–13)

This is another name for the ordinance of sacrifice practiced by the patriarchs from Adam down to Israel.

Male animal without blemish (Exod. 12:5; Lev. 1:3; 22:18–25; Num. 28:3–4; Deut. 15:21; 17:1).

Originally the animal was to be a firstborn (Gen. 4:4; Exod. 13:12; Lev. 27:26; Num. 3:41; 18:17; Deut. 12:6; 15:19–21).

The animal used varied according to the position and personal possessions of the individual, as well as the occasion of the sacrifice: bull, ram, he-goat, turtledoves, or young pigeons (Lev. 1:5, 10, 14; 5:7; Gen. 15:9).

“This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father” (Moses 5:7; see also Lev. 1:4, 9; 14:20; Heb. 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19; 2 Ne. 11:4; 25:24–27; Jac. 4:5; Jar. 1;Mosiah 3:15).

PUBLIC OFFERINGS

Regularly appointed times:

Daily—morning and evening (Exod. 29:38–42; Num. 28:3–4).

Sabbath—double portion given (Num. 28:9–10). New Moon—monthly (Num. 28:11–15).

Seasonally appointed times:

Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread, Feast of the Harvest, Feast of the Tabernacles, New Year, and the Day of Atonement

PRIVATE OFFERINGS

Given for family events—birth, marriage, reunions, etc., and at times of personal need. Most often, private or individual offerings were given during the times of appointed feasts.

PEACE OFFERING
(Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

Male or female animal without blemish (Lev. 3:1, 12) and cattle, sheep, or goats, but no fowl or other substitutes (Lev. 22:27). The animal was to be meat for a sacrificial meal. The fat and inward portions were burned upon the altar (Lev. 3:3–5), a specified part was given to the priests (see Heave and Wave Offerings), and the remainder was used for meat in the special dinner (Lev. 7:16).

The threefold purpose of peace offerings is suggested in the following titles or descriptions given.

THANK OFFERING is given to thank God for all blessings (Lev. 7:12–13, 15; 22:29).

VOW OFFERING (Lev. 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23; Num. 15:3, 8; 29:39; Deut. 12:6) signifies the taking or renewing of a vow or covenant.

FREE-WILL OFFERING (Lev. 7:16; 22:18, 21, 23; Num. 15:3; 29:39; Deut. 12:6, 17; 16:10; 23:23) suggests voluntary receiving of covenants with attendant responsibilities and consequences.

An individual could seemingly give the offering for any of the above declared purposes separately or together.

These were private offerings or a personal sacrifice for family or individuals (see Private Offerings).

SIN OFFERING
(Lev. 4; 5:1–13; 6:25–30)

Male or female animal or fowl without blemish. The offering varied according to the position and circumstances of the offerer: the priest offered a bull (Lev. 4:3; Num. 8:8), the ruler among the people a he-goat (Lev. 4:22–23), the people in general a she-goat (Lev. 4:27–28), the poor two turtledoves or two young pigeons (Lev. 5:7), and those of extreme poverty an offering of fowl or meal (Lev. 5:11; Num. 15:20–21). The offering is not consumed by fire, but is used by the Levitical priesthood as a sacrificial meal. The meat and hide are for their sustenance and use. (Lev. 6:25–30; 7:7–8; 14:13.)

Sin offerings were given for sins committed in ignorance (Lev. 4:2, 22, 27), sins not generally known about by the people (Num. 15:24), sins in violation of oaths and covenants (Lev. 5:1, 4–5), and ceremonial sins of defilement or uncleanness under the law of carnal commandments (Lev. 5:2–3; 12:1–8; 15:28–30). The purpose of sin offerings, after true repentance on the part of the parties involved, was to prepare them to receive forgiveness as a part of the renewal of their covenants. (Lev. 4:26, 35; 5:10; 10:17; Num. 15:24–29.) This same blessing is possible by partaking of the sacrament today. (JST, Matt. 26:24.)

A special sin-offering for all the people was offered on the Day of Atonement (Exod. 30:10; Lev. 16:3, 6, 11, 15–19).

All other sin offerings were private and personal offerings, most often given at the times of the appointed feasts.

TRESPASS OFFERING
(Lev. 5:15–19; 6:1–7; 7:1–10)

Ram without blemish (Lev. 5:15, 18; 6:6; 19:21). A leper was to offer a lamb (Lev. 14:12), and a Nazarite was also to give a lamb (Num. 6:12).

Trespass offerings were given for offenses committed against others: i.e., false testimony (Lev. 6:2–3), forceful and unlawful possession of property (Lev. 6:4), disrespect for sacred things (Lev. 5:16–17), acts of passion (Lev. 19:20–22). The purpose of the trespass offering was to bring forgiveness. (Lev. 6:7.) This was possible after repentance (Lev. 26:40–45) and after fulfilling the law of restitution that required, where possible, that the guilty individual restore completely the wrong and an additional 20 percent (Lev. 5:16; 6:5–17; 27:13, 15, 19, 27, 31; Num. 5:6–10).

All trespass offerings were private and personal offerings, most commonly given at the times of the appointed feasts.

MEAL OR MEAT OFFERING GIFTS
(Exod. 29:40–41; Lev. 2; 6:14–23; 7:9–10; Num. 15:4–24; 28; 29)

An unleavened bread. Few ingredients were permitted with the basic flour: salt (Lev. 2:13), oil (Lev. 2:5), even incense (Lev. 2:15), but no leavening or honey (Lev. 2:11). However, it could be baked or fried in various ways.

This offering completed the sacrificial meal of the burnt and peace offerings. It was then given to the priests for their service and sustenance. (Lev. 7:8–10.)

This offering was always given with the burnt offerings and peace offerings and could even substitute for a sin offering in the stress of poverty. (Num. 15:28–29.)

HEAVE OFFERING
(Exod. 29:26–27; Lev. 7:14, 32–34; Num. 18:19)

The heave offering is the right shoulder and the wave offering the breast of the peace offering animal given in payment by the offerer for the services of the priest.

Whatever the Levites received for their priesthood service—heave or wave offering, meat offering, or tithe (Num. 18)—they were required to offer to the Lord in sacrifice a portion as a memorial offering (Lev. 2:2, 9, 16; 5:12; 6:15; Num. 5:26; 18:26–29).

“Heave” and “wave” refer to gestures of lifting the offerings up and extending them toward the priest who received them on behalf of the Lord.

This is the priest’s portion. (Lev. 7:35–36; Deut. 18:1–8.)

This memorial offering was a type of peace or thank offering to the Lord, as well as a remembrance of God and service to Him.

The Levites also received the hides of all the animals sacrificed for their labors and services. (Lev. 7:8.)

These were given at the times of burnt offerings and pe