Leviticus 1 - 6

As Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden, the Lord -

"...gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:5)

"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:6 - 8)


During the exodus of the children of Israel, Aaron and his sons were givin the calling to administer the sacred rites of sacrifices and oblations at the tabernacle. To minister in this work Moses was instructed -

"...thou shalt anoint them... that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations." (Old Testament Exodus 40:15)

Not only were they to be ordained to the office of a Priest, but they were to be remain worthy, clean, and pure for as instructed by the Lord -

"..Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.
8 And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.
9 And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.
10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them." (Old Testament Leviticus 8:6 - 10)

And during this work, the Lord gave specific instructions for varying offerings including burnt, meat, peace, sin, trespass offerings and how they were to be done. This was a serious and sacred matter to the Lord for when -

"...Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Old Testament Leviticus 10:1 - 2)

After his death the Savior said to the children of Israel in the Americas-

"...ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:19 - 20)

This sacrifice also being of a serious and sacred nature for -

"...whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost..." (Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 9:20)

In modern day we are instructed that -

"It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus; and the...priest shall administer it..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 20:75 - 76)

I believe the administration of the sacrament by the priests should be much the same as in ancient days where the priest should be anointed or ordained with in the Aaronic Priesthood, washed clean - both physically and spiritually, wearing the appropriate atire, and sanctified by the Spirit worthy to minister in the symbolic flesh and blood of the Savior.