The Book of Leviticus

About the book of Leviticus:

The word Leviticus is a Latin word that has reference to the Levites—one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Levites held the lesser priesthood and were given the responsibility to officiate in the tabernacle and later at the temple in Jerusalem (see Numbers 3:5–10). The book of Leviti­cus contains instructions on performing priesthood duties, such as animal sacrifice and other rituals that would help teach the children of Israel about Jesus Christ and His Atonement (see Alma 34:13–14). The Lord revealed a primary purpose for the instructions He gave in the book of Leviticus: “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2; see also Leviticus 11:44–45; 20:26; 21:6).

Moses is the author of Leviticus. Moses and his older brother, Aaron, were both members of the tribe of Levi (see Exodus 6:16–20).

The book of Leviticus has been described as a priesthood handbook for Aaron and his sons (who served as priests) and for the Levites generally. Through these instructions, we learn about the laws, rituals, ceremonies, and festivals that would teach Israel how to be clean, holy, and different from the world. 

Central to the book of Leviticus is the con­cept of atonement; the word atonement occurs more frequently in this book than in any other book of scripture. Leviticus describes in detail the system of animal sacrifices that served to remind Israel that “it is the blood that maketh an atone­ment for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11). Thus, these sacrifices symbolically pointed Israel forward to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would shed His blood to atone for the sins of mankind. (Seminary Teacher Manual p.200)

Leviticus 1:9 How to live the law of Sacrifice

Elder M. Russell Bal­lard:

“After the Savior’s ultimate sacrifice,. . . .the ordinance of the sacrament replaced the ordinance of sacrifice. . . . This change moved the focus of the sacrifice from a person’s animal to the person himself. In a sense, the sacrifice changed from the offering to theofferer. . . .

“. . . Instead of the Lord requiring our animals or grain, now He wants us to give up all that is ungodly. . . . Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: ‘Real, personal sacrifice never was placing an animal on the altar. In­stead, it is a willingness to put the animal in us upon the altar and letting it be consumed!’ (‘Deny Yourselves of All Ungodliness,’ Ensign, May 1995, 68).

“. . . When we overcome our own selfish desires and put God first in our lives and cov­enant to serve Him regardless of the cost, we are then living the law of sacrifice” (“The Law of Sacrifice,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 10).