Romans 12

A living sacrifice

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1

Animal sacrifices pointed to Christ's great sacrifice. Now that He has come, Paul asks disciples to offer themselves — their whole lives — as a living sacrifice, following His example.

• alludes to 3 Nephi 9:19-20 — Christ ends blood sacrifices and asks for a broken heart and contrite spirit instead.
• alludes to Omni 1:26 — Offer your whole souls as an offering unto him.

One body in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12:5

Everyone in the Church, with all our different gifts, makes up one body joined together in Christ. We belong to Him and to each other.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• alludes to 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 — Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

The Lord who repays

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

Paul quotes the LORD speaking in the Song of Moses. We can leave judgment to Him; in modern revelation the Savior repeats this very promise in His own voice.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 — To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence.
• the same title in D&C 82:23 — Leave judgment alone with me, for it is mine and I will repay.