From the darkness of destruction at the time of the crucifixion, Christ spoke the following to the Nephites in the Americas:
And 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.
And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not. (3 Nephi 9:19-20)
According to Ronald Poelman, the really serious challenges in life require not so much temporal resources but the gifts of the Spirit. . . . In these latter days, the Lord has said [to the covenant people]: "Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the son of Man and verily it is a day of sacrifice. . . . Consider the meaning of the two Latin words from which the English word sacrifice is derived. These two words, sacer and facere, taken together mean "to make sacred." That which we [consecrate] to the Lord . . . is indeed made sacred, and the obedient are edified. . . .
Consider the people of Alma who were afflicted with heavy burdens while in the valley of Helam by the priests of Amulon. When they poured out their hearts to God, He answered them with words, "I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage." (see Mosiah 24:13-14). Did the Lord immediately remove their burdens and free them from bondage? No! We read: "The Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" (Mosiah 24:15). . . .
If we [keep our covenants] with the Lord, then, as we face adversity, we can be assured that we will be blessed with faith, strength, wisdom and help from others--with all that is necessary not only to overcome but to learn and to grow from these experiences. [Ronald E. Poelman, "Tithing: A Privilege," in The Ensign, May 1998, pp. 78-79]
In essence, through covenants and "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" we take the trials of adversity and make them sacred. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]