This lesson centers on ways we can go about keeping the Sabbath day holy. The sanctity of the Sabbath day goes all the way back to the beginning of the world.
Genesis 2:1-3
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had crested from all his work which God created and made.
- According to this account, what makes the Sabbath different from other days?
- God rested from His labors on this day and then blessed and sanctified it.
- Aside from the day being blessed and sanctified, why do we keep the Sabbath day holy?
- God commanded us to
Exodus 20:8-11
8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
- There are several other places in the scriptures where the Lord commands us to keep the Sabbath day holy. What is it about this commandment that is so important that God continually emphasizes the needs to obey it?
- The Lord knew that through time, the world would become more and more wicked and His children would need a time to step away from the world and focus on Him. As we obey the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy, we show our faithfulness and willingness to keep the commandments given us by the Lord.
When speaking to Joseph Smith during the restoration of the gospel, the Lord gave specific instructions on how His day should be observed.
D&C 59:9-13
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy avows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
In verse 9 it says, “thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day”.
- Why is it so important to meet together to worship God on the Sabbath?
- When we meet together as a group, we help uplift and sustain each other. By sharing what we have learned and sharing our testimonies, we are able to help each other become stronger and more knowledgeable about the gospel.
- President Gordon B. Hinckley said that “every sacrament meeting ought to be a spiritual feast” and “a time of spiritual refreshment. How can we accomplish this?
- Coming to church with a good attitude
- Getting ready early enough that you aren’t rushing to be on time
- Reading through the lessons before coming to church
- Participating in the lessons
- Listening to the lessons
- Not being critical of teachers, speakers or church leaders
- Pray before coming to church to be touched by the Spirit
One thing that will help accomplish making Sunday meetings a spiritual feast is to understand that worshiping the Lord is something that is personal and based on our own attitudes and desires.
Handout #1 – President Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church, said: “We do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. It is an individual responsibility, and regardless of what is said from the pulpit, if one wishes to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, he may do so by attending his meetings, partaking of the sacrament, and contemplating the beauties of the gospel. If the service is a failure to you, you have failed. No one can worship for you” (“The Sabbath—A Delight,” Ensign, Jan. 1978, 4–5).
Basically, if we come to church with an open heart, a desire to learn and a desire to feel the Spirit, we will be well on our way to having a successful worship service.
Another part to helping yourself be open to feeling the Spirit is to sing the songs that are part of the meetings.
Handout #2 – Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve expressed concern that “an increasing number of our leaders and members do not sing the congregational songs.” He then counseled, “We should sing the songs of Zion—they are an essential part of our worship” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 29; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22).
One of the most important methods of inviting the Spirit into the meeting and also a way to allow others to feel of the Spirit is to be reverent. Elder Packer has some further wise counsel on the importance of reverence and also the realistic expectations we should have along with it.
Handout #3 – Elder Boyd K. Packer said that we should be reverent in the chapel so we do not intrude “when someone is struggling to feel delicate spiritual communications.” He also cautioned that reverence “does not equate with absolute silence. We must be tolerant of little babies, even an occasional outburst from a toddler being ushered out” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 28; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22).
Young children are still learning and coming to understand how to behave in church, so we must show understanding and compassion as they learn and are taught. We, as adults, can be examples to the children around is in Sacrament meeting by sitting in quiet contemplation or reading our scriptures before the meeting starts, not talking or whispering during the meeting, not texting or playing with our phones during the meetings and giving our attention to the speakers.
Along with speaking of meeting together to worship on the Sabbath, D&C 59:9 also speaks of partaking of the sacrament.
- Why is it important to partake of the sacrament each week?
Handout #4 – Elder Joseph B. Worthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said: “Windows must be washed regularly to clean away dust and dirt. … Just as earthly windows need consistent, thorough cleaning, so do the windows of our spirituality. … By partaking of the sacrament worthily to renew our baptismal covenants, we clarify our view of life’s eternal purpose and divine priorities. The sacrament prayers invite personal introspection, repentance, and rededication as we pledge our willingness to remember our Savior, Jesus the Christ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 103; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 77).
- How can we prepare ourselves to partake of the sacrament?
- Be worthy to take the sacrament
- Acknowledge our shortcomings and make an honest commitment to improve
- Be sincere in your desire to come closer to Christ
- Avoid distractions during the Sacrament meeting
- Sing the sacrament hymns
- Think of Christ and His sacrifice during the sacrament
- Listen to the words of the sacrament prayer
In his book, Believing Christ, Stephen E. Robinson provides some insight into the attitude we need to have when partaking of the sacrament.
Handout #5 – Stephen E. Robinson in his book “Believing Christ” states: “Accordingly, each week we come before the Lord as we prepare for the sacrament and say essentially, “Heavenly Father, I wasn’t perfect again this week, but I repent of my sins and reaffirm my commitment to keep all the commandments. I promise to go back and try again with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I still want and need the cleansing that comes through faith, repentance, and baptism, and grant me the continued blessing of the Atonement and companionship of the Holy Ghost.”
- How can we keep our hearts and minds focused on Jesus Christ as we partake of the sacrament?
- Review in our minds the covenants we’ve made at baptism and in the temple
- Not think about the chores we have at home, what we have to do at work the following week or any other worldly concerns
- Reflect on the Atonement and what Christ did for us
- Reflect on our lives and find ways to become more Christ-like
- Reaffirm our commitment to keeping the commandments
In the following verse, D&C 59:10, the Lord states that we should rest from our labors on the Sabbath. He reiterates this in verse 13.
- What does it mean to rest from our labors?
- Do not work
- Do not engage in activities that would cause others to work, even if they already are working
- Do not go to places of amusement
- Do not clean the house or run errands
- Do not fix the car or work on house projects
- Do not do homework or work on school projects
- Do not watch sports or engage in sporting activities or events
There are many things we have been counseled against doing on the Sabbath and while this may seem difficult, Bishop H. David Burton offers some words of encouragement on keeping the Sabbath day holy.
Handout #6 – Presiding Bishop H. David Burton said: “Now, I know it’s hard, particularly for our young people, to choose to observe the Sabbath day when athletic teams on which they so much want to participate regularly schedule games on Sunday. I too know it seems trivial to many who are in need of just a few items on the Sabbath to quickly stop at a convenience store to make a Sunday purchase. But I also know that remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy is one of the most important commandments we can observe in preparing us to be the recipients of the whisperings of the Spirit” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 9; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 9).
The Sabbath is a day set aside for us to rest from our labors and to take a step away from worldly cares, but this does not mean we should spend the entire day sitting around and doing nothing. President Spencer W. Kimball gives some counsel on what is acceptable and expected on the Sabbath day.
Handout #7 – President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important, but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, writing letters to missionaries, taking a nap, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day at which he is expected” (Ensign, Jan. 1978, 4).
- When trying to determine what to do on the Sabbath day, how can we know which activities are appropriate?
- Is it spiritually uplifting?
- Does it strengthen the family?
- Does it help or bless others?
- Does it nurture faith?
- If you are still uncertain, pray for confirmation
President Gordon B. Hinckley gave some counsel on Sabbath day activities.
Handout #8 – President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Let the Latter-day Saints be in their homes, teaching their families, reading the scriptures, doing things that are wholesome and beautiful and communing with the Lord on the Sabbath day” (“Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1996, 73).
Handout #9 – President Hinckley also counseled: “Now I do not want to be prudish. I do not want you to lock your children in the house and read the Bible all afternoon to them. Be wise. Be careful. But make that day a day when you can sit down with your families and talk about sacred and good things” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 559–60).
- When we keep the Sabbath day holy, the Lord has promised to bless us. What blessings does the Lord offer those who observe the Sabbath day?
- Physical and mental rejuvenation
- Becoming closer to Christ
- Strengthening our testimonies
- Protection from the adversary
- Stronger family unit
- We are better able to shut out the influence of the world
- We become strengthened in our desires to turn away from sin
- To be unspotted from the world
- What does it mean to be unspotted from the world?
- We are better able to repent
- We renew our baptismal covenants
- We focus more on God than the world
- What are some ways you and your family have been blessed as you keep the Sabbath day holy?
- Before I moved to Malaysia I had a job that was 55+ hours a week of intense stress. There were just a lot of things going on that made it difficult and it wasn’t really a great environment. I’d end the week being so stressed I didn’t want to talk to or be around anyone else. Sundays were such a relief because I didn’t have to worry about anything work-related or home related. It was just so nice to have a day where all I had to do was go to church and listen to the message being taught. By the end of Sunday, I felt ready to get back in it and tackle my job. Without that break from life, I would have either quit my job and ran away or had a total meltdown.
- In some ways, the commandments the Lord has given regarding keeping the Sabbath day holy may seem more of restrictions than a way to bring joy and peace. How can we make the Sabbath a day of rejoicing instead of a day of limitations?
- Focus on the things we should be doing instead of what we shouldn’t be doing
Now, when we talk about things to avoid on the Sabbath and that we must refrain from work, there will invariably be those who DO have jobs that require them to work on Sunday and they must wonder, “Does this mean the Lord is displeased with me?” Every person’s situation is different. The Lord knows this and understands this. Words by Elder Steve Gilliland provide necessary counsel for how these individual situations should be handled.
Handout #10 – For some, the question of working on the Sabbath might be simply answered, “If your job requires you to work on the Sabbath, get another job!” But the problem may require deeper analysis.
For instance, there are certain essential services that must be continued on the Sabbath. Those who provide emergency services, such as hospital personnel, ambulance drivers, policemen, and firefighters, must remain on duty all day every day. If the bus and taxi systems shut down on Sunday, how would those with no other form of transportation get to Church? And what about those who work in motels, where some travelers must stay to minimize Sunday travel?
Some work must be done on Sunday. (See Elder Mark E. Petersen, Ensign, May 1975, p. 49.) And it seems clear that we should not take the position that all such work should be left strictly to nonmembers. We need good Latter-day Saints in all honorable occupations, to influence and to bless those they work with and those they serve.
The question of Sabbath work, then, invariably becomes an individual one. Knowing that some Sunday work is not only justified, but also needed, we must ask ourselves, “Is my situation such that Sunday work is unavoidable?”
Even though our decision may affect the lives of many people, the full weight of such a decision is upon the individual. But we needn’t decide alone. The Lord has promised inspiration and guidance in such major decisions.
Keeping the Sabbath day holy is an important part of worshiping as a Latter-Day Saint. We must all do our best to follow the teachings and counsels of the Lord when deciding what we will and won’t do on the Sabbath day. When we follow the commandments of the Lord, we will be blessed and peace will come into our lives. I am thankful for the Sabbath day and having a day where I can take a break from life and the world. It provides the needed recharge so I can go right back into the normal stresses that come with living. I am thankful that the Lord is mindful of the needs of His people and provides a means of rest. And I am thankful the Lord loves me. Amen.
