The Sabbath-Day
So what do Latter-Day Saints believe about the Sabbath Day? It's really quite simple. What we do on the Sabbath-day, is a reflection of our Faith in Jesus Christ. In an effort to keep the Sabbath-day holy, Latter-Day Saints will refrain from shopping and participating in other commercial and sporting activities that are so common today.
We meet together in local congregations to worship the Lord, and renew our covenants we made at baptism through partaking of the sacrament, often called communion or the Lord's supper by other faiths. We rest from our labors, and use this day to worship the Lord, and are renewed by our associations with our friends and family.
One might write a letter, visit a friend or relative, or simply take a nap. Studying the scriptures, fasting and praying are also appropriate Sabbath-day activities.
It's a day to set apart from your normal routine, so you can focus on what is most important and be renewed.
For many, the Sabbath becomes the day they look forward to most in the week. You can truly be renewed both physically and spiritually.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni spoke of what those early followers of Christ did on the Sabbath:
Moroni 6:5-6
5 And the achurch did meet together boft, to cfast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
6 And they did ameet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in bremembrance of the Lord Jesus.
From the time that God created the world down to the time of Jesus Christ, the Sabbath was observed on the 7th day of the week. The word Sabbath actually means "Seven."
But Jesus Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week, or Sunday. Christians then began to observe the "Sabbath" on this day.
Latter-Day Saints also worship on Sunday. The Lord has promised great blessings to those who keep the Sabbath-day holy.
Isaiah 58:13-14
13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the asabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
It's important to remember that there are circumstances where one might have to buy something on Sunday in the case of an emergency. Many of the accusations against Jesus by his enemies were connected with his observance of the Sabbath-day. Jesus clarified and put common sense into Sabbath-day worship:
Matthew 12:1-12
1 At that time Jesus went on the asabbath day through the bcorn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the cears of corn, and to eat.
What matters most about the Sabbath-day is what is in your heart. The Sabbath is simply a way you can show your gratitude to your Lord and Savior. It's an opportunity to love and serve your neighbor. If you commit to keeping the Sabbath-day holy, you will receive blessings in your life. It will be easier to gain answers to your prayers. It really will be "a delight."
When I was first out of college and just started a new job my employers asked me to go with them on a business trip to Florida. This was a great opportunity for my career. One of the days we would be traveling would be on a Sunday. So I went online and looked up the directions to the congregation that was closest to the hotel where we would be staying.
Sunday came and my employers were surprised that I wanted to attend church services. They were actually quite frustrated with it. They started making jokes about how I was being like the Pharisees in Jesus' day who had made too many rules regarding the Sabbath-day. I was surprised that they were acting like that as all I wanted to do was attend church. I hadn't tried to make them come to church or even said anything to make them feel bad about not attending.
I just simply wanted to try and keep the Sabbath the best I could under the circumstances. I was able to convince them to let me take the rental car and attend. I was blessed with a feeling of comfort from the Holy Ghost that what I had done was right. I really had no intention of making it a big deal or trying to make my employers feel guilty.
I really don't know what affect that example had on them, but I do know it had a great affect on me. I was blessed by the Lord for standing up for my convictions. I was blessed for keeping the Sabbath-day holy. My testimony of this sacred day increased, and I have since had more blessings than I could even recount for keeping the Sabbath-day Holy.
I testify that the Sabbath-day is just one more way you can tap into the wealth of blessings the Lord wants to give you. As we observe the Sabbath, the Lord will change you little by little and give you grace to overcome the challenges and obstacles in your life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Click here for Missionaries
From the time that God created the world down to the time of Jesus Christ, the Sabbath was observed on the 7th day of the week. The word Sabbath actually means "Seven."
But Jesus Christ was resurrected on the first day of the week, or Sunday. Christians then began to observe the "Sabbath" on this day.
Latter-Day Saints also worship on Sunday. The Lord has promised great blessings to those who keep the Sabbath-day holy.
Isaiah 58:13-14
13 ¶ If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the asabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the ahigh places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
It's important to remember that there are circumstances where one might have to buy something on Sunday in the case of an emergency. Many of the accusations against Jesus by his enemies were connected with his observance of the Sabbath-day. Jesus clarified and put common sense into Sabbath-day worship:
Matthew 12:1-12
1 At that time Jesus went on the asabbath day through the bcorn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the cears of corn, and to eat.
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the ashewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the asabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the atemple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have amercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the asabbath day.
10 ¶ And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
What matters most about the Sabbath-day is what is in your heart. The Sabbath is simply a way you can show your gratitude to your Lord and Savior. It's an opportunity to love and serve your neighbor. If you commit to keeping the Sabbath-day holy, you will receive blessings in your life. It will be easier to gain answers to your prayers. It really will be "a delight."
When I was first out of college and just started a new job my employers asked me to go with them on a business trip to Florida. This was a great opportunity for my career. One of the days we would be traveling would be on a Sunday. So I went online and looked up the directions to the congregation that was closest to the hotel where we would be staying.
Sunday came and my employers were surprised that I wanted to attend church services. They were actually quite frustrated with it. They started making jokes about how I was being like the Pharisees in Jesus' day who had made too many rules regarding the Sabbath-day. I was surprised that they were acting like that as all I wanted to do was attend church. I hadn't tried to make them come to church or even said anything to make them feel bad about not attending.
I just simply wanted to try and keep the Sabbath the best I could under the circumstances. I was able to convince them to let me take the rental car and attend. I was blessed with a feeling of comfort from the Holy Ghost that what I had done was right. I really had no intention of making it a big deal or trying to make my employers feel guilty.
I really don't know what affect that example had on them, but I do know it had a great affect on me. I was blessed by the Lord for standing up for my convictions. I was blessed for keeping the Sabbath-day holy. My testimony of this sacred day increased, and I have since had more blessings than I could even recount for keeping the Sabbath-day Holy.
I testify that the Sabbath-day is just one more way you can tap into the wealth of blessings the Lord wants to give you. As we observe the Sabbath, the Lord will change you little by little and give you grace to overcome the challenges and obstacles in your life.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Click here for Missionaries
posted by Ben Tanner @ 7:50 AM
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