Gramps,

What is the accurate explanation of why Sunday is the day of the Sabbath of the Lord?

Ken

Answer

Ken,

The origin of Sabbath observance goes back to the very beginning of the scriptural record. In Genesis, God Himself set the pattern for Sabbath rest:

“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. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” (Genesis 2:2-3)

For ancient Israel, the law of Moses codified the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week—Saturday—memorializing both creation and the Exodus. Observant Jews from Moses to Jesus honored Saturday, beginning at sunset and lasting until the following sunset. Even Jesus, during His mortal ministry, attended synagogue and taught on the seventh-day Sabbath.

The Sabbath, as commanded in Exodus 20:8, was a covenantal sign between God and Israel, marked by rest and worship: “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” This practice was so central that violating the Sabbath was considered a profound breach of the covenant.

With the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, something extraordinary occurred—a spiritual new creation. Jesus was crucified on a Friday and lay in the tomb during the Jewish Sabbath. On the dawn of the first day of the week—Sunday—His followers discovered the empty tomb, and angelic messengers declared, “He is risen; he is not here”(Mark 16:2-6).

This event was so pivotal that the early Christians began gathering on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) to commemorate the Resurrection. The New Testament offers several glimpses of this transition:

“Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them…” (Acts 20:7)

Paul elsewhere counseled: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store…” (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Early Christian writers and communities referred to “the Lord’s Day” as a distinct, holy day set apart from the Jewish Sabbath. According to the Bible Dictionary, “The first day of the week is meant, being the day of our Lord’s resurrection and also the day on which the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. … It was never confounded with the Sabbath, but carefully distinguished from it.”

Thus, Sunday became the day when disciples gathered to partake of the sacrament, remember the Lord’s triumph, and renew their spiritual covenants.

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, modern revelation is central to understanding divine will. Revelations given through Joseph Smith specifically refer to Sunday as the Lord’s day and instruct members to offer “oblation and…sacraments unto the Most High” on this day (Doctrine & Covenants 59:12).

In a letter to the early Saints, Joseph Smith used the word Sabbath to clearly mean Sunday, showing the continuity of this practice from the earliest days of the restored Church.

But is the specific day more important than the principle of Sabbath keeping? There is significant evidence, both scripturally and in the teachings of Church leaders, that what matters most to God is not a rigid adherence to a calendar day, but the sincere setting aside of regular time for worship, community, and spiritual renewal:

The Savior himself told us: “And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)

Church presidents and apostles have taught that, in regions where Sunday is not a day of rest (for example, Israel or Muslim-majority nations), Latter-day Saints may worship on Saturday or Friday. The consistent principle is to gather as a body of Saints, wherever and whenever possible, to honor God and partake of covenants.

A 1972 precedent, for example, saw the Church authorize Saturday worship in Israel, and Friday meetings in some Islamic countries, recognizing the practicalities and traditions of each society.

The core of Sabbath observance is not simply marking time, but entering into a deep relationship with Jesus Christ and community with fellow believers. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Sabbath is a day for:

Worshipping together and partaking of the sacrament, renewing baptismal covenants, and remembering the Savior’s atonement.

Spending time with family, serving others, and engaging in spiritual reflection.

Resting from worldly labors and “delighting” in the Lord, rather than just abstaining from work.

Modern prophets have provided consistent guidelines: the Sabbath should be a delight, a day of cleansing, worship, service, and personal spiritual focus. President Harold B. Lee warned that neglecting the Sabbath for recreational pleasure is to “lose a soul full of joy for a thimble full of pleasure.”

In most places where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established, the Sabbath is kept from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday. However, leaders have clarified that exceptions can be made out of necessity, such as work circumstances or local laws.

Importantly, the “Sabbath was made for man”—not to be a burden, but a blessing and a sign of Christian commitment. The local congregation—the “community of Saints”—is essential, as the sacrament, teaching, and service require coming together, not mere solitary observance.

In rare cases, such as in Israel or areas with unique work schedules (like Hong Kong’s domestic helpers), local leaders, under authority from modern prophets, modify the day to maximize members’ opportunity to worship and partake of the sacrament.

A unique aspect for Latter-day Saints is that temples are usually closed on Sundays. This is not to diminish the sacredness of temples, but rather to ensure that Sundays remain focused on congregational worship, priesthood ordinances, family unity, and service within local congregations. Preserving the Sabbath as a distinct day strengthens the communal fabric and supports all other aspects of spiritual living.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

I have a job that requires me to work on Sundays occasionally. How do I then honor the Sabbath as we have been commanded to do?

Robert

Answer

Robert,

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” With these words, God etched the pattern of the Sabbath into the foundational commandments given to Moses on Sinai (see Exodus 20:8–11). The principle was simple, yet profound: set aside the seventh day for rest, worship, and holy activities. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this commandment is both ancient and ever-relevant—one of the vital links that keeps individuals and families attuned to God in a busy, distracting world.

According to the teachings of the Church, the primary purpose of the Sabbath is worship. It is a deliberate shift in focus from everyday concerns and activities toward spiritual matters, reflecting on the Father who created us, the Savior who redeems us, and the Holy Spirit who guides us. Culturally, many Latter-day Saints refrain from working on Sunday so they can devote that time to private and public worship. Valuing that sacred time, they also strive to reduce the demand on others’ time away from worship.

This pattern is reinforced throughout scripture, from Exodus to modern revelations. In the Doctrine and Covenants, a foundational book of scripture for the Church, members are reminded that on the Lord’s Day, they should “offer [their] oblations and… sacraments unto the Most High, confessing [their] sins… and on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy joy may be full” (see Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-13).

It is tempting to see Sabbath observance as a checklist: don’t shop, don’t work, don’t entertain yourself in certain ways. But Church leaders and inspired members repeatedly teach that the “goal of the Sabbath is not to refrain from or prevent work. The purpose of the Sabbath is to worship. As an individual, I will worship. And I will do what I can to aid others in their worship.”  The commandment is meant to lift, inspire, and renew—not just restrict. When genuinely observed, the Sabbath becomes not a burden but “the best refreshment for our souls.”

How do members of the Church determine what it means to “keep the Sabbath day holy” in practical terms? There is no exhaustive “do and don’t” list handed down from Salt Lake City for every conceivable situation. Instead, guidance is offered in the form of principles, and each individual or family must make informed, mindful decisions.

A few core activities characterize Latter-day Saint Sabbath observance:

Attending Church Meetings: Church members attend Sunday services, including partaking of the sacrament (communion), which serves as a central act of renewal and forgiveness.

Worship and Study: Members devote time to scripture study, prayer, and contemplation, seeking connection with God and spiritual nourishment.

Family and Service: Time is spent strengthening family bonds, reaching out to relatives, and serving others—often through home visits or ministering assignments.

Refraining from Commercial and Recreational Activities: Following prophetic counsel, Church members refrain from shopping, recreational activities such as swimming, hunting, and attending sporting events, as well as unnecessary work on Sundays.

Many of these practices reflect a desire not only to keep oneself focused on Holy things but to avoid creating demands that cause others to work or be distracted from worship. If you don’t want to contribute to that person breaking the Sabbath, then don’t be a part of the demand. This principle helps guide decisions about working, shopping, or seeking services on Sunday.

Preparation is key. Members are encouraged to plan and complete necessary chores, meals, and errands during the week, so that Sunday can be truly set aside for rest and spiritual activity.

Spencer W. Kimball said:

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, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side. (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 96-97.)

What about activities that seem to fall in a gray area, like exercise for health or quiet hobbies? Here, individuals are encouraged to evaluate motivations. Latter-day Saint teachings often cite Isaiah 58:13, which asks whether we “do [our] pleasure on [God’s] holy day” or honor Him. The key is whether the activity draws one closer to God or distracts from worship and the sacredness of the Sabbath. There is room for individual inspiration as one seeks to “honor the Lord” rather than merely keep rules.

Church leaders and members testify that honoring the Sabbath in both spirit and practice brings tangible blessings. Observing the Lord’s holy day is one of the most important things we can do. It is an essential step toward our eternal salvation. Those who make the commitment often find their lives blessed with greater peace, spiritual insight, closeness to God, and joy in ordinary and extraordinary ways. Families gather, testimonies grow, and the Lord’s presence is felt more deeply.

Some describe the feeling after attending sacrament meeting as “walking away as clean as when we were baptized, if we sincerely partook of the blessed bread and water, and are without any serious sins that would require priesthood help to resolve.” In this sense, Sunday is more than a day of rest: it’s a weekly rebirth and recommitment.

Of course, life does not always fit neatly into ideal patterns. Church members recognize that some must work on Sundays (such as medical professionals, emergency responders, or those with unavoidable obligations). In such cases, the attitude of the heart—devoting what time and energy one can to worship and service—remains the key. Even when travel or necessary work intervenes, members are encouraged to seek worship in whatever ways they can: attending services wherever possible, studying scripture, praying, and maintaining the Sabbath in spirit if not always in outward observance.

Keeping the Sabbath day holy while working can be a bit challenging, but it’s definitely possible with some thoughtful planning and intention. Here are a few ideas that might help:

Prioritize Worship: If your work schedule permits, try to attend church services regularly. If you can’t attend a meeting, consider setting aside time for personal worship, scripture study, or listening to a recorded service.

Prayer and Reflection: Begin and end your day with prayer, asking for guidance to keep the spirit of the Sabbath with you throughout your workday.

Small Acts of Service: Look for opportunities to serve others, even in small ways, while at work. This can help you maintain a Christlike attitude.

Limit Non-Essential Activities: Try to avoid engaging in activities that aren’t in harmony with the spirit of the Sabbath, even if you’re at work.

Share Your Faith: If appropriate, share your beliefs with coworkers. This can be a way to keep the Sabbath spirit alive and might open doors for meaningful conversations.

Plan Ahead: If possible, prepare meals and other necessities in advance so that your time outside of work can be more restful and focused on spiritual matters.

Remember, the key is to keep the spirit of the Sabbath in your heart, even if your circumstances require you to work. It’s about your intentions and efforts to honor the day in the best way you can. Keep striving, and the Lord will bless your efforts!

Modern life can put tremendous pressure on Sabbath observance, with work demands, youth activities, sports leagues, and pervasive entertainment. It can be tempting to see Sabbath commitment as restrictive or a loss of “fun.” But Church members are encouraged to look beyond temporary pleasure to “the eternal… closeness with the Lord that is eternally sweeter than a Sunday at the lake.” Once the blessings are tasted, many find that “the Sabbath is not a restriction; it is the best refreshment for our souls.”

As another Church guide poignantly summarized, “Proper Sabbath day observance helps us see God’s hand more dynamically across the pages of our lives and feel His love and presence more intimately every day of the week.”

Gramps

Gramps,

I know it’s not our place to judge others and that Sunday is our sign to the Lord, but my bishop and our bishopric (except me) watch sports on Sunday. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind this and it bothers me. How can I bring this up to them without getting a huge backlash?

Kevin

Answer

Kevin,

You’re absolutely right.  It is not our place to judge.  So ordinarily I’d advise you to simply mind your own business.  But let me go a bit deeper today.

Are you motivated by a deep love and Godly concern for this man’s well-being and that of his family? Or are you just bothered by the inconsistency of a bishop who preaches keeping the Sabbath Day holy but then watches Sunday football games? Reading your question, I get the impression that you’re more bothered than spiritually moved. If I’m right, I suggest that fact alone answers your question.

You can bring it up, but you can’t avoid the backlash. When you start pointing out people’s actions and calling those actions into question, you open yourself up to backlash from them. it’s inescapable. You need to decide whether this is important enough to you to put your relationship with the rest of the bishopric on the line.

You’re not afraid of backlash?  Well, consider this.  If all the powers of the earth were combined to discover everything you did and then expose it all on social media, how would it look if you were condemning others for watching TV on Sunday?  Would you feel even a bit of shame?

If so, then consider the beam in your eye before complaining about others’ motes.

If not, then I’d advise you to repent of pride.  I guarantee that you’re doing at least ONE thing that is a more serious sin than “watching football on Sunday.”  As such, you should indeed feel some remorse over that before you go looking at the sins of others.

If I’m wrong, and your worst sin is less serious than watching Sunday football, then, Brother, you’re about to be translated.

 Gramps

Dear Gramps,

I’ve been an avid follower of this page. And it has helped me answer doctrinal questions I’ve had kept.  As for my question, I would like to ask if it’s okay to do exercise on a Sunday. I mean it’s for one’s health.  Thank you.

Charles

Answer

Dear Charles,

Thank you for your loyal readership.  People like you are what make this site possible and rewarding.  I’m very glad to have helped you answer doctrinal questions in the past, and hope I can do so this time.

I expect everyone who is concerned about keeping the sabbath holy has asked about one activity or another at some point in their lives.  In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if Moses stepped out of his tent the morning after coming down off the mount to find someone asking for clarification!  And yet, you won’t find the Church posting “do” and “do not” lists in regards to the sabbath.  I hope you’re not disappointed, but I’m not going to either (though I’m going to quote one from Isaiah).  Instead, I hope to give you some tools you can use to develop a deeper understanding of the sabbath and then decide for yourself whether any given activity is acceptable on Sunday.  These tools are from my own learning, which is on-going, so I encourage you to pursue additional learning from those sources God has provided (see #3 here).

The Approach

One day, I felt inspired that an upcoming lesson at Church should cover the sabbath day.  Having been raised in the Church, I had heard “keep the sabbath day holy” for so long that it seemed this simple phrase was all there was to it.  How could I fill an entire class period with something that simple?  Having no idea what else to do, I turned to the Bible Dictionary and Topical Guide and studied the following entries:

• Sabbath (BD)
• Sabbath day’s journey (BD)
• Sabbatical Year (BD)
• Sabbath (TG)
• Sabbatical Year (TG)

As I read each entry and its linked scriptures, I noted not what was said, but what I learned, what it meant.  When done, I reviewed and reorganized my notes, grouping them into categories.  When that was done, I did it again.  And then I copied them into a clean final format.  For me, this has become a pattern for serious study.  I still have the A3 (~11″x17″) page with these notes on it, and I refer to it often.

What I found surprised me.  I had thought there really wasn’t much to say.  Instead, I found a wealth of information, much of which I had never considered.  For me, it fit neatly into eight categories:

1. the meaning of “sabbath”
2. how important sabbath observance is
3. its blessings
4. the severity of not keeping it holy (the punishments)
5. proper attitude about it
6. how to keep it
7. that it is a covenant and sign
8. lessons from the Sabbatical Year

And these are only the things I learned from my study; what you learn may be completely different.  So in the end, this is the method I suggest to you and to everyone who wishes to improve their sabbath observance.  It will allow you to learn what you are prepared to learn, and improve incrementally and as the Spirit directs over the course of your life.

That said, let’s explore a little further and identify just a few of the principles we can use to evaluate any given activity.

The Commandment

A logical place for us to start is with the actual text of the commandment:

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.

In verse 11, we learn that the Lord made the sabbath day holy.  In verse 8, we are commanded to keep it that way.  When considering any activity for Sunday, we might ask ourselves, what does “holy” mean?  Will this activity keep this day in its state of holiness?

In verses 9 and 10 we learn that one way to keep this day holy is by following God’s example as explained at the start of verse 11, and not working or causing anyone (or any thing) under our influence to work.  We may think of this as the beginning and ending of this commandment – don’t work and don’t cause others to work for us on the sabbath.  But such a brief summation would be avoiding the question of what it means to keep something holy.  Fortunately, this is far from the only guidance we have.

Perhaps the most direct test for an activity’s sabbath appropriateness comes from Isaiah 58:13, which invites us to examine our motives against the Lord’s will.

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath 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:

Is the activity for your own pleasure, it is your own ways, or does it honor the Lord?  Isaiah 56:1-8 expands this, alternating between what we are expected to do on the sabbath, and the blessings which come from so doing:

1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

 

2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

 

3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

 

4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

 

5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

 

6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

 

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

 

8 The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

This is the best “do” and “do not” list for the sabbath I have seen.  Summarized:

Do:

• keep the sabbath (holy)
• choose things that please the Lord
• take hold of covenants with the Lord (“take hold” seems worthy of some pondering on a Sunday afternoon)
• join yourself to the Lord
• serve the Lord
• love the name of the Lord
• pray

Do not:

• pollute the sabbath
• do evil

In addition to all that, one might consider Exodus 31:12-17, which refers to keeping the sabbath as a sign and covenant, and ask what sign am I showing though this activity?  Please note that none of the above asks whether an activity is good or good for you.  That list is all about the Lord, our covenants with him, obedience to him, and the things which please him.  There are six other days wherein to engage in things which are good and good for us (as well as things which please the Lord).  But the criteria for the sabbath are more strict.

The Blessings

While it may not relate directly to your question, I would hate to write an article on the sabbath without mention of the amazing blessings associated with it.  Again, I turn to Isaiah.  First, from the verses quoted above, eternal blessings are promised to the obedient.  Whether a stranger (v3) – we might say a convert in our day – or one who cannot have children in this life (v4, eunuch), both are promised a place in the Lord’s house (temple) and a name better than of sons and daughters, even “an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off” (I leave it to the reader to ponder this).  Those who keep the sabbath are promised to be brought into the Lord’s “holy mountain” (temple), to be made joyful, and that their offerings and sacrifices will be accepted (none of us is perfect, but our efforts, our repentance, our broken hearts and contrite spirits are our offerings and sacrifices which the Lord promises to accept – if we keep his holy day).  Finally, the Lord promises to gather all who will come.

And those are just the promises from these eight verses!  There are even more to be found through studying the items linked above.  Those links will also impress upon you the seriousness of the sabbath through mention of the punishment for violation.  It boiled down to one thing: destruction.

Another Perspective

A few years back I read a book review on The Interpreter Foundation website.  The reviewer summarizes the author’s analogy of the meaning of the creation and sabbath day as follows:

Walton proposes that in spite of the obvious focus on creation, Genesis 1 is actually temple-centric and that the most important day to the Israelites was the seventh day, in which nothing is created. Deities rested in temples and only in temples; that God rested on the seventh day meant that he had entered the cosmic temple “constructed” in the previous six days, that God “is taking command, that he is mounting his throne to assume his rightful place and his proper role” (74). Stability, order, and life result. Walton here likens functional creation and the Sabbath to “getting a new computer and spending focused time setting it up (placing the equipment, connecting the wires, installing the software). After all of those tasks were done, you would disengage from the process, mostly so you could now engage in the new tasks of actually using the computer. That is what it had been set up for.” (75) He further offers a devotional aspect of this understanding of the Sabbath. God asks us on the Sabbath “to recognize that he is at the controls, not us. When we ‘rest’ on the Sabbath, we recognize him as the author of order and the one who brings rest (stability) to our lives and world. We take our hands off the control and acknowledge him as the one who is in control” (146).

In addition to other things, I began to ponder the idea that the other six days of the week are for us to prepare to use our mortality for its intended purpose – both to gain our own immortality and eternal life, and to help others do so.  And of course we do this not by doing the work mortality requires for survival, but by doing the work God has decreed to bring about that end.  We rest by giving up the control and decision making to God, by forgetting about the worries of mortality, and by following the Spirit’s guidance.  We use the other six days to get everything set up so we can do just that on the sabbath.

To relate this to your question, is the activity in question one necessitated by mortality, or one that will bring about the immortality and eternal life of man?  Is it one which the Spirit leads you to do?  Is it addressing the worries of mortality, or the goals of eternity?

A Recent Experience

I recently had a discussion with my bishop about a fourth-Sunday lesson he would be teaching on this topic of sabbath observance, and about related habits of youth.  Both he and I were raised in homes where one didn’t go outside the home on the sabbath.  We didn’t go outside to play.  We didn’t go over to friends’ homes.  Except for Sunday meetings, we stayed in and spent time together as a family.  He explained that it had been a challenge for him to learn to minister on the sabbath.  And yet, as we study the Savior’s life and what he did on the sabbath, we find him out ministering to others.  We both concluded that this was one habit of youth that needed to be broken, that the sabbath is a day to serve others.

Conclusion

If you will study the things I linked above, you will find far more than what I’ve covered here.  The importance, seriousness, blessings, and punishment associated with sabbath observance cannot be emphasized too strongly.  By study and application, our testimony and conversion to sabbath observance will change, and we will be blessed beyond measure, as promised in Isaiah 56.

Thank you, Charles, for giving me a chance to explore the process of evaluating whether an activity is appropriate for the sabbath day.  That the First Presidency felt sabbath observance was important enough to dedicate the fourth Sunday lesson to this topic for the first four months of 2018 tells me it is critical to our lives as disciples of Christ.  Writing this reply has reminded me to reevaluate my own choices frequently.  It is my prayer that each of us will take this opportunity and find ways to improve.

Gramps

Gramps,

The past four years I have struggled with attending all of my church meetings. I have always reasoned that the sacrament is the primary purpose of attending church and the other meetings are secondary in importance. The three-hour block seems like a waste of time especially when Sunday is the only day people have to spend time with their family. I also don’t enjoy attending church because I always find myself alone.  Why is attending all of our meetings a requirement to enter the temple?

Logan

Answer

Logan,

You are correct that sacrament meeting is the most important part of Sunday obligations.  Elder Dallin H Oaks, current counselor in the presidency, has said that, “The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.” (Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament) So you are right about that.

While it’s true, the Lord made Sunday as a day of rest, He also designated that day as a day to worship Him. Our primary obligation (even before family to some degree) is to worship and obey the word of God. Therefore, sacrament attendance is very important and that should be your priority. Just because it’s a priority and an obligation doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. In fact, President Uchtdorf, while speaking at a general conference, made a tongue in cheek comment about it. When an investigating couple asked how long church services were, a member replied “Three hours every Sunday!” They responded, “Oh my! Do members of your church actually do that?” The man said, “And we haven’t even mentioned family history, youth camps, devotionals, scripture study, leadership training, youth activities, early-morning seminary, maintaining Church buildings, and of course there is the Lord’s law of health, the monthly fast to help the poor, and tithing.” (Come, Join with Us) That story always makes me chuckle. It can at times seem that Sunday services are exhausting, but they are not a waste of time and it’s good to have a sense of humor about it.

The temple is a wonderful place. In fact, all of us should strive to have an active temple recommend and go to the temple frequently . The prophets and leaders of the church have told us the requirements to enter the temple, and they have included attending three hours of our meetings every Sunday in order to attend the temple. Therefore, there is no way of getting around it.  The prophets have placed great importance on attending all three hours of church. They have taught us that going to church is a demonstration of our commitment and love for the Savior and his sacrifice on our behalf. When we consider that we have 165 hrs a week to engage in our own pursuits, surely we can commit ourselves to 3 hrs in Sunday worship.

I want to tell you that I admire you. I know of many, many people who also struggle with church attendance but instead of attending church at all, even for sacrament meeting-they just don’t show up. That you are struggling with this issue but still do your best to show speaks highly of your character.  I also noticed that you said you are often alone in the ward. That, Logan, breaks my heart. It brought back many times in my life where I ate lunch in a cafeteria alone, or attended a business function alone. It can make an awkward situation worse because you feel very self conscious. That no one at church is reaching out to you or sitting near you deeply troubles me. Perhaps attending more often might enable you to create relationships in the church and then it would be easier to find people to sit closer to you.  I have found that taking the initiative to befriend others and sit next to them has helped brighten their day as well as my own. You may not be the only one desiring to have a friend at church, perhaps a proactive approach may change that. If you attend church and still find yourself to be viewed as an outsider-then speaking to your priesthood leaders and/or the bishop would be a wise choice.

Bonnie L. Oscarson gave a talk where she said:

Another area of focus for our service can be in our ward families. Occasionally our children would ask us the question, “Why do I have to go to Mutual? I just don’t get very much out of it.”

 

If I was having a good parenting moment, I would reply, “What makes you think you go to Mutual because of what you get out of it?”

 

My young friends, I can guarantee that there will always be someone at every Church meeting you attend who is lonely, who is going through challenges and needs a friend, or who feels like he or she doesn’t belong. You have something important to contribute to every meeting or activity, and the Lord desires for you to look around at your peers and then minister as He would.

 

Elder D. Todd Christofferson has taught, “A major reason the Lord has a church is to create a community of Saints that will sustain one another in the ‘strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.’” He goes on to say, “This religion is not concerned only with self; rather, we are all called to serve. We are the eyes, hands, head, feet, and other members of the body of Christ.”

 

It is true that we attend our weekly Church meetings to participate in ordinances, learn doctrine, and be inspired, but another very important reason for attending is that, as a ward family and as disciples of the Savior Jesus Christ, we watch out for one another, encourage one another, and find ways to serve and strengthen each other. We are not just receivers and takers of what is offered at church; we are needed to be givers and suppliers. Young women and young men, next time you are at Mutual, instead of picking up your phone to see what your friends are doing, stop, look around, and ask yourself, “Who needs me today?” You may be the key to reaching out and touching the life of a peer or to giving encouragement to a friend who is quietly struggling.

 

Ask your Heavenly Father to show you those around you who need your help and to inspire you on how to best serve them. Remember that the Savior most often ministered to one person at a time.

 

…

Pray for help in recognizing those in your ward families who need love and encouragement. Instead of attending church with the question of “What am I going to get out of this meeting?” ask, “Who needs me today? What do I have to contribute?”

I’m praying for you Logan.

Gramps

Gramps,

I have a question that I have wondered about for years. We have been asked to keep the Sabbath day holy. Not working if possible, and no activities that cause others to work. So why is it ok on general conference Sunday that caterers are hired and paid to feed the Prophet and authorities, and the church asks that the trax trains run longer so members can pay money to ride it. Isn’t all that kind of contradicting what we are told to do?

Holly

Answer

Dear Holly,

Perhaps the best way to answer your question is to consider alternatives.  Suppose that the Leaders did not pay for their meals, what then should they do?  Fast?  Or ask sisters to volunteer their time to prepare meals?  (That would be a major production and most likely a lot of sisters would end up missing out on Conference in order to make that happen)  Perhaps bring a brown bag lunch, as I assume they don’t have time to travel home between meetings.

If no one takes Trax to Conference, where would all those people park?  What about the attendants of parking lots?  Perhaps everyone could ride bicycles, heh heh.  Maybe they should all stay home and watch conference on TV?  By the way, I don’t believe the Leaders ask Trax to run the trains longer.  Much more likely is that Trax saw the need (and the potential to make more money) and chose to do this on their own.  I imagine they do the same for other events.  I know other cities do similar things for big events like sports or music concerts.  This is a normal and expected part of capitalism.

I’m not making light of your question.  I’m simply trying to illustrate that it is easier to resolve these issues by paying for meals and using Trax.  The Lord did not give us the Sabbath to make our lives unnecessarily difficult.  We have the Sabbath as a time to worship the Lord and to rest and be renewed for the coming week.  We should take care not to become as the Pharisees in setting rules and regulations around the Sabbath that the Lord did not intend.  We should also be careful not to look for “loop holes” that the Lord did not intend.  For example, working on the Sabbath so one can pay more tithing.  That is merely an excuse to make more money.  The Leaders having a meal between Conference, or people using Trax are needful things so that we can enjoy worshiping Heavenly Father through listening to our Leaders at General Conference.

Gramps

Gramps,

Our granddaughter’s birthday is on the same Sunday as the upcoming General Conference.  I am uncomfortable for a few reasons in going to the party.

• It is on the Sabbath Day
• It is General Conference
• The party is at an amusement environment

My husband does not want to cause any problems in the family by not going. I am struggling on what to do. I know in my heart that Our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ comes first. I would like to hear your point of view giving up the Sabbath.

Louann

Answer

Louann,

The commandment from the Lord in this matter is to keep the Sabbath day holy. Generally speaking it can be very hard for us to do this. To help us we sometimes come up with lists of ‘things’ that we should or should not do. We hope that if we do everything on the to-do list and avoid everything on the don’t-do list we have kept the Sabbath day holy. It is a good start, but keeping the Sabbath day holy is much more then just checking off a list.

In Christ’s lifetime, He was accused of dining with publicans and sinners. This accusation came about, because the Hebrews had put so many other restrictions around the commandments so that they could have their ‘lists’ and claim to be ‘holy.’ But Christ was the real thing. He was holy. And He was about his Father’s business among those who needed it most, thus those ‘lists’ did not matter in the least.

I can’t give you an answer because it entirely depends on you. Keeping peace among the family is also extremely important as well. Can you keep focused on keeping the Sabbath day holy while you are within an amusement environment for your granddaughter’s birthday? Only you can answer that question. I would encourage you to pray and ask God if his purposes would be better served by your attendance or your absence from the party.

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

We moved to the UK, and my daughters have been training for a dance program for 3 months and we have just learned the program will be on a Sunday. Turns out virtually all sporting games, swim meets, competitions in general are held on Sunday. Do we ask them to train hard only to tell them that they can train but never compete or perform? Or do we just tell them too bad kids you cannot take part in sports or dance? How can we tell them to develop the gift the Lord has blessed them with when due to the area we live in they cannot use them unless they do so after church?

Concerned

Answer

Dear Concerned,

I knew two young boys in the Primary who took their Sabbath worship seriously. They also took baseball seriously. They played on different teams, both of which made it to the championship that year. Unfortunately, the game was scheduled for a Sunday. As much as they loved the sport, both boys independently chose not to play. As the date approached, the league opted to move the game to the following Saturday instead (that did nothing to diminish the trash talk between them).

Like many aspects of the Law of Holiness, the Sabbath sets us apart from the world (sadly, even from much of the believing world). We are fighting a worldly culture when we stand for our principles. Sometimes, as in the case of these two boys, we get to enjoy the best of both, but more often than not, we are forced to prioritize and show our allegiance. The Sabbath is a day set aside for us to worship God and ponder on the great works He has done for us. As we do so, the Sabbath will become a delight for us (Isaiah 58:13-14). Remember that as you consider some of the following:

What is the Sabbath culture in your house? Is it a day of recreation or a time for worship? If your girls are to refrain from recreation outside the house, you might need to recruit them to help you set the right spirit inside your house. The way you live now has set the framework for this discussion.

What value are they getting?

What is the value they get from dancing? Is it something they do for fun or exercise or are they participating for the competitions? I’ve taken some dance courses in the past, and while I did participate in a competition, I would have been just fine without it because that wasn’t my focus.

How old are your girls? Are they mature enough to start making their own decision on this? Are you willing to live with whatever decision they make even if it’s one you disapprove of? For instance, if you have a house rule that sports are beyond the pale on the Sabbath but they choose to compete anyway, they may just have to find their own rides. Or if you really want them to get the experience of competing (and get your money’s worth out of the program) but they stay home instead, be prepared to delight in the Sabbath with them (and maybe look for a similar program without the competitions).

What about the future?

What do you want your daughters to do when they’re faced with a similar decision in 10 or 15 years? What makes the dance competition important enough to participate on the Lord’s day? Does that also apply to studying? What about dates or socials? The choices you all make now lays the foundation for their worship for years to come.

My intent is not to get you thinking legalistically about the Sabbath, but to recognize that this specific issue on your mind is part of a larger landscape. By all means counsel with your daughters on this. I encourage you to remember that ultimately, the Sabbath is the Lord’s day. In my family, when it’s my birthday or Father’s day I get to choose the activities for that day. When it’s the Lord’s day, we should grant Him that same privilege. Pray for guidance and include Him in your counsels. Proper observance of this day will cause you to “ride upon the high places of the earth” because your home will become a high and holy place.

Gramps

Edson

__________________

Dear Edson,

(vol. 2, 20.4.2):

“Sacrament tablecloths should be white, nontransparent, clean, and pressed. Sacrament trays should be kept clean.”

Strictly speaking, the cloth is not absolutely required as we’re instructed in the Articles and Covenants of the Church (D&C 20). If you are ever asked by your bishop to take the sacrament to a shut in, you will find that the tablecloth, trays, and cups are superfluous. You simply need to break the bread, kneel as you say the prayers, and substitute “water” for the word “wine” in the second prayer.

I appreciate that our leaders have included this standard of white tablecloths for the sacrament. As I look at the table where the young priests bless the sacrament, the white cloth draped over the emblems of the Lord’s Supper remind me of the linens draped over His body, broken for my sake.

-Gramps

Gramps,

My bishop recently said he’d like me to wear shoes during church because it’s respectful, but he won’t try to make me. I won’t fight with the church, so if that’s his wish, I’ll comply. But I’ve read in the scriptures about shoes not being respectful and that not wearing them can also be a sign of humility. In Matthew 10:10, in Christ’s instruction to the apostles to preach, he mentions that they’re not to bring shoes. And Exodus 3:5 and Joshua 5:15 state that shoes shouldn’t be worn on holy ground. So why would my bishop see it as respectful to wear shoes when, not only are they unhealthy, but the Lord also says not to wear them on holy ground? What do you think? Also, can a person go on a mission barefoot? Or at least with barefoot sandals?

Thanks!

Barefoot Girl

Answer

Barefoot Girl,

Well, my young friend, I hope after my response to your question you will still love my answers and continue reading them. I recognize you have a heart desiring and seeking to keep God’s commandments, and this is a wonderful attribute. In scripture, we do find evidence of God asking people to remove their shoes from off their feet — Moses is a good example. However, in scripture we also receive no evidence that the Lord commanded Moses to keep his shoes off. I would assume Moses probably put his shoes back on before he traveled back to Egypt.

I also recognize, the current philosophy presented by different organizations speaking out against shoes and how they are unhealthy. I, personally, find shoes to be very comfortable when I walk and run. However, I have also worn shoes which were not comfortable and unhealthy creating severe pain in my ankles.

In light of these thoughts, please take a moment to ponder this thought; I don’t believe, think, we can separate the wearing of shoes from our current culture. Let me explain, the Church exists within a culture. There was a time when a professional man wore a hat. During that time, hats were a part of the uniform for missionaries. That culture has changed, and so if we want our missionaries to look professional, we must change the uniform as well. In today’s (Western) culture, shod feet are a sign of presentability and respect. When I was a child, I would run around the house barefoot. But when company came over, I was instructed to put on shoes to be presentable. It is no different than combing your hair to present yourself as someone who values and respects, not just the particular guests, but also yourself.

With these thoughts in mind, I wouldn’t recommend the desire to not wear shoes while on a mission. At Church, wear your shoes while you are walking around church halls and between classes. When you are attending class, sitting down, feel free to remove the shoes from off your feet (if you want), and then place them back on your feet when you need to walk the halls of the building. I don’t see anything wrong with this idea.

Gramps

Clinton

_____________

Dear Clinton,

I have on occasion, had more then one purpose in mind while fasting. Life doesn’t always come at you in a nice orderly manner that allows you to focus on just one thing at a time. That being said I think we should try to have just one if we can. But I say this due to human limits on being able to focus and ponder, not due to any divine limits or requirements.

Gramps

Steven

________________

Steven,

If by telestial state you mean spiritual, then yes. The earth was created spiritually before it was created temporally, just as everything else-

“For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth…” Moses 3:5

Reading just the account in Abraham which you’ve referenced, the order in which things were done can be a mite confusing. It speaks of the Gods conversing or discussing the creation and how they will order it before they actually do so. If, for example, you read Abraham 5:4 you will see an end to the discussion and a beginning of action. This is right before your reference concerning the lack of rain. Let’s read both verses together-

“And the Gods came down and formed these the generations of the heavens and of the earth, when they were formed in the day that the Gods formed the earth and the heavens.

According to all that which they had said concerning every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew; for the Gods had not caused it to rain upon the earth when they counseled to do them, and had not formed a man to till the ground.” Abraham 5:4-5

Read together, it seems the flora and fauna of the earth had not yet been created temporally. The account in Moses further clarifies this. Let’s read the entireity of Moses 3:5-

“And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew. For I, the Lord God, created all things, of which I have spoken, spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth. For I, the Lord God, had not caused it to rain upon the face of the earth. And I, the Lord God, had created all the children of men; and not yet a man to till the ground; for in heaven created I them; and there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in the water, neither in the air;”

The lack of rain could not, in any way, be related to an extinction if there was not yet any temporal life on the earth. In both Abraham and Moses, the following verse describes a mist which moistened the land, instead of rain. This correlates nicely with the warm climate that would have been necessary for prehistoric life and could also be connected to the creation of the atmosphere. More likely is that the extinction of prehistoric life was caused at the time of the Fall.

Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden for an indefinite amount of time, and for that time they were in the presence of God which suggests the earth remained near Kolob. It is quite possible that the process of creation was continuing around them and was not really completed until they were cast out of Eden and the presence of their Father. Such would signify the earth being thrust into its terrestrial state with the expansion of the universe and coming to rest in our solar system after colliding with extra-terrestrial materials that would have created the moon and thus divided the night and day.

This would have altered the state of the waters and may have been when water began cycling between earth and atmosphere, allowing there to be rain. The account in Moses further suggests that the temporal creation of our current flora and fauna happened after the temporal creation of Adam and that the accounting of each “day” of creation may have only been related to the spiritual creation-

“And out of the ground I, the Lord God, formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and commanded that they should come unto Adam, to see what he would call them; and they were also living souls; for I, God, breathed into them the breath of life, and commanded that whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that should be the name thereof.” Moses 3:19

Of course, this is all just one possible explanation of the very complex accountings of the creation. We will likely reach the closest understanding we can of the creation through a careful study and comparison of all accounts- in Genesis, Moses, and Abraham- in combination with a careful study of the natural sciences. Any explanation we can devise, however, will merely be speculation and we will only be certain of the methods and order God used in the creation when such is clearly revealed and explained to us by Him.

Gramps