Question
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
