Lesson
16 D&C 59
How do you feel when you enter the temple? Read D&C 109:13. What makes it different from other
places? In Genesis 2:1-3, the Lord instituted
the Sabbath. What makes it different from
other days? This lesson will help us
remember what a privilege it is to have the Sabbath day.
The Lord himself established the pattern for the Sabbath
during the Creation when He labored six days and rested on the seventh. Since the earliest times, He has commanded
His people to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy.
In Exodus 20:8-11 and 31:13-17, the Lord gave the
commandment repeated many times throughout the scriptures. Again in this dispensation, the Lord, through
the Prophet Joseph Smith, has reemphasized the need for faithful saints to
attend Church meetings, partake of the sacrament, and rest from their worldly
labors. D&C 59:9-13.
D&C 59:9 requires “Thou shalt go to the house of
prayer…upon my holy day”. Attending
Church meetings is both an obligation and a privilege. President Gordon B.
Hinckley said: “…every sacrament meeting ought to be a spiritual feast” and a
time of spiritual refreshment”. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 563, 564) Making our attendance spiritually enriching
requires coming with an attitude of worship, being punctual, showing reverence,
studying lesson material in advance and being prepared to actively participate
in discussion, by listening carefully, seeking to strengthen others, and not
criticizing speakers or teachers (especially Gospel Doctrine Sunday
School teachers).
President Spencer W. Kimball 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.” (Ensign, Jan 1978, 4-5)
Elder Boyd K. Packer has 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.” (Ensign, Nov 1991,
22) Sacred music adds a great
spiritual influence to our meetings.
Elder Boyd K. Packer said that we should be reverent in the
chapel so that 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 the occasional outburst from a toddler being
ushered out.” (Ensign, Nov 1991, 22)
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin 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” (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 77)
D&C 59:10 revealed that we should “rest from [our]
labors”. Resting from our labors shows
that we place the Lord first, above other concerns and desires on that day.
Resting from labors includes
avoiding such activities as buying and selling, attending amusements and
sporting events, and other such worldly diversions that draw our attention away
from the intended purposes of the Lord’s day. In addition, we should avoid
mental and emotional “labors” which sap our energy and drain our spirits. There is time enough on other days to worry
and bear a load of heavy cares. The
Sabbath should be a day of renewal on all fronts.
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 want so much 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 recipients of the whisperings of the Spirit.” (Ensign, Nov 1998,
9)
While resting from our labors is appropriate, that in no way means that we should be idle. Instead, we should follow that Savior’s example and do well on the Sabbath. 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 must 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)
To decide what is appropriate for Sunday activities, consider the following criteria:
§ Does the activity honor God? Is it spiritually uplifting? Does it nurture faith? Does it strengthen the family? Does it help or bless others? Is it different (and better) than the daily activities in which we engage?
Family-centered activities can strengthen the family on the
Sabbath. President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Let the Latter-day Saints be in their homes,
teaching their families, reading their scriptures, doing things that are
wholesome and beautiful and communing with the Lord on the Sabbath day” (Ensign, July 1996,
73). President Hinckley further
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, 559-560).
The First Presidency gave counsel on the Sabbath when the
3-hour block meeting schedule was announced in 1980. “A greater
responsibility will be placed on the individual members and families for
properly observing the Sabbath day.
More time will be available for personal study of the scriptures and
family-centered gospel study…. It is expected that this new schedule of meetings
and activities will result in greater spiritual growth for members of the
Church.” (Church News, 2 Feb. 1980, 3)
D&C 59:9, 13, and 15-17
enumerate the blessings the Lord promises to those who keep the Sabbath holy
and do not defile it.
D&C 59:9 mentions that we need
to stay “unspotted from the world”. We
may do that through practicing repentance, renewing our baptismal covenants,
and directing our thoughts to spiritual concerns and items of eternal
significance instead of material and temporal subjects.
D&C 59:13 reminds us that we
may receive a fullness of joy from Sabbath observance. Ideally, the rest and rededication of the
Sabbath will help us feel physically, mentally, and emotionally renewed before
the beginning of our typical workweek. If we fully observe the Sabbath, we
often feel—and are—more productive on the six workdays.
D&C 59:16-17 contains the
Lord’s promise that proper Sabbath observance brings “the fullness of the earth” and “the
good things…of the earth” to us (Isaiah).
In class, suggest what you think this may mean to
us.
D&C 59:14 reminds us that the
Sabbath was meant to be a day of “rejoicing”, yet many regard it as a day of
limitations and regulations, restricting freedom. One way to make the Sabbath a delight is to concentrate on that
which we can
do rather than that which we should not do. A
positive, grateful attitude and seeking positive opportunities overcomes the
limitations if we let it.
Although there are times when employers require Sunday work,
Latter-day Saints should make conscious decisions to select careers that do not
require constant Sunday work. As we
counsel with employers, we should request that our desires to keep the Sabbath
holy are considered in work scheduling.
We should also assure that if we are able to attend meetings and partake
of the sacrament in a different ward before or after our Sunday work hours, we
take that opportunity so that there is as little negative effect on us as possible. If it is not possible to attend Church
meetings, then we should at least devote our free Sunday time to study of the
scriptures and appropriate Sabbath activities for ourselves or with our family.
Strengthen your desire to keep the Sabbath day holy. It will
bless your life in many ways.
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