Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy (delivered 12 Aug 2012)

Of the Ten Commandments, eight are prohibitive: that is, they provide instruction on things that we are not to do. I find it interesting that, in many cases, our reputation as Latter-day Saints is defined by others in terms of perceived prohibitions. For example, you may have had the experience where, upon learning of your faith, someone has responded, “Oh, you’re the ones who don’t drink coffee.” You may have also been defined as someone who doesn’t drink tea, alcohol, who doesn’t smoke, who doesn’t get to spend all the money you earn, who doesn’t swear, make crude jokes, or wear revealing clothing. In fact, it is often more easy to define things by what they are not than what they are; perhaps we sometimes fall into that trap, and focus on what we don’t do.

The other two of the Ten Commandments are provocative: they promote specific types of activity on our part. Elder Neal A Maxwell indicated that the “thou shalt not” commandments are essentially about avoiding misery, whereas those commandments which invite us to do things are the key to true and lasting happiness[1]. We cannot be saved in indolence any more than we can in ignorance[2]. While some of my remarks today will speak about things we should not do, I pray that the Spirit will operate between us all and prompt us to know of and commit to more of the things we should do[3]. Today we speak about the Sabbath.

A Day of Rest

The Lord spake thus to Moses:

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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.[4]

Of course, the Sabbath was instituted before the time of Moses; in the creation of the world, we read that God rested on the seventh day, and sanctified it[5]. Indeed, the word “Sabbath” comes from a Hebrew word that simply means “he rested”[6]. The Sabbath is indeed meant for a day of rest, but what do we mean by “rest”?

We get only a partial clue of God’s intended meaning by looking at the “thou shalt nots” of the Sabbath. The following is a direct quote of things to avoid on the Sabbath, as found in “For the Strength of Youth”:

Sunday is not a day for shopping, recreation, or athletic events. Do not seek entertainment or make purchases on this day… Whenever possible, choose a job that does not require you to work on Sundays.[7]

Interestingly, some people would consider certain types of shopping to be a form of rest. Similarly, playing video games, watching movies, attending lifestyle shows, or watching your favourite sport on television could be considered types of rest. In light of the clear prohibition of all of those things in the previous quote, it is clear that the rest we are to seek on the Sabbath refers to something quite different. Another quote further highlights what the Lord does not mean by rest. President 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.[8]

In other words, the Sabbath is a day for us to enter into the rest of the Lord[9]; if we do not rest in the Lord’s way, then our Sabbath will merely be a Sunday like the rest of the world. The prophet Alma gave his son vital counsel regarding the rest that the Lord would have us seek, instructing him to ‘[teach] them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls’[10]. A seeming paradox: to obtain the Lord’s rest requires work.  Nevertheless, we can confidently trust Him at his word: ‘I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise’[11]. Furthermore:

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.[12]

To understand how to claim or reclaim the Sabbath as a day of rest, it is necessary to think of rest not so much as the requirement for the blessing, but actually the blessing itself. The law requires active obedience, not idle abstinence. Thus we can understand the words we heard in a recent visit by a member of the Area Presidency – that the Sabbath had consistently been one of the busiest days of his week throughout his life. Indeed, keeping the Sabbath day holy requires activity that clearly and unequivocally shows that we stand in holy places and will not be moved[13], rather than attempting to stand with one foot in Zion and the other in Babylon[14]. Elder Neal A Maxwell characterised the need for our position thus: ‘Let us once and for all establish our residence in Zion and give up the summer cottage in Babylon’[15].

Paul taught us:

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.[16]

Note that we cease from our own works, directly emulating God’s own rest, but that we will continue to labour. This labour is not a punishment, for the Saviour taught:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.[17]

Thus, entering into the rest of the Lord, during mortality, is defined as:

…entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else; we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive… [It is] rest from the religious turmoil of the world.[18]

Thus the Lord’s rest requires faith, and faith is a principle of action. We know so little of Enoch, but we know that he did many mighty things and had the gift of exceeding faith. Significantly we read:

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.[19]

A Sweet Savour

President Kimball said:

To many, Sabbath breaking is a matter of little moment, but to our Heavenly Father it is one of the principal commandments. It is a test to ‘see if we will do all things’ commanded…[20]

More than any other day, the Sabbath is the day that we evidence to our God that we are His[21], and that we love Him with all our heart, might, mind and strength[22]. Such an attitude will set us apart from the rest of the world, who will instead worship the false and temporary gods of money, power, and carnality[23]. Thus Sabbath observance is proof positive of a peculiar people; by peculiar, we refer to the original meaning as private property[24], rather than just strange. And we are his:

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. For he that is called in the Lord, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men… let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.[25]

As we choose to keep the Sabbath day holy, we will bless the very world that we have come out of:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its [savour] wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.[26]

Salt enhances flavour, and it also preserves. In situations such as Sodom and Ammonihah, we see what happens to a people when the preserving power of righteous citizens is removed: swift and terrible destruction. And nothing brings more sweetness to the life of an individual than the peace and joy that comes from finding, accepting and living the gospel. Our lives lift and protect those around us, so long as we are fit to be the salt of the earth. However, we cannot be the salt of the world if we are the same as the world. Faithfully keeping the Sabbath is a key way to retain our savour:

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; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;[27]

Some have perhaps not understood the vitality of the Sabbath observance, particularly here including meeting with the saints in the Lord’s house of prayer – such as this chapel – and there partaking of the sacrament. President Kimball taught:

A man of my acquaintance remained home each Sabbath and justified himself by saying that he could benefit more by reading a good book at home than by attending the sacrament meeting and listening to a poor sermon. But the home, sacred as it should be, is not the house of prayer. In it no sacrament is administered; in it is not found the fellowship with members, nor the confession of sins to the brethren. The mountains may be termed the temples of God and the forests and streams his handiwork, but only in the meetinghouse, or house of prayer, can be fulfilled all the requirements of the Lord. And so he has impressed upon us that: ‘It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus.’

Thus, to keep the Sabbath day holy, we need to come to the chapel and partake of the sacrament. No ordinance more sacred and important than the sacrament can be found outside the temple. In it can be found the hallmark of true worship. Noteworthy is the meaning of worship: activity worthy of a particular focus[28]. Our worship of God, therefore, requires activities worthy of our focus and love for Him.

To truly worship God, we cannot partake the emblems of the price paid for us carelessly, thoughtlessly, or irreverently. Our eyes must be single to His glory[29]. We must be prepared. Of this, we read:

In preparation for the sacrament each week, Church members take time to examine their lives and repent of sins. They do not need to be perfect in order to partake of the sacrament, but they should have a spirit of humility and repentance in their hearts. Every week they strive to prepare for that sacred ordinance with a broken heart and a contrite spirit.[30]

Elder Groberg once shared a vision of what would come to a people prepared to partake of the Sacrament:

Think of it. Think of what could and should happen in your life, in your ward, in your stake, in the whole Church, in the whole world, if every Sunday individuals—hundreds, thousands, even millions—under the authority of the priesthood of God, took the sacrament worthily and thus repented and sincerely determined to better follow the guidance of the Lord’s Spirit. The life that would be given, the forgiveness that would be obtained, the spiritual strength that would be received! The light that would thus be generated would cause Zion to shine forth brilliantly and would prepare a people pure in heart, ready for the Lord’s second coming in a way that would be [marvellous] to behold.[31]

The impact for each and every one of us is eternally significant. The laying down of the carnal man and the renewal of the spiritual man in each of us, this is the intended central part of the Sabbath.

The Zoramites of the Book of Mormon present us with a warning, though. This apostate people had corrupted the doctrines of the Gospel, and gathered each week at the same time to pray. That prayer was uttered by each person in the same way, in a fashion that denied Christ, and that presupposed election for themselves only, and damnation for all others. Following this abomination of worship, the record states that, ‘they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again’[32]. Such worship was nothing more than a congratulatory pat on the back from a high place for however they wanted to live their lives – which lives were focused on carnal things. Paul once stated that, ‘If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable’[33]. Let me add that if in this three-hour block only we think of Christ, we fall far short of the joy he holds in store for us. Incidentally, faithfully attending those parts of the three-hour block after the Sacrament meeting are also part of keeping the Sabbath day holy. Think of it as a sustaining vote of confidence in the Lord, who revealed this structure to our modern prophets for each of our sakes. But both before and after church, we will find time to be redeemed, or used wisely according to the boundaries that the Lord has set. The whole day is the Lord’s:

Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; 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. 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.[34]

So, what kind of activities should we participate in on the Sabbath? Other than attending sacrament meeting and partaking of the sacrament:

Sabbath-day activities may include praying, meditating, studying the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets, writing letters to family members and friends, reading wholesome material, visiting the sick and distressed, and attending other Church meetings.[35]

You will note that the list of things to do provides only broad brush strokes on the canvas of our choices, leaving the fine detail work up to each individual in communion with the Lord. For some of us, keeping the Sabbath seems so very different to what has gone before. The suggestion for how to eat a dinosaur is to do it one bite at a time. Make changes as you are able, with wisdom and order, but with full confidence of the Lord’s aid and blessings:

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.[36]

In ancient times, the making of sacrifices under Mosaic Law were intended for a sweet savour unto the Lord. Our sacrifices made on the sabbath are just as real and, when made with real intent, are similarly savoured by the Lord. Indeed, as we give up our Sundays of recreation, we will discover the truth of the promised blessings during Sabbaths of re-creation, even until His image is in our countenance[37], and we shall see Him as He is, for we shall be like him[38]. Consider now the great blessings associated with the keeping of the Sabbath:

And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance— Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth; Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards; Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart; Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.[39]

Brothers and Sisters, it makes no sense for us to expect God to give us all that he has if we are unwilling to sacrifice all that we have. As we desire treasures in heaven, let us treasure now heavenly things, and keep the Sabbath day a truly holy day. I bear you my testimony that, as you do so, He will indeed bless you with His rest.

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[1] Neal A. Maxwell, “The Pathway of Discipleship”, < http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=2618>.

[2] 2 Nephi 9:27; D&C 131:6.

[3] D&C 50:22; 2 Nephi 2:16; Moroni 7:13.

[4] Exodus 20:8-11.

[5] Genesis 2:2-3.

[6] “Sabbath”, Online Etymological Dictionary, < http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=sabbath>

[7] “Sabbath Day Observance”, For the Strength of Youth, < https://www.lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/sabbath-day-observance?lang=eng>.

[8] Spencer W Kimball, cited by James E Faust, “The Lord’s Day”, Ensign Nov. 1991, <http://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/11/the-lords-day?lang=eng>.

[9] Not only on the Sabbath, of course, but Sabbath keeping is a key part. See Matt 11:28-29; Alma 13:12-16.

[10] Alma 37:34.

[11] D&C 82:10.

[12] D&C 130:20-21.

[13] D&C 45:32.

[14] See 1 Nephi 15:26-36, where Nephi interprets parts of his father’s dream and explains the gulf that separates wicked and righteous in both a temporal and eternal sense. This highlights the impossibility of attempting to serve God and Mammon (Matt 6:24).

[15] Neal A. Maxwell, A Wonderful Flood of Light [1990], 47.

[16] Hebrew 4:9-11.

[17] Matthew 11:28-30.

[18] Gospel Doctrine, 5^th ed., pp58, 125-126.

[19] Hebrews 11:5.

[20] Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 217–18

[21] 1 Cor 6:20.

[22] D&C 59:5.

[23] Moses 5:13

[24] “Peculiar”, Online Etymology Dictionary, <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=peculiar>.

[25] 1 Cor 7:20, 22-24.

[26] 3 Nephi 12:13.

[27] D&C 59:9-10.

[28] “Worship”, Online Etymology Dictionary, <http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=worship>.

[29] D&C 4:5.

[30] “Sacrament”, Gospel Topics, <http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=ca18f73c28d98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD>.

[31] John H Groberg, “The Beauty and Importance of the Sacrament”, Ensign, Apr 1989.

[32] Alma 31:23.

[33] 1 Cor 15:19

[34] D&C 59:11-13.

[35] “Sabbath”, lds.org, <http://www.lds.org/topics/sabbath?lang=eng>.

[36] 1 Nephi 3:7.

[37] Alma 5:14.

[38] Moroni 7:48.

[39] D&C 59:15-19.