Work on Sundays?

[yenni]

I have gone more than a year without a job in hopes of finding one that doesn't require me to work on Sundays, which are few and far in between. I believe in keeping the Sabbath Day holy and strive my best to do so. Now I'm just a college student, I don't have a family to take care of that sort of thing, and in the past I was living off financial aide and odd jobs. It has gotten to the point where I really do need to start working so I'm wondering, does me giving into a job that requires me to work most, if not every Sunday demonstrate a lack of faith on my part, when goodness know I feel I have tried everything else I can think of not to go that route? And I certainly don't want to. I have callings to uphold and partaking of the Sacrament is important to me. At what point should I compromise my beliefs to pay my bills?

[Mahone]

Bear in mind it is also a belief of the church to be self reliant. This includes having a job which gives you the money you need in order for your family and yourself to live. And it has also been said that the presidency of the church fully understand the need for some people, depending on their career choice, to work on Sundays. It is never going to be possible for no-one to work on a Sunday - even some church employees work on Sundays.

What you do is up to you, but I personally would suggest a job is more important for now. Once you have a job, then you can start looking for one that meets your requirements more (i.e. not working on a sunday).

[rampion]

What type of job are you hoping to get? As in, what would you consider doing? In my field, I've had to accept that there is work that has to be done no matter what day it is. And I have never felt that it compromised my beliefs when I had to do essential work on Sundays. I worked at residential care facilities of various kinds. It's Sunday there too. And I figured that if only the people who don't have religious values are willing to work on Sunday, then the atmosphere for the people receiving care on that day won't be a reverent, sabbath-like atmosphere. When I worked on Sunday, often there was a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere and I was still able to keep the sabath. And also help to influence others positively.

I'm not saying to give up your values and responsibilities, and I did have a hard time with jobs that expected me to work every Sunday. When I could, I arranged to switch off with someone, because going to church is important to me. And I wasn't willing to work at places that didn't need the work done on Sundays and wouldn't respect employees wishes to keep the sabath. But maybe you can expand your options just a bit and find a job that will work for you.

[prospectmom]

My Bishop told me just do the best you can so if you have to work on Sundays it will work out in the end.

[dazed-and-confused]

Does the job require you to miss every sacrement meeting? Mine did for a while, but i was able to finagle...lol....every other sunday off. I am just a kitchen manager working in a homeless shelter feeding the homeless and I dont see ANY conflict with what i'm doing going against scripture. In my opinion, you need to survive, eat, pay bills, etc....it's not like you're monet-changing on the temple steps, or anything.

And i do understand your concerns becuse i've had them myself.

You need to decide for yourself and that can sometimes be a hard thing to do.

HF will be with you, i think.

[yenni]

What type of job are you hoping to get? As in, what would you consider doing?

I haven't settled into a field yet, so really any food or retail will do. Although when I am done with school I hope to do art therapy.

I guess the main reason I'm struggling with it is because I recently started coming back to church, just got a calling all that. And the last time I had a job they did not respect my need to have at least some Sundays off, which added to my inactiveness.

[HEthePrimate]

Yenni,

At the risk of bolts of lightning raining down on me from heaven, or at least reprimands from "more faithful" members of this board, I'd say that unless the Church will guarantee they'll take care of you should you run out of money, go ahead and work on Sunday, if it's necessary. Myself, I try to avoid working on Sunday if at all possible, but if I need to, I will. I know from experience that while the Church might sporadically help a person in need, you cannot really count on them to be there for you when you're down and out. So, do what you need to support yourself, even if it means working on Sundays. (Ok, now I expect people to be hurling rocks at me for being so "unfaithful.!" But mark my words, the more you can support yourself, the more "faithful" Church leaders will think you are.) Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Peace,

HEP

[Guest JoshDwellington]

yenni, sometimes you can't do anything 'bout it

My former bishop worked at the temple (switzerland) and he had to work on sundays sometimes. He told me it's alright to work on sundays, as long as you DO NOT purposedly volunteer to work that day to make extra profit !

If your job requires you to, missing every other sunday is OK . . .

really, some people HAVE TO, I don't think it would demonstrate a lack of faith at all;)