Working on Sundays

[Backroads]

This advice is on behalf of Husband...

Husband just recently graduated from college. However, he is in the army reserves and has a huge training coming up sometime in the next year, one that will be about five months. We have decided that there is little point in him applying for a career in his field only to ditch out for so long, so he has gone full-time at his security guard job.

Well, yesterday he found out that the schedule they gave him includes weekends. While he figures this job will be a year long, tops, he's a little upset about missing Church. He figures he can get someone to cover for him every now and then, but he's already told Bishop he might as well release him from his calling.

We are keeping our eyes out for other job positions, but until then, any advice on keeping him happier? And for me... I'm afraid about being lonely at church now.

[applepansy]

Study together at home either before he goes to work or after he gets home. Keep the Sabbath in every other way possible. Listen to gospel music whenever possible (if possible headphones at work?). Also, listening to talks/books on CD can be helpful. Some are read by the author, such as, Pres. Eyring's book "Because He First Loved Us" (There are many many more). If he can't listen at work, on the way to and from in the car.

To keep from being lonely at church reach out to others who might be sitting alone too. You will likely make some really good friends by doing this.

[Finrock]

Good afternoon Backroads! I hope you are doing well today. :)

Another option to consider is to not take the job. Of course I don't know your circumstances so I don't know if this is possible. However, reason tells me that there has got to be other jobs your husband can take for a year that is more flexible with working on Sundays.

In my experience I have always been able to turn down a job that requires me to work Sundays because I have always been able to find a job that provides similar benefits and pay to the job I turned down except that it doesn't require Sunday work or it doesn't require Sunday work on a regular basis. These experiences have shown me that at least in my life God will provide a way for me to keep the sabbath day free so that I can attend church and keep his commandment to keep the sabbath holy and to perform God's work on Sundays. Because God has done these things for me, I assume that he is capable and willing do these things for others.

Regards,

Finrock

[Guest]

Because God has done these things for me, I assume that he is capable and willing do these things for others.

Or not.

I'd hate to think that those who are stuck working Sundays because there is just not any jobs out there today are in that position because God is not willing to pave the way for them or that they were just not faithful enough.

[Backroads]

We are looking out for other jobs, but we live in a college town where jobs are hard to come by. We shall see how it goes.

[classylady]

With my last job, my seniority was such that I very seldom had Sundays off. If I had an evening shift I could still make it to church, and with some shifts that I had I could visit a ward that had an earlier schedule. Sometimes, I just couldn't work another ward's meetings into my schedule. I traded shifts as much as I could, but it was hard to find people willing to trade. They wanted Sunday off too.

I made sure I kept reading my scriptures and saying my prayers on a daily basis. I would bring the Ensign into work and read it on my breaks or lunch. I'm thinking I probably could have brought the Relief Society manual in and studied the lesson for the day too. I let the RS President and Bishop know that I wasn't inactive. I just had a job that required me to work Sundays. I accepted church assignments that didn't involve Sundays. I kept up with my Visiting Teaching, etc.

I'm very grateful to my husband who managed to get the kids and himself to church without me. This was a job that lasted about 10 years. Fortunately, there were some shifts in that time period where I didn't have to work Sundays, or it was late enough in the day, where I could still attend church and then go on into work.

[Finrock]

Hi anatess! I hope you are doing well. :)

Or not.

I'd hate to think that those who are stuck working Sundays because there is just not any jobs out there today are in that position because God is not willing to pave the way for them or that they were just not faithful enough.

I'm not sure I understand the meaning of your post. I do want to clarify something about your post in case you or others thought that what you wrote reflected my experiences, feelings, and/or thoughts. Based upon the content of your post, your post does not reflect my experiences, feelings, or thoughts.

Regards,

Finrock

[Mahone]

Good afternoon Backroads! I hope you are doing well today. :)

Another option to consider is to not take the job. Of course I don't know your circumstances so I don't know if this is possible. However, reason tells me that there has got to be other jobs your husband can take for a year that is more flexible with working on Sundays.

In my experience I have always been able to turn down a job that requires me to work Sundays because I have always been able to find a job that provides similar benefits and pay to the job I turned down except that it doesn't require Sunday work or it doesn't require Sunday work on a regular basis. These experiences have shown me that at least in my life God will provide a way for me to keep the sabbath day free so that I can attend church and keep his commandment to keep the sabbath holy and to perform God's work on Sundays. Because God has done these things for me, I assume that he is capable and willing do these things for others.

Regards,

Finrock

Although by doing this, it likely means that someone else will have to take the position and work Sundays. I don't see that someone else having to leave their family on a Sunday is any better than me missing church.

The way I determine whether working on Sundays is appropriate or not mostly depends on the service I'd be providing. E.g. working in a convenience store would not be necessary, as I'm sure that's a service that we could all go without for one day of the week - to have it 7 days a week is a luxury and in this case, I'd probably turn down the job. A security guard however is usually a necessity - we'd be in a bit of a mess if all security guards left their posts because it was Sunday.

[Finrock]

Although by doing this, it likely means that someone else will have to take the position and work Sundays. I don't see that someone else having to leave their family on a Sunday is any better than me missing church.

One difference is that I know better than most people that I ought not to work on Sundays if I can help it at all. Another difference is that I've taken covenants to keep the Sabbath day holy. Most people have not. There may be other differences too, but these two differences are significant.

A security guard however is usually a necessity - we'd be in a bit of a mess if all security guards left their posts because it was Sunday.

The results of such a hypothetical situation would be difficult to predict.

Regards,

Finrock

[EarlJibbs]

So getting back to the topic, how can you help your husband feel better? I think that applepansy left a good opinion. Study together, find time for spirituality outside of church. It may actually help you grow because you are not relying solely on someone else to teach a lesson. My calling requires me to not be in the pew with my family. It hurts to see them there without me. To see when one of them is acting up. It pains me more to see when they are reverant and being so sweet, not to be with them. Although it is different, your family can be blessed if you make it a growing experience. Keep him wanting to be at church taking the sacrament. It is far to easy to become used to not going. Then before you know it, you actually enjoy not going for selfish reasons.

As far as the comments on here on if he should or shouldnt take a job on Sunday. This is highly personal for you two to decide. Your husband's main priority is to provide for your family both spiritually and temporally. Not having a job can place undue stress and distract from spiritually learning as much as working on sunday does. If you do not have a job and you pass one up because it is on Sunday, you are still in the same situation, no job. I say take the Job and keep looking for another since it is on Sunday. This shows inteligence and still devotion if you are looking for something not on Sunday continually. The Lord knows your heart, and will bless you for what your heart and actions express.

[john doe]

While I agree that we should avoid working on Sunday if possible, I would be careful putting on my judgement hat and pouring condescension down upon someone whose job required working that day. Especially in these economic times, you do what you have to do to provide for your family. No one should be made to feel like they are somehow less worthy of God's love simply because their job requires working on Sunday. The OP is asking how to help and support a spouse mentally and spiritually who has to do it, not asking how she can feel worse about the situation.

[Guest]

Hi anatess! I hope you are doing well. :)

Greetings, Finrock. Doing well here. Hope you are too?

I'm not sure I understand the meaning of your post. I do want to clarify something about your post in case you or others thought that what you wrote reflected my experiences, feelings, and/or thoughts. Based upon the content of your post, your post does not reflect my experiences, feelings, or thoughts.

Regards,

Finrock

This is the one that I have trouble with in your post:

Because God has done these things for me, I assume that he is capable and willing do these things for others.

Regards,

Finrock

It makes me think that you feel because God has done those things for you that God would make it so that he'll pave the way for others not to have to work Sundays if they just but ask, be obedient, and be faithful.

So, how do you explain those faithful members - even our bishop - who has to work Sundays and couldn't find a way to avoid it? Is God not capable or willing to do these things for them?

[mirkwood]

Or not.

I'd hate to think that those who are stuck working Sundays because there is just not any jobs out there today are in that position because God is not willing to pave the way for them or that they were just not faithful enough.

I've worked Sundays for many many years now. Where there is the will to find ways to keep the Sabbath holy while working, there is the way. There are things that I have done to keep the day holy and still function in my profession.

My bishops and stake presidents have spoken favorably of me and how I treat Sunday. They have even given me a temple recommend and ward and stake callings. All that while working Sundays. Imagine that.

Edited May 24, 2012 by mirkwood

[Backroads]

I recall a similar argument during college. A boy went as far as to insist that hospitilized people were being punished by God for making doctors/nurses work Sundays.

[Guest]

I recall a similar argument during college. A boy went as far as to insist that hospitilized people were being punished by God for making doctors/nurses work Sundays.

Wow.

Okay, so I have this godmother... I love her very very much, so this is not said out of disrespect to her... but, my godmother refused all modern medical intervention. She would get very very sick and she would refuse medication (drives my M.D. uncle crazy) and just do herbal stuff and a lot of prayer. Do you know that I grew up with her telling me that as she is my godmother, she carries the burdens of my sins so that when she is sick and it is taking time to heal that's probably because I haven't repented yet?

Yes, it messed me up quite a bit as I was growing up... but, my godmother is very instrumental in my spiritual growth and she loved me dearly. She was a very, very spiritual person. Her entire life is dedicated to God and love of mankind - like Mother Theresa in a way. As I matured, I realized that error about her illness caused by my sins but I don't hold it against her.

[Finrock]

Good morning anatess. I'm glad you are doing well. :)

It makes me think that you feel because God has done those things for you that God would make it so that he'll pave the way for others not to have to work Sundays if they just but ask, be obedient, and be faithful.

I know that in most cases when I've received something from God it has been because I asked, I was obedient, and I was faithful. When I was a young man I made the decision that I do not want a job that requires me to work on Sundays, at least not on a regular basis. I communicated this wish to God. I've made it a goal to avoid working on Sundays. I asked God to help me to accomplish my goal. I feel that God has answered my prayers and fulfilled my righteous desires to not work on Sundays if at all possible. As I understand the gospel, these are sound principles.

So, how do you explain those faithful members - even our bishop - who has to work Sundays and couldn't find a way to avoid it? Is God not capable or willing to do these things for them?

I don't explain it. I'm not speaking in absolutes. I can only explain my own life and my experiences and that is what I've done.

I wasn't making judgments rather I was sharing a perspective, which is:

At least one person on this planet (me) has resolved this problem of working on Sundays by doing the following: They made it a goal not to work on Sundays. They asked God to help them keep this goal. They excercised faith and tried to live their covenants. As a result, that one person has not had to accept jobs that require working on Sundays on a regular basis.

In conclusion, I wasn't trying to prove a point or even debate the principles of faith, prayer, and obedience. If you think the advice applies, use it. If you don't think it applies, reject it. I'll soon get over it.

Regards,

Finrock