The Sabbath Day

[zil]

When I saw that the 4th Sunday RS & Priesthood lessons for January through April (inclusive) were about the Sabbath, it started me wondering why.  I recognized that there had already been quite a lot of emphasis on the Sabbath day (conference talks, area plan, local emphasis, etc.), so when there was yet more, it got me to wondering.  At some point in my wondering, someone mentioned to me that when "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was released, her reaction was something like, "OK, but we already know this."  But now she understands that it was in preparation for the attacks on the family which would soon come.  And that got me wondering if there was something similar going on in relation to the Sabbath - what we might see in 10-20 years that will make us look back and say "Oh, that's why we focused so much on the Sabbath day"?

Any thoughts?

I think I can come up with obvious and good reasons to focus on the Sabbath, I'm just wondering if there isn't a larger, future reason, as there was with "The Family: A Proclamation to the World".  (E.g. how long before atheists start demanding that every business operate 7 days / week, or declare "Sunday" discriminatory, or some ridiculous thing like that?)

(Of course, I could be making a false association, 18 years ago, they released "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles" and I haven't really noticed a dramatic or unexpected increase in attacks on Christianity. But maybe it's because I was expecting such attacks to continually increase...)

Edited January 25, 2018 by zil

[Sunday21]

@zil. Good thinking! I was wondering if the emphasis on the Sabbath Day might reflect a righteous desire to protect employees from pressure to work on Sundays. If availability to work on Sundays became expected, it might make hanging on to religious lifestyles more difficult. In universities we sometimes schedule activities on Sunday. I wonder if exams on Sunday could become the norm? If some members of the family need to work on Sunday, family gatherings and even shared meals become difficult.

[Guest]

For me, there is no commandment more difficult to keep than the Sabbath.

In my line of work (law), there is immense pressure to get on and bill a few hours on Sunday.  It requires some real planning ahead, sacrifice, and determination to not work on Sunday.

So many times I have gotten up at 3 am on Monday to make up the work I was supposed to do on Sunday . . .

[Sunday21]

3 minutes ago, DoctorLemon said:

For me, there is no commandment more difficult to keep than the Sabbath.

In my line of work (law), there is immense pressure to get on and bill a few hours on Sunday.  It requires some real planning ahead, sacrifice, and determination to not work on Sunday.

So many times I have gotten up at 3 am on Monday to make up the work I was supposed to do on Sunday . . .

And I thought it was just me!

[Traveler]

I believe the Sabbath day was instituted to prepare the saints of G-d for things to come.  I also believe that there will be a Sabbath of 1,000 years.  This millennial Sabbath will take place following 6 other millennial seasons symbolically referenced in the Book of Revelation as “seals”.  I believe that the millennial Sabbath is rapidly approaching and that there is an effort within the Church of G-d to prepare the Saints of these last-days for “things” that are coming.  Paramount to preparing the Saints of G-d is an increased understanding and respect for the Sabbath.

 

The Traveler

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

And I thought it was just me!

The scriptures say, to be saved in the Celestial Kingdom, we must exhibit both faith and works.

I think commandments such as keeping the Sabbath and paying tithing are positively ways we build saving faith.  Because these commandments force us to directly fight against the easiest and most natural ways of going about and living, it takes some real faith to knuckle down and obey these commandments.  It's worth it, but it isn't easy.

[Sunday21]

15 minutes ago, DoctorLemon said:

The scriptures say, to be saved in the Celestial Kingdom, we must exhibit both faith and works.

I think commandments such as keeping the Sabbath and paying tithing are positively ways we build saving faith.  Because these commandments force us to directly fight against the easiest and most natural ways of going about and living, it takes some real faith to knuckle down and obey these commandments.  It's worth it, but it isn't easy.

Well said!?Hit it right on the nail!

 

[eVa]

36 minutes ago, Traveler said:

I believe the Sabbath day was instituted to prepare the saints of G-d for things to come.  I also believe that there will be a Sabbath of 1,000 years.  This millennial Sabbath will take place following 6 other millennial seasons symbolically referenced in the Book of Revelation as “seals”.  I believe that the millennial Sabbath is rapidly approaching and that there is an effort within the Church of G-d to prepare the Saints of these last-days for “things” that are coming.  Paramount to preparing the Saints of G-d is an increased understanding and respect for the Sabbath.

For example:  Prepare to keep the Sabbath fully, because we will eventually need to treat every day as such, in order to keep from being consumed by the world?

[Guest]

Has there really?  I haven't noticed any emphasis.  I don't even remember the last time I've heard a lesson on the Sabbath.  And I've given many of the lessons.

But the Sabbath.  I'm lucky I've had a career that working on Sundays has not been an issue most of the time.  I had a stint in Afghanistan where I worked 7 days a week. But I did go to church while there wherever there was church.

But I fear I may be heading into a time where I'll have to make some decisions about this.

[Guest]

I think that, as working from home gets more popular and expected, Sabbath observance is going to become more and more of an issue because people will have to discipline themselves more to keep work in the first six days of the week.

[zil]

2 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

Has there really?  I haven't noticed any emphasis. 

Perhaps it's more local than I thought.  Also, sometimes I think talks given 13 years ago were given 3 years ago, so my memory could be playing tricks, so to speak.

[zil]

One of the most common reasons I hear for people becoming inactive is that they spend a lot of Sundays doing things unrelated to Church.  Whether that's sports, or traveling, or whatever, this habit of using the Sabbath for amusement - especially amusement which prevents you from attending Church - seems to be a good indicator of whether you will remain active in the Church.

I've heard stories from a lot of people that sound basically like going to church is what they do when they don't have other plans.

[Sunday21]

For the next 6 months, every 4th Sunday we will be studying the Sabbath day.

Edited January 25, 2018 by Sunday21

[zil]

Just now, Sunday21 said:

First the next 6 months, every 4th Sunday we will be studying the Sabbath day.

No, only until the end of April (because this is the first year of this new program and it started in January rather than November).  In May we'll start on whatever topic they decide (and put out in the May Ensign) and that will go through the end of October.  Then the next topic will come out in the November Ensign and we'll use it November through April.  And that will repeat for however long they choose to keep this program: May-October, then November-April.

Also, while there is only one topic this round, I don't see that as a guarantee there will only be one topic next time (the instructions sound that way, but they aren't explicit).

[Sunday21]

7 minutes ago, zil said:

No, only until the end of April (because this is the first year of this new program and it started in January rather than November).  In May we'll start on whatever topic they decide (and put out in the May Ensign) and that will go through the end of October.  Then the next topic will come out in the November Ensign and we'll use it November through April.  And that will repeat for however long they choose to keep this program: May-October, then November-April.

Also, while there is only one topic this round, I don't see that as a guarantee there will only be one topic next time (the instructions sound that way, but they aren't explicit).

Ok thanks! Then I can combine some of the lessons. Very useful to know! Well 5 months JFMAM. So I can combine 2 of the lessons. Helpful!

Edited January 25, 2018 by Sunday21

[Traveler]

2 hours ago, eVa said:

For example:  Prepare to keep the Sabbath fully, because we will eventually need to treat every day as such, in order to keep from being consumed by the world?

 

I do not fully sure what “keep the Sabbath fully” means.  I believe the proper term is to keep the Sabbath holy.    I do believe that the ancient terms of “perfect”, “complete”, “whole” and “holy” are all somewhat synonymous – and perhaps we can add to this list “fully”.  You may be interested in Hebrews chapter 4.  I believe this includes the term “rest” as in a day of rest (7th day of creation) as a means or preparation.  I am thinking your thoughts are very much like my own?

 

The Traveler

[zil]

2 hours ago, Sunday21 said:

Ok thanks! Then I can combine some of the lessons. Very useful to know! Well 5 months JFMAM. So I can combine 2 of the lessons. Helpful!

Four months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.  In May, you will use the topic that gets published in the May Ensign.

[Traveler]

2 hours ago, Carborendum said:

Has there really?  I haven't noticed any emphasis.  I don't even remember the last time I've heard a lesson on the Sabbath.  And I've given many of the lessons.

But the Sabbath.  I'm lucky I've had a career that working on Sundays has not been an issue most of the time.  I had a stint in Afghanistan where I worked 7 days a week. But I did go to church while there wherever there was church.

But I fear I may be heading into a time where I'll have to make some decisions about this.

I am thinking that if someone has a career that involves working on Sundays - that such, in any way prohibits them from keeping the Sabbath holy.

 

The Traveler

[Guest]

On 1/25/2018 at 1:50 PM, Traveler said:

I am thinking that if someone has a career that involves working on Sundays - that such, in any way prohibits them from keeping the Sabbath holy.

So, what would be your advice to those who have a career field that requires them to work on the Sabbath?

[Jane_Doe]

2 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

So, what would be your advice to those who have a career field that requires them to work on the Sabbath?

For my personal answer, if you have a job which requires working Sundays (like healthcare, for example), then make sure to take the time on another day you're not working to be your day of rest.  Remember the Lord, devote yourself to Him, and loving your family.y  

[Sunday21]

4 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

So, what would be your advice to those who have a career field that requires them to work on the Sabbath?

I would fast and pray. I think that Sabbath Day observance is a more individual issue than say, the Law of Chasity. 

[Guest]

24 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

So, what would be your advice to those who have a career field that requires them to work on the Sabbath?

If you HAVE to work on the Sabbath (e.g., your boss tells you specifically to), then you should do so, but try to keep the Sabbath as much as possible otherwise.  Sometimes, working on Sunday is simply part of being an adult in the 21st century.

If you don't have to work on the Sabbath, you should try to avoid doing so.  In my job, I don't HAVE to work on the Sabbath - it is just very, very tempting as a way of catching up on my billable hours.  Usually, when I wind up working on the Sabbath, it is because I failed to plan ahead sufficiently during the week, and ultimately it is my fault, not the fault of my boss.

If you HAVE to work on the Sabbath, but you are working a low-level job that is easy to replace (e.g., flipping burgers at McDonalds), perhaps you should consider looking for another job?  In some cases, depending on who has the job (e.g., teen vs. father) and how replaceable the job is, a job may not be worth keeping if you have to break the Sabbath.  This depends very much on individual circumstance, and praying about this issue is advised.

Edited January 29, 2018 by DoctorLemon

[Guest]

Thanks for all your responses.  But I was wondering what Traveler says about it.  He is the one who seems to be of the opinion that any career which requires work on the Sabbath will prevent one from keeping the Sabbath.

And on some level I'm inclined to agree.  However, I am open to the idea of keeping another day as the Sabbath.

The problem is that such an option may not be available for me.

Edited January 29, 2018 by Guest

[Blossom76]

Its really a hard call isn't it, and I'm glad that in the LDS faith it appears  is a personal choice? 

My husband is friends with a Seventh Day Adventist and they are forbidden to work on their Sabbath (Saturday), this man has even been fired from previous employment because of his refusal to work on the Sabbath. 

In an ideal world we would all be able to keep the Sabbath, but in the real world, everything can't just stop for church, fire and rescue, the police department, electrical and phone department, shipping services, road safety, aviation etc etc.  The world just wouldn't function if everybody in it keeps the Sabbath every week, its unrealistic.  

Edited January 29, 2018 by Blossom76

[Traveler]

4 hours ago, Carborendum said:

So, what would be your advice to those who have a career field that requires them to work on the Sabbath?

 

Seek a covenant with G-d to keep their Sabbath holy.  For example - If I could not attend any weekly meetings to partake of the sacrament – I would find a way to have access to the sacrament.  First, I would seek help from my bishop, if he could not help – I would seek help from my Stake President.  If my Stake President could not help – I would petition the quorum of Apostles and First Presidency.

 

The Traveler