Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

In the scriptures it is commanded that we "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (see Exodus 20:8). It is a strong Mormon belief that the Sabbath day should be kept holy. Elder John H. Groberg stated, "There is a direct correlation between the proper observance of the Sabbath and true reverence for God, which includes obedience to his other commandments. What do the LDS people believe is the proper observance of the Sabbath?

In For the Strength of Youth, a booklet of guidelines printed by the Mormon Church for its youth, states,

Many uplifting activities are appropriate for the Sabbath. Worship the Lord, attend Church, spend quiet time with your family, study the gospel, write letters, write in your journal, do family history work, and visit the sick or homebound. Your dress before, during and after Church meetings should show respect for the Sabbath. When seeking a job, share with your potential employer your desire to attend your Sunday meetings and keep the Sabbath day holy. Many employers value employees with these personal convictions. Whenever possible, choose a job that does not require you to work on Sundays. Sunday is not a holiday or a day of recreation or athletic events. Do not seek entertainment or spend money on this day. Let your friends know what your standards are so they will not try to persuade you to participate in activities that are not appropriate for the Sabbath.

To summarize the statement made by the Church, the Sabbath is a day for worship, rest, and for spending time with family.

In Mormon doctrine there are many promises and blessings that are given to those who remember to keep the Sabbath day holy. From For the Strength of Youth there comes this information, "The Lord has given the Sabbath day for your benefit and has commanded you to keep it holy. Observing the Sabbath will bring you closer to the Lord and to your family. It will give you needed rest and rejuvenation." Leviticus 26:2-6 tells more of the blessings given to those who keep the Sabbath,

"Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid."

John H. Groberg gave further insight into keeping the Sabbath day holy, "Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, there is power in keeping the Sabbath day holy—power to help others as well as ourselves. If we would have God's blessings and protection as individuals, as families, as communities, and as nations, we must keep His Sabbath day holy."

Source: "The Power of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy," Ensign, November 1984, p. 79

For More Information

The Ten Commandments

Mormon Sunday Meetings