In Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society lessons for the next four months, the topic of discussion on the fourth Sundays is Sabbath-day worship. I have heard some comments such as “Oh, we have to keep talking about this?” or “How are we supposed to keep teaching about this? Haven’t we exhausted the topic already?”
In order to help provide some understanding of the continued focus on Sabbath-day observance, I have prepared an article that summarizes the history of the initiative and a few doctrinal points that might be helpful in understanding it.
The article is best viewed as PDF (click here). You can also view the document on my disciple-scholar website. For convenience, I have pasted the text as follows.
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Introduction
Over the past few years, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have placed special emphasis on Sabbath-day observance and the need for Church members to “make the Sabbath a delight.” In order to understand the reason for and expected outcome of this emphasis, I wish to briefly review the history of the emphasis from its inception to now and then address some of the doctrinal considerations.
History of the Initiative
Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained how the idea originated in discussions among the leading Brethren:
Our emphasis on the Sabbath day originated in sustained discussions in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and with the First Presidency about how to strengthen the Church. There were no preconceptions or ordained conclusions imposed on these discussions. In a natural, revelatory process, the Lord made known His wish that His ancient commandment regarding the Sabbath, or as the scripture describes it, His “perpetual covenant” with His people (Exodus 31:16), be brought to the fore. We realized that a deeper understanding of the meaning and purposes of the Sabbath day would bring to the Latter-day Saints a more profound faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Atonement of Christ. This would build a strength in the members of the Church far greater than could be achieved through any programmatic means. We saw that observing the Sabbath could lead to full conversion and a spiritual resilience in the Saints.[1]
Church leaders have repeatedly noted that the purpose of emphasizing meaningful Sabbath-day worship is to increase faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Handouts provided to General Authorities during the training prior to the April 2015 general conference were entitled “Strengthening Faith in Our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through Sabbath-day Observance.”[2]In a special Q&A broadcast by Mormon Newsroom held in late June of 2015, Elder L. Whitney Clayton explained, “We’re trying to help ward councils be as effective as possible at doing one thing particularly, that is building faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, strengthening faith in individuals and families, helping families become stronger, helping individuals have deep down conversion that will see them through the challenges of life.”[3]In the General Authority training prior to the October 2015 general conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “The primary purpose of the emphasis and training is to “strengthen individual testimony, strengthen the love of God our Heavenly Father, and strengthen our affection and willingness to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.”[4]And in a special interview with Church News, Elder Marcus B. Nash summarized, “The objective of this emphasis and this priority is that we observe the Sabbath day to increase our faith in the Father and in the Son.”[5]
Why do the Church leaders feel that we need this special emphasis on Sabbath-day worship in order to increase faith in the Lord and His Son? In the June 2015 Q&A, Elder Ballard observed, “There’s a lot of ways to divert the attention of our Heavenly Father’s children now. We need one day when we focus our attention on what really matters.…We are hoping that over time we can cause the Sabbath day to be a spiritual feast, a spiritual renewal, for all of our members of the Church.”[6]In the special interview in December 2015, Elder Nash also explained what he sees coming and why the emphasis is needed, as summarized by a news article:
Members will need increased faith in years to come, said Elder Nash. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” 20 years ago, he said, emphasizing its importance today. “I have a feeling that this emphasis on growing faith in the Father and the Son through Sabbath observance is the same. There is faith that must be developed now that we will absolutely need in the years to come.”[7]
Principles of Sabbath Day Worship
With this background and purpose in mind, let’s review a few of the principles regarding Sabbath-day worship. During the General Authority training prior to the October 2015 general conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook reminded the participants of a previous training in which “three separate doctrinal concepts were stressed: first, making the Sabbath a delight; second, having the Sabbath be a sign of our devotion to our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; and third, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.”[8]These three concepts were highlighted in the handout entitled “Strengthening Faith in Our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through Sabbath Day Observance in the Home.” Each of these three concepts were accompanied by scriptures.
First, the Sabbath is “a delight.”[9]After explaining the law of the fast, Isaiah explains the great blessings awaiting proper Sabbath day worship:
If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause the to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 58:13–14)
The Lord asks us to set aside what we want and do what He wants: call the Sabbath a delight and worship the Lord. The promise is that the Lord would give us the inheritance of Israel. The reference to high places hearkens back to the promise given by Moses: “For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him,…he made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock” (Deuteronomy 32:9–10, 13). Beyond earthly riches, the Lord promises the blessings of eternity: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:5–6).
Second, the Sabbath is “a sign between God and His children throughout the generations.”[10]At the end of His instructions to Moses concerning the tabernacle, the Lord gave the following commandment regarding the Sabbath: “Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you” (Exodus 31:13). The Lord instituted the Sabbath as a reminder that He is our God and He is the one who provides the sanctification necessary to become like Him. In describing Israel’s later apostasy, the Lord cited the failure to keep the Sabbath day holy as one of the offenses: “I said unto their children in the wilderness,…hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. [Nevertheless,] the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them,…they polluted my sabbaths” (Ezekiel 20:18, 20–21). The subsequent punishment for failure to keep the statues, including the Sabbath, including the Lord “pour[ing] out [His] fury upon them, to accomplish [His] anger against them in the wilderness” (Ezekiel 20:21).
Third, the Sabbath is “a way of remaining unspotted from the world.”[11]In the initial set of revelations given at the site of Zion in Jackson County, Missouri, the Lord effectively reissued the Ten Commandments to the Latter-day Saints and expanded on the importance of the Sabbath: “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” (D&C 59:9–10). The importance of being clean from the world is highlighted repeatedly throughout scripture, including the following admonition to the Church regarding temple worship: “Organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean; that I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you” (D&C 88:74–75).
Conclusion
The purpose of the continued focus on Sabbath-day observance is to help members strengthen their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. By focusing on doctrinal principles pertaining to Sabbath-day observance—first, making the Sabbath a delight; second, having the Sabbath be a sign of our devotion to our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; and third, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world—we will find our faith strengthened. We will find our understanding of the gospel will increase, our trust in the Lord’s thoughts and ways will deepen,[12]and our ability to endure through the hard times ahead will be fortified.
[1]D. Todd Christofferson, General Authority training, October 2015 general conference, transcription my own from https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-conference-leadership-training/2015/10?lang=eng&vid=4594190011001.
[2]There were two handouts, one with the title described and “…at church” and the other “…in the home.” Both are available online at http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/leadership-training/april-2015-sabbath-day-observance/2015-04-1001-sabbath-day-at-church-eng.pdf?download=trueand http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/leadership-training/april-2015-sabbath-day-observance/2015-04-1002-sabbath-day-at-home-eng.pdf?download=true.
[3]L. Whitney Clayton, “Sabbath Day Observance — Full Q&A,” posted 2 July 2015, transcription my own from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRPkjKzq0X0.
[4]M. Russell Ballard, General Authority training, October 2015 general conference, transcription my own from https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-conference-leadership-training/2015/10?lang=eng&vid=4594190003001.
[5]Quoted in Sarah Jane Weaver, “Leaders Hope Emphasis on Sabbath Observance Increases Faith in God,” Church News, 30 December 2015, https://www.lds.org/church/news/leaders-hope-emphasis-on-sabbath-observance-increases-faith-in-god?lang=eng.
[6]M. Russell Ballard, “Sabbath Day Observance — Full Q&A,” posted 2 July 2015, transcription my own from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRPkjKzq0X0.
[7]Sarah Jane Weaver, “Leaders Hope Emphasis on Sabbath Observance Increases Faith in God,” Church News, 30 December 2015, https://www.lds.org/church/news/leaders-hope-emphasis-on-sabbath-observance-increases-faith-in-god?lang=eng.
[8]Quentin L. Cook, General Authority training, October 2015 general conference, transcription my own from https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/general-conference-leadership-training/2015/10?lang=eng&vid=4594190009001.
[9]“Strengthening Faith in Our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Through Sabbath Day Observance in the Home,” handout for General Conference Training, April 2015, page 2.
[10]“Strengthening Faith in Our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Through Sabbath Day Observance in the Home,” handout for General Conference Training, April 2015, page 2.
[11]“Strengthening Faith in Our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Through Sabbath Day Observance in the Home,” handout for General Conference Training, April 2015, page 2.
[12]See Mosiah 4:9; Isaiah 55:8–9.
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