The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(11/11/01)
"Now, I know it's hard, particularly for our young people, to choose to
observe the Sabbath day when athletic teams on which they so much want to
participate regularly schedule games on Sunday. I too know it seems
trivial to many who are in need of just a few items on the Sabbath to
quickly stop at a convenience store to make a Sunday purchase. But I also
know that remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy is one of the most
important commandments we can observe in preparing us to be the recipients
of the whisperings of the Spirit." — H. David Burton, "A Season of
Opportunity," "Ensign," Nov. 1998, p. 9
(11/12/01)
"As another blessing, and a warning, I think of the counsel of President
George Albert Smith, when he said, 'Much of the sorrow and distress that
is afflicting... mankind is traceable to the fact that they have ignored
his [God's] admonition to keep the Sabbath day holy.'" — Earl C.
Tingey, "The Sabbath Day and Sunday Shopping," "Ensign," May
1996, p. 12
(11/13/01)
"No matter where we live or in what position we serve, all of us need to
determine which way we face. God's commandments serve as a standard
against which priorities can be measured. Our respect for the first
commandment fashions our feelings for all the others. Consider the
commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy, for example. We live in a time
when many people throughout the world have transferred their allegiance on
the Sabbath from places of worship to places of amusement. Again I ask,
'Which way do you face?'" — Russell M. Nelson, "Thou Shalt Have No
Other Gods," "Ensign," May 1996, p. 14-15
(11/14/01)
"May I mention two or three other messages which seem no longer popular?
One is to respect the Sabbath day. While the Savior himself cautioned
against extreme forms of Sabbath day observance, it is well to remember
whose day the Sabbath is. There seems to be an ever-increasing popularity
in disregarding the centuries-old commandment to observe and respect the
Sabbath day. For many it has become a holiday rather than a holy day of
rest and sanctification. For some it is a day to shop and buy groceries.
The decision of those who engage in shopping, sports, work, and recreation
on the Sabbath day is their own, for which they alone bear
responsibility." — James E. Faust, "Unwanted
Messages," "Ensign," Nov. 1986, p. 9
(6/14/02)
"Keeping the Sabbath day holy is much more than just physical rest. It
involves spiritual renewal and worship." — James E. Faust, "The Lord's
Day" "Ensign," Nov. 1991, p. 34
(6/15/02)
"The Sabbath is the day the Lord has given us to rebuild, retrench,
fortify our spirits and rest our bodies so that we can go out and live the
gospel perfectly during the week." — Orson Scott Card, "Sunday Meetings: A
Preparation for Work," "Ensign," Jan. 1978, p. 63
(6/16/02)
"You do not have to patronize a store on Sunday. Let the Latter-day Saints
be in their homes, teaching their families, reading the scriptures, doing
things that are wholesome and beautiful and communing with the Lord on the
Sabbath day. He's been very pointed in this day and time as set forth in
the 59th section of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning our observance
of the Sabbath day. I thank the Lord for Sunday. What a great and
marvelous blessing that is (fireside in Birmingham, England, 29 Aug.
1995)." — "Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B.
Hinckley," "Ensign," July 1996, p. 73
(6/17/02)
"What lessons have we learned from our fathers? Years ago, a father asked
Elder ElRay L. Christiansen what name he could suggest for his newly
acquired boat. Brother Christiansen suggested, 'Why not call it The
Sabbath Breaker?' I'm confident the would-be sailor pondered whether his
pride and joy would be a Sabbath breaker or a Sabbath keeper. Whatever his
decision, it no doubt left a lasting impression upon his children." —
Thomas S. Monson, "Becoming Our Best Selves," "Ensign," Nov. 1999, p. 19
(6/18/02)
"We have become largely a world of Sabbath breakers. On the Sabbath the
lakes are full of boats, the beaches are crowded, the shows have their
best attendance, the golf links are dotted with players. The Sabbath is
the preferred day for rodeos, conventions, family picnics; even ball games
are played on the sacred day. 'Business as usual' is the slogan for many,
and our holy day has become a holiday. And because so many people treat
the day as a holiday, numerous others cater to the wants of the fun-lovers
and money-makers." — Spencer W. Kimball, "The Sabbath-A Delight,"
"Ensign," Jan. 1978, p. 2
3/18/06
"From the beginning, God has instructed prophets to teach the covenant
people to honor the Sabbath day. God rested from His creative labors on
the seventh day. (See Moses
3:3; Gen. 2:2-3.)
This day was blessed and sanctified as a holy day.
"The fourth commandment to Moses was to 'remember the sabbath day, to keep
it holy.' (Ex. 20:8.)
"Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that 'Sabbath observance was a sign
between ancient Israel and their God whereby the chosen people might be
known.' (Bruce R. McConkie, "Mormon Doctrine," 2nd ed. [1966], 658; see
also Neh. 13:15-22;
Isa. 56:1-8; Jer.
17:19-27; Ezek.
46:1-7; Ex.
31:12-17.)
"Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize
Sunday as the Sabbath in commemoration of the fact that Christ came forth
from the grave on Sunday, and the Apostles commenced meeting thereafter on
the first day of the week. (John
20:1-6; Luke 24:1;
Mark 16:1; Matt.
28:1; Acts 20:7.)"
- Earl C. Tingey, "The
Sabbath Day and Sunday Shopping," Ensign (CR), May 1996, p.10
6/20/06
"But do not suppose that a strict observance of the law of the Sabbath is
alone sufficient to keep your spiritual bodies in good health. Every day
of the week must give nourishment to your spiritual selves. Family and
secret prayers, the reading of the scriptures, love in your homes and
unselfish daily service to others are manna from heaven to feed your
souls. Observance of the weekly Family Home Evening is another strong
force for righteousness in the home." - "Teachings Of Presidents Of The
Church: Harold B. Lee," p.175
9/15/06
"Let me just mention a couple of things that will help us find joy in
sacrament meetings. There are many ways.
"First, come with an attitude of worshipping the Lord....
"Number two, teach your children the significance of the worship service.
We want our children there, and we also want them to learn reverence,
which is a form of love for the Savior. (If babies are noisy, take them
out of the chapel until they calm down.)...
"Number three, sing enthusiastic praises to God. As we sing
wholeheartedly, reaffirming our love for the Savior, we can feel the
Spirit....
"Number four, when you speak to the congregation, include scriptural
references, your testimony, and the Savior in your talk....
"And finally, remember the Savior as you partake of the sacrament...." -
W. Mack Lawrence, "Sunday
Worship Service," Ensign (CR), May 1991, p.30
1/5/07
"I will tell you how I feel on a Sabbath morning. I realize this is a day
set apart to worship Almighty God: now I ought to worship God myself, and
I ought to look after my family and discover whether they are engaged in
the same thing or not. For we are commanded to keep holy the Sabbath day
and to rest from all our labors, as God did when He created the earth upon
which we dwell. He has given us six days to attend to the various labors
and duties of life, and if we [undertake] to keep the Sabbath, let us do
it acceptably to God our Father, dedicating ourselves to him at least, for
that day, and placing our feelings and affections upon him." - "Teachings
Of Presidents Of The Church: John Taylor," p.107
3/18/07
"The Sabbath was blessed and sanctified as a holy day, a day of rest (Genesis
2:3; Moses 3:3; Exodus
20:9-11). But this sanctification and commandment of rest was for a
purpose—not that man should refrain from work in order to pursue his own
pleasure, but that man should serve God and worship him. The prophet
Isaiah taught that principle clearly:
"'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 thee 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.)" - Dallin H. Oaks, "Pure in Heart," p.27
3/29/09
“There are a great many things that we can do on the Sabbath day that
would entertain, interest, and instruct our children at home, between the
hours of service. ... Let them have amusements at the proper time, but let
them be taught better things on the Sabbath day.” – “Teachings Of
Presidents Of The Church: Joseph F. Smith,” p. 230
6/20/10
"The Sabbath day is given throughout the generations of man for a
perpetual covenant. It is a sign between the Lord and his children
forever. It is a day in which to worship and to express our gratitude and
appreciation to the Lord. It is a day on which to surrender every worldly
interest and to praise the Lord humbly, for humility is the beginning of
exaltation. It is a day not for affliction and burden but for rest and
righteous enjoyment. It is a day not for lavish banqueting, but a day of
simple meals and spiritual feasting; not a day of abstinence from food,
except fast day, but a day when maid and mistress might be relieved from
the preparation. It is a day graciously given us by our Heavenly Father.
It is a day when animals may be turned out to graze and rest; when the
plow may be stored in the barn and other machinery cooled down; a day when
employer and employee, master and servant may be free from plowing,
digging, toiling. It is a day when the office may be locked and business
postponed, and troubles forgotten; a day when man may be temporarily
released from that first injunction, 'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou
eat bread, till thou return unto the ground.' (Genesis 3:19.) It is a day
when bodies may rest, minds relax, and spirits grow. It is a day when
songs may be sung, prayers offered, sermons preached, and testimonies
borne, and when man may climb high, almost annihilating time, space, and
distance between himself and his Creator." - "The Teachings of Spencer W.
Kimball," edited by Edward L. Kimball, p. 215
7/28/11
Have we thought about the tremendous spiritual deterioration that results
from not keeping the Sabbath day holy? This commandment involves much more
than just resting from our labors. Keeping the Sabbath day holy inherently
builds spiritual character and prepares us for what is to come. By
observing this commandment, we will have power over evil; we will be more
capable of keeping the commandments of the Lord and maintaining ourselves
unspotted from the sins of the world. (See D&C
59:9.) - Angel Abrea, "The
Little Things and Eternal Life," Ensign (CR) October 1981
9/23/11
Does the Lord love and bless those who
keep the Sabbath day holy? I testify that he does in eternally
meaningful ways. I further testify that when we eventually see things
through the proper perspective of eternal truth, we will be amazed at
how much we were blessed in important—though often unperceived—ways
through keeping the Sabbath holy; and to our sorrow we may sense how
many blessings we kept from ourselves by not consistently keeping the
Sabbath day holy. -