During the lesson, she gave us a handout entitled, "Our Sabbath Day Plan". She encouraged us to make a plan with our families about how we will spend our Sabbath Day. I will include this plan below, but it can also be found HERE
On the back of the page, Kathy had some questions posted that you can ask yourself/your family when developing your Sabbath Day Plan. Those questions are listed below, along with some quotes from the website.
How Do We Know What’s Appropriate?
The Lord has commanded us to keep the Sabbath day holy. But even when we understand the blessings of faithful Sabbath day observance and seek to “call the sabbath a delight” (Isaiah 58:13), sometimes it’s hard to know what activities are appropriate.
President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “People frequently wonder where to draw the line: what is worthy and what is unworthy to do upon the Sabbath. But if one loves the Lord with all his heart, might, mind, and strength; if one can put away selfishness and curb desire; if one can measure each Sabbath activity by the yardstick of worshipfulness; if one is honest with his Lord and with himself; if one offers a ‘broken heart and a contrite spirit,’ it is quite unlikely that there will be Sabbath breaking in that person’s life.”
In our day, the Lord has shown trust in our spiritual maturity and potential by giving us the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy without a lengthy list of do’s and don’ts. Rather, He asks us to consider our hearts and our motivation for the things we do. Listen as President James E. Faust testifies of the importance of choosing our Sabbath day activities with the help of the Spirit.
Making a Sabbath Day Plan
When making a Sabbath day plan as a family, consider the following questions:
- Do our actions set the Sabbath day apart as unique, different, and identifiable?
- Do we leave behind worldly pursuits and pleasures to focus on spiritual matters?
- Have we prepared for the Sabbath by completing some activities beforehand?
- Do we worship on the Sabbath day by attending all our meetings and worthily partaking of the sacrament?
- Are we magnifying our callings?
- Do we feel closer to God and Jesus Christ through our actions on the Sabbath?
- Are we strengthening family relationships on the Sabbath?
- Are we lifting and serving others as part of our Sabbath day observance?
- Do our Sabbath day activities rejuvenate us spiritually to meet the demands of the week?
As you discuss these questions as a family, create a plan to improve your Sabbath day observance. While your Sabbath day plan can be as unique as your family, here is one plan to consider.
No matter how your plan looks, commit today to honor the Lord’s commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.
If you would like to read more about the importance of Sabbath day observance, try “The Sabbath Is a Delight” by President Russell M. Nelson or “The Sabbath—A Delight” by President Spencer W. Kimball.
