by Jerry Gearhart
As with many who follow Jesus Christ, and who try to keep his commandments, Mormons consider Sunday to be a holy day, a day to pause, leave the cares of the world behind and focus on God, family and personal progress and growth.
As with members of other religions, Mormons keep the Sabbath holy by attending church, partaking of the sacrament of the Lords Supper, and studying the teachings of Jesus as found in the Bible.
In addition to these activities, Mormons also consider Sunday to be a day to spend time with family, enjoying one another’s company and strengthening family associations and the love we have for one another.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that “the Lord has given the Sabbath day for [our] benefit and has commanded [us] to keep it holy.”1
One of our leaders, James E. Faust, speaking on the Sabbath taught the following regarding the keeping the Sabbath day holy:
“In this day of increasing access to and preoccupation with materialism, there is a sure protection for ourselves and our children against the [spiritual] plagues of our day. The key to that sure protection surprisingly can be found in Sabbath observance: ‘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.’
Who can question but that sincere Sabbath observance will help keep ourselves unspotted from the world? The injunction to keep the Sabbath day holy is a continuing covenant between God and his elect. The Lord told Moses and the children of Israel, ‘Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations…for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever.’ (Exo. 31:13-17)
What is worthy or unworthy on the Sabbath day will have to be judged by each of us by trying to be honest with the Lord. On the Sabbath day we should do what we have to do and what we ought to do in an attitude of worshipfulness and then limit our other activities.”2
1The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints, Especially for Youth.
2The Lord’s Day, President James E. Faust, LDS Conference Report, October 1991.