The topic of Thanksgiving Point came up as I was conversing with a married couple I work with. We were talking about the different parks and activities like the Farm and the Museum of Natural Curiosity. I told them they were amazing facilities. They are a married couple and I suggested they should consider taking their young son, he would love it. They told me they were interested in going there with their son but when they looked into it, they found out it was closed on Sundays. The only day they felt they could go was on a Sunday.
I explained that Thanksgiving Point was built by the Ashton Family, the same family that owned and sold WordPerfect. They built the Thanksgiving Point complex to give back to the community. They were also LDS. I could be wrong, but I explained it was likely not open on Sundays because of that.
At that point, we had a pretty interesting conversation about Sabbath Day observance. They were curious and asked does everyone in Utah not do anything on Sundays? Sadly I had to tell him no. I estimated that 50% of members are likely good at Sabbath Day observance. 25% probably are moderately good. And, 25% likely don’t observe it at all.
They asked, what do you do? Sit home all day? This was interesting too. We talked about football, TV, movies, work, recreation, eating out, spending money, family time, service, and quite a few other things. We talked about it being a day of rest. So, you don’t do the things you would typically do.
The topic of orthodox Jews in New York came up. One of them talked about how some of the Jews he knows are orthodox and very observant of Jewish laws, while others are not. I shared a story from my mission where I lived in Williamsburg and at dusk on Friday night a siren would sound. Within five minutes the streets that were previously littered with Jews would be completely empty within a few minutes. It always surprised me how fast they disappeared and you would not see one of them until Saturday night after dusk. They had a really strict Sabbath Day observance they adhered to.
It is hard to detail every right and wrong scenario related to Sabbath Day observance. We talked about doctors, firemen, and policemen being LDS and still being required to work on the Sabbath Day. You simply can’t avoid it in every scenario. There are NFL football players that are LDS and must play on Sunday. NBA players. And others. There are LDS people in every walk of life that at times are required to work on Sunday.
It is a day you spend with family, providing service, studying, resting, and attending church services. Then one of them said, we lie spending time as a family and Sundays are a day when we spend time together, getting out of the house doing something. I had to explain, but if we go to the movies or out to eat, we are making someone else work on Sunday. Then that business must remain open and they can’t observe a day of rest.
Ultimately, I don’t think they understood. It just seemed like they felt they live in a weird state. They had attended the University of Utah for a few years, but in and around that area, I think there are more people who don’t observe the Sabbath Day. They reminisced about living in New York where you could do anything you wanted on Sunday. Everything was open. It was awesome, they said.
So where did Sabbath Day Observance come from?
We learn in Genesis, the first book in the bible, that God created the world in 6 days and on the 7th day he rested. Interestingly he then asked us to work 6 days and rest on the 7th as well. The earliest record of this is in Exodus when Moses was given the ten commandments.
Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
I think President Nelson sums it up well. He said: “I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’ That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.”
Ultimately whether an activity is good or bad, Sabbath Day Observance is a “Sign of the Beleiver.” It is a sign that you believe, and follow, and honor the God of Heaven and Earth.
Exodus 31:13 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.
Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
Jesus Christ came to earth and showed us it was lawful to do good works on the Sabbath Day. To visit the sick and afflicted. To heal. To serve one another.
Isaiah 56:6-7
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
There are many blessings in store for those who observe the Sabbath Day. If you do not know or do not understand, study and learn. Then work out your salvation with the Lord. Pray and listen to his Holy Spirit and he will guide you as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate on the Sabbath Day.
Honoring the Sabbath will allow our Father in Heaven to pour out blessings upon us of relevance to all aspects of our lives. Of great importance to us as parents and grandparents is the added promise that honoring the Sabbath will result in the righteous “foundations of many generations” Claim the Blessings of Sabbath Day Observance