Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Today for Family Home Evening, I thought that it was time to teach Scott the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. In the morning he likes to get up and turn on the tv and watch some cartoons before church. There have been times when I call him to get ready for church he will ignore me and then the yelling and fighting set in. I found that this has driven the Spirit away and I don't have it as strongly with me during our Sunday meetings. In order to keep the spirit and drive out the spirit of contention we no longer have the tv on in the mornings and he is much more inclined to get dressed for church without arguing with me. I've posted a small outline of my lesson and hope that you can draw some inspiration for it with your families.

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Genesis 2: 1-3

(I've taken a few quotes from President James E Faust's talk "The Lord's Day" from the November 1991 Ensign)

- "Jesus reaffirmed the importance of the Sabbath day devotion, but he introduced a new spirit into this part of worship. Rather than observe the endless techincalities and prohibitions concerning what should and should not be done on the Lord's day, he affirmed that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath."

D&C 59: 9-10

- "Keeping the Sabbath day holy is much more than just physical rest. It involves spiritual renewal and worship."

(Pres. Faust is now quoting from Pres. Spencer W Kimball)
- 'The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material and attending all meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.'

(end of quoting Pres. Faust)

Mosiah 13:16-19 (we are now learning verse 16)

Isaiah 58:13

- Blessings come from keeping the Sabbath day holy.

- The Lord has said that if we keep the Sabbath day with thanksgiving and cheerful hearts, we will be full of joy. (from Gospel Principles lesson #24)