What Does It Mean to “Honor” the Sabbath Day?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 58-59 in a lesson titled “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

When the elders of the Church first saw the site of the city of Zion—Independence, Missouri—it was not what they expected. Some thought they would find a thriving, industrious community with a strong group of Saints. Instead, they found a sparsely populated outpost, lacking the civilization they were used to and inhabited by rough frontier settlers rather than Saints. It turned out that the Lord wasn’t asking them just to come to Zion—He wanted them to build Zion.

When our expectations do not match reality, we can remember what the Lord told the Saints in 1831: “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God … and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3). Yes, life is full of tribulation, even wickedness, but we can still “bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in [us]” (verses 27-28).

As with other lessons, this scripture block contains numerous principles, including (1) “After much tribulation come the blessings” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:1-5; 59:23), (2) I can “bring to pass much righteousness” of my “own free will” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-29), (3) The Lord forgives me as I repent (Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43), (4) Who was Polly Knight? (Doctrine and Covenants 59), (5) Commandments are a blessing (Doctrine and Covenants 59:4-19), and (6) The Sabbath is the Lord’s day (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-19). This essay will discuss principle #6 and will start with the applicable scripture verses.

9 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;

10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;

11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;

12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.

13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.

14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.

15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

After promising to bless the Saints in Zion “with commandments not a few,” the Lord emphasized one particular commandment – the command to honor His “holy day” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:4, 9). By studying the above verses, we can see some of the reasons that the Lord wanted His people to honor His day. Some of those reasons are: (1) staying unspotted from the sins of the world, (2) resting from the physical labor of the week, and (3) the “good things” of the earth.

In addition to great blessings, the Lord wanted His people to experience joy, cheerfulness, and gladness. In other words, honoring the Sabbath Day should bring immense joy to all the obedient.

President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about honoring the Sabbath Day (“The Sabbath Is a Delight,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 129-32). The Sabbath Is a Delight

I am intrigued by the words of Isaiah, who called the Sabbath “a delight.” Yet I wonder, is the Sabbath really a delight for you and for me? ….

The Savior identified Himself as Lord of the Sabbath. It is His day!

Repeatedly, He has asked us to keep the Sabbath or to hallow the Sabbath day. We are under covenant to do so.

How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that 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.

Though the doctrine pertaining to the Sabbath day is of ancient origin, it has been renewed in these latter days as part of a new covenant with a promise. [Quoted the above verses.]

How can you ensure that your behavior on the Sabbath will lead to joy and rejoicing? In addition to your going to church, partaking of the sacrament, and being diligent in your specific call to serve, what other activities would help to make the Sabbath a delight for you? What sign will you give to the Lord to show your love for Him?

The Sabbath provides a wonderful opportunity to strengthen family ties….

We make the Sabbath a delight when we teach the gospel to our children….

“We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities….

Such study of the gospel makes the Sabbath a delight. This promise pertains regardless of family size, composition, or location.

In addition to time with family, you can experience true delight on the Sabbath from family history work. Searching for and finding family members who have preceded you on earth – those who did not have an opportunity to accept the gospel while here – can bring immense joy.

Make the Sabbath a delight by rendering service to others, especially those who are not feeling well or those who are lonely or in need. Lifting their spirits will lift yours as well….

Think of this: In paying tithing, we return one-tenth of our increase to the Lord. In keeping the Sabbath holy, we reserve one day in seven as His. So it is our privilege to consecrate both money and time to Him who lends us life each day.

Faith in God engenders a love for the Sabbath; faith in the Sabbath engenders a love for God. A sacred Sabbath truly is a delight.

… True believers keep the Sabbath day holy….