We have been commanded to keep the sabbath day holy. It's in the Bible, it's in the Book of Mormon. People are very familiar with this commandment.
But as I was reading a post on a friend's facebook page, it brought a feeling of sadness that this commandment seems to be so misunderstood. A Christmas parade was being held on Sunday and she wondered if appropriate to go. She added how could she resist (posting a link to a picture)-an old man in a Cat in the Hat costume riding a silly bike
The responses-
- We would. Mormon Tabernacle Choir has concerts on Sunday
- We would consider it. If we were in the mood, then sure.
- absolutely!
- We would, as long as it wasn't during church. Sounds like fun!
- go for it! Good times with the family, right?
- neat experience and a good family time!
- Go! Sunday is a time to be with family. I think it would be a blast!
- I'd go!
- Heck yes! Yea for family activities on Sundays! :)
-UH YEAH! We go to the beach sometimes. It's free and we would just be home watching TV anyway
- Yes to family events like parades. Kids love them!
Her response- "Good to know everyone! Sometimes we get so caught up in the 'keeping the sabbath day holy' that we forget that the biggest part of that is being together as a family. ...
Sunday is the only day we have together for more than a couple hours and usually ends up being in our pajamas doing nothing all day. ... Glad to know I wouldn't get the snooty nose in Utah for doing something on the 'sabbath!' ... And to rub it in your faces I will be in my shorts and flip flops in 65 degree weather"
Over 10 responses and not a single 'no.' I like to think the people that thought no just didn't respond so they weren't considered a 'snooty nose' Utah mormon. But why is it that someone who doesn't think wearing shorts and flip flops while watching a bunch of silly dressed people singing and dancing is keeping the sabbath day holy.
I think the overwhelming attitude of people in favor made it seem they were doing it as a family so it was okay. That is obviously what she felt from their responses by admitting that 'we forget the biggest part [of keeping the sabbath day holy] is being together as a family.'
That just isn't true. The biggest part of keeping the sabbath day holy is remembering our Savior Jesus Christ. Mormon Tabernacle choir singing songs that invite the Holy Ghost to testify of Him helps to do this. Very different from a parade. I don't think you're going to be getting the Holy Ghost to testify of eternal truths watching Cat in the Hat ride a bike.
I'd also like to add that I think we should dress to keep the sabbath day holy. Maybe we don't need to stay in our church clothes the whole day, but we should stay away from things that bring a sense of lounging and not setting the day apart as a sacred, special day.
Okay, I'm off my soap box and would like to share a few scriptures and quotes from prophets on the matter. :)
Isaiah 58:13 - If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the asabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
President Spencer W. Kimball cautioned, however, that if we merely lounge about doing nothing on the Sabbath, we are not keeping the day holy. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts. (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 170.)
Finally, Ezra Taft Benson said “The purpose of the Sabbath is for spiritual uplift, for a renewal of our covenants, for worship, for rest, for prayer. It is for the purpose of feeding the spirit, that we may keep ourselves unspotted from the world by obeying God’s command” (“Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,” Ensign, May 1971, 6)
