On six occasions, the Pharisees accused Jesus of sabbath-breaking. In response, He taught them what it really means to keep the Sabbath day holy: Be joyful, do God's work, and serve others. We also benefit from gathering with other believers on that day.
Letting Go of My Burdens
The Sabbath Day is a good time to set aside things that are weighing us down. Here's how Jeremiah taught that principle to the ancient inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus said the Lord unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which... Continue Reading →
“A Sign Between Me and You”
One way God communicates with us is through signs. We may not see Him, but we recognize things that happen as evidence that He is mindful of us. On some occasions, those signs have been dramatic and unmistakeable, such as the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-12), or the signs of the Savior's birth and death... Continue Reading →
The Seventh Day
Before God could teach the children of Israel to keep the Sabbath Day holy, He had to acclimatize them to a seven-day week. They had previously been slaves, with no control over their schedules. And in ancient Egypt, weeks were ten days long, not seven. (See Janice Kamrin, "Telling Time in Ancient Egypt," February 2017,... Continue Reading →
“God Blessed the Seventh Day”
Are we so busy all the time that we aren't enjoying our lives? Out of the seven periods of creation, God reserved the seventh one for rest. "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made" (Genesis 2:3, see... Continue Reading →
Oblations
In ancient Israel, an essential element of worship was giving gifts to God. Worshippers would bring animals or grain to the temple—the very best they had—to offer as a sacrifice. The King James Version of the Bible most frequently refers to these gifts as "offerings," but it sometimes calls them "oblations." An oblation is a... Continue Reading →
“Never Speaking of Their God Again” – Alma 31:23
What is the role of church meetings in discipleship? I've been thinking about that question today, as I've pondered the religious observance of the wealthy Zoramites. According to Mormon, the Zoramites would gather at their house of worship one day each week and offer thanks to God. But after participating in this collective worship, they... Continue Reading →
They Should Observe the Sabbath Day – Mosiah 18:23, 25
23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God....25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the... Continue Reading →
In Six Days the Lord Made Heaven and Earth – Mosiah 13:16-19
16 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.17 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;18 But the seventh day, the sabbath of the Lord thy God, thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that... Continue Reading →
Prepare Your Minds for the Morrow – 3 Nephi 17:3
3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.(3 Nephi 17:3)There are five different passages in the Book of Mormon which speak of... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon Study Notes 