Making the Sabbath Day Holy

The Church is emphasizing the importance of Sabbath Day observance to us members. At first, I inwardly groaned in the way I do about talks on missionary work. "Not another one! How many ways can we hear the same thing??"

I recently heard a devotional talk given by Elder Bednar to the students and faculty at BYU-Idaho. His talk, entitled "Repeat Over Again...The Same Things as Before," struck me. He said, We have learned to treasure the spiritual gems that are revealed through repetition. The distinctive nuggets of inspiration and spiritual knowledge that flow into our minds and hearts as we repeatedly teach and testify of gospel truths are the product of a line upon line and precept upon precept pattern of revelation. Repetition is a vehicle through which the Holy Ghost can enlighten our minds, influence our hearts, and enlarge our understanding."

Mike has been working on a talk this whole week about the Sabbath Day and I've been pondering the words he has written. It struck me that I've been looking at the Sabbath Day all wrong: in terms of what I shouldn't do. Don't shop. Don't work. Don't do homework. Don't exercise. But it is so much more about what I DO that is going to make the Sabbath a day of beauty, rest, and spiritual renewal.

Also this week, I've been working on a Sunday School lesson focusing on 2 Ne 3-5 in the Book of Mormon. Chapter 3 talks about Joseph Smith and his divine mission with the restoration of the Gospel. 

On my mission, we talked about the "Triad of Testimony." If the Book of Mormon is true, then the Church is true, because there wouldn't be a true book given to a false church. If the Church is true, then the Prophet Joseph Smith was called of God, because the Lord wouldn't have a false prophet restore a true church or translate a true book of scripture. My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith is linked to my testimonies of the Book of Mormon and the truthfulness of the Gospel, but it doesn't really stand alone. I've thought a lot this week about why that is and I finally have my answer.

I interact daily with the Book of Mormon. I feel the pages of the scriptures in my hands. I listen to talks that quote the Book of Mormon. I ponder its words as I prepare my lessons. I teach its principles to my children. I testify to them them about their Savior, using scripture from the Book of Mormon.

I interact with the Church daily. I listen to conference talks by our Church leaders. I work on Sunday School lessons. My family attends Church activities. We have pictures of the temple on our walls. I bear my testimony about their Savior, using words of living prophets.

When do I interact with Joseph Smith? Rarely. I don't read about his life. I rarely read his words, lectures, and teachings. I don't emphasize his mission with my children. I don't bear my testimony about their Savior in relation to the teachings and life of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

This morning, I felt prompted that there is something I can DO on the Sabbath to make it better, to make me better. Every Sunday, I will "spend time" with Joseph Smith. I will study his life. I will read his words. I will teach my children about him and use his teachings as I testify of Jesus Christ. 

I can't wait to get started.