Search Results for: blog why we all need a sabbath

LDS Week in Review – April 7th-12th

Life just keeps getting busier! If you weren’t able to join us here throughout the week, we have a way for you to catch up. Here is the week in review. We began the week with a review of “The Crayon Messages,” a cute LDS novel about a woman who learns the true meaning of service by carrying out her visiting teaching assignment. We then continued the Scripture Study series with 1 Nephi 15:20-25. The sixth lesson in our Joseph Smith manual teaches us about “The Mission of John the Baptist,” who was sent to prepare the way of Jesus … Continue reading →

RS/EQ: The Sabbath – A Delight

As we head into the 2008 course of study for Relief Society and Priesthood, I’m excited to think about studying the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Before we begin, however, I’d like to finish up our series on the lessons provided by Spencer W. Kimball. Lesson #16 in the book is entitled, “The Sabbath—A Delight.” How often do we think of the Sabbath as being a delight? I generally think of it with a mixture of fear and trembling, but I need to change that perception. President Kimball begins his lesson by sharing a story from a time when … Continue reading →

Why Go To Church?

Why should a Christian go to church? Does it matter if they don’t? Can you be a Christian and not attend church? This blog originated from a discussion with a group of Christians. One of the members saw no need to go to church and claimed he found it a hindrance to his Christian life. He insisted he felt closer to God by spending time reading God’s Word, communing privately with the Lord and making time to interact with those outside the church. He saw no problem with this. Other Christians in the group tended to think for a short … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Bowed and Infirm

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As we study Luke 13:10-17 for lesson 10 this week, we find ourselves again looking at the Sabbath day. This time, the Savior has healed a woman on the Sabbath, and received criticism from the ruler of the synagogue. Since yesterday we looked at the idea of keeping the Sabbath, I would like to turn our attention today towards the crippled woman herself. The woman in the synagogue was “bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.” I wonder sometimes about us. Aren’t there days when you feel bowed down and crushed under by the weight of your … Continue reading →

The Sabbath in Bible Times

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Why Was there a Sabbath? The Sabbath, or “day of rest”, established by God at Creation is still observed by Orthodox Jews today. God’s purpose for the Sabbath was not simply that His people “take a day off” to remember His act of Creation, but also that they would be set apart from all other nations by their observance of it. The pagan nations, which eventually surrounded Israel, didn’t observe the Sabbath. Therefore, if the Jews continued to keep it, it would help protect them from assimilating into pagan cultures, and also make Israel stand out to its neighbors. Josephus, … Continue reading →

Week in Review: Faith to Black Friday

This week I talked about what faith is as defined in the Bible, whether or not there is ever a time to be violent, the importance of taking a time for rest in our week to recuperate, and what I learned the day after Thanksgiving while braving the mall early in the morning. In my Faith Is… blog, I define “faith” as stated in the Bible as well as give examples of Biblical characters of great faith. The Bible is full of scriptures regarding faith and the importance of applying it in our own lives. Is There Ever A Time … Continue reading →

Why We All Need a Sabbath

God commanded for us to rest on the Sabbath just like He had done after six days of creation. Jesus clarifies what the Sabbath is really about: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) It seems the Sabbath isn’t just a day of the week, but a time that God has given us of significance. In the Hebrew and Greek translations, Sabbath, it is said to be an intermission or rest from regular work. Throughout our week, we are likely busy doing this or that. Our bodies were not designed to keep going … Continue reading →

Do You Record General Conference?

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For a few years now, we have recorded general conference. Usually it is because during the Saturday session we might be busy with other things, and always think we will come back to it. Well, this year, we were out of town during general conference, and did not get to hear much except for President Monson’s announcement about missionaries shortly before we lost radio coverage in the car. So, I have been really grateful that we recorded it this year. And, to make it even better, we are actually watching those recordings! My husband had the idea that we would … Continue reading →

I’m the Mean Mom

If my eleven-year-old is to believed, my rules are just too strict. My kids can’t watch Star Wars until they’re ten, and they can’t watch Indiana Jones until they’re twelve, even though Lego makes toys from these shows, and that proves they’re good for kids, right? In addition, we’re LDS, and we believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. With five and half inches of new snow on the ground on Sunday, it’s tempting to go out and sled or build a snowman, but my son has to wait until Monday. None of his friends have to wait. Why, if … Continue reading →

Gospel Questions: What about Those Latte-Drinking Mormons?

A non-member friend recently asked me: Is it true I can’t drink tea, coffee, alcohol and be a Mormon? And why did the missionaries tell me I couldn’t drink coffee, but my Mormon friend goes to Starbucks every day for a latte? As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have what is called “The Word of Wisdom.” This is a revelation that was given to Joseph Smith which gives us guidelines about the care and nourishment of our bodies. In this revelation, we are counseled to stay away from coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco. There … Continue reading →