Chapter 24 - The Sabbath Day

What Is the Sabbath Day?

The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word meaning day of rest. Before the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Sabbath day commemorates God's covenant day of rest after he finished the Creation. It was a sign of the covenant between God and His people.  Now the Sabbath also commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

President Elder 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 The Miracle of Forgiveness, pp. 96-97. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 170.)

What kinds of things may we do on the Sabbath? The Lord has told us to prepare only simple foods on that day, keeping the purpose of the Sabbath in mind (see D&C 59:13).  

In deciding what other activities we should properly engage in on the Sabbath, we should ask ourselves: Will it uplift and inspire me? Does it show respect for the Lord? Does it direct my thoughts to Him?

Additional Scriptures

  • Exodus 31:14-17 (under Mosaic law the Sabbath was kept holy under pain of death the Sabbath is a perpetual covenant between the Lord and His people)