The Sabbath is a day to remember what God has done for us.

Throughout history, God has associated certain mighty works with the Sabbath. These mighty works include the Creation (see Genesis 2:1–3), the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt (see Deuteronomy 5:15), and the Savior’s Resurrection (see John 20:1–19; Acts 20:7). Invite members to review these passages and discuss how remembering each of these events can help us honor the Sabbath day. What are some of the mighty works that God has done for us? How can we remember these things on the Sabbath day? As applicable, invite members to discuss questions like these in their families.

Genesis 2:1-3

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 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.

Note: The Septuagint, the Samaritan and other Old Testament manuscripts saythat God ended His work on the sixth day.

What does it mean when it says that God rested on the seventh day?

 ‘We are taught in modern revelation, unique in Judeo-Christian theology, about the definition of the word rest. While it can mean to cease all activity, it obviously means something else when speaking about God and Creation and the seventh day.God has never completely ceased activity. Such an idea is unthinkable. According to modern revelation, ‘rest’ refers to the fullness of God’s glory (D&C 84:24). Thus, on the seventh day, after God had placed life on earth, he rested – he entered into or enjoyed or basked in the glory that only a perfect Creater-God can experience by seeing the earth come to life with human beings, plants and animals.’ (Verse by Verse, The Old Testament)

D&C 84:24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

What does this scripture tell us about the importance of honouring the Sabbath?

• God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. We should honour and sanctify it also. (To sanctify means ‘to set apart as, or declare holy)
• The Sabbath is as old as creation. See Jeremiah 6:16 – observation of the Sabbath may be an ‘old path’ but it is a ‘good way’ and today, many say ‘We will not walk therein’

Why do we keep the Sabbath on the first day of the week instead of the seventh?

‘It is evident from the Bible that the sacred day was the seventh day of the week during Old Testament times, whereas in New Testament times the Sabbath day was called the “Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10) and was observed on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb. In the present dispensation the Lord called the day of worship “my holy day” in a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on Sunday, 7 August 1831. (D&C 59:9–10.)

Traditionally the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recognized Sunday as the day of worship, according to the pattern given in Doctrine and Covenants section 59. However, in the Middle East today, some branches of the Church observe the Sabbath on days other than Sunday, consistent with the custom of the countries in which they are located. This is necessary so that meetings can be held at a time when the members of the Church can be present.

Since the Sabbath is for man and not man for the Sabbath (see Mark 2:23–28) with its purpose not only to be a day of rest for the individual, but also to be a day of spiritual instruction and public worship, it is important that the Sabbath day be observed at a time when the people can attend. The significant fact seems not to be which day is observed so much as how and why the day is observed and that the local group of believers observe the same day each week.

In the Church the matter of Sabbath day observance can be settled quite effectively from the fact that the twelve successive Presidents of the Church from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Spencer W. Kimball have all seen fit to observe Sunday as the proper day, and have thus set the pattern. The important factor is that the programs of the Church are under the direction of the holy priesthood and have the approval of the President of the Church—the prophet, seer, and revelator, and the Lord’s representative on earth. When rare exceptions to the established day have seemed necessary, as noted above, the proper priesthood authority is able to make the decision.’ (Robert J Matthews, Ensign January 1978)

How can our Sabbath day reflections be helped by remembering the Creation?

• Remembering the idea of rest
• Remembering that the Sabbath was sanctified by God
• Gratitude for the earth and all life upon it

Deuteronomy 5:15

15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

In what ways are we like the Children of Israel? What are some of the mighty works that God has done for us?

How can our Sabbath day reflections be helped by remembering the Exodus?

• We have all been brought out of bondage to sin through Christ’s atoning sacrifice which we commemorate in the sacrament.
• We are part of the House of Israel and have made covenants with the Lord
• Gratitude for the mighty works that God has done for us.

John 20:1-9

Jesus had taught his apostles of His eventual death and Resurrection, but they had not understood. Following his crucifixion they were forlorn and dejected. They must have wept and wondered as the great stone was rolled to seal the burial place.

The Jewish Sabbath passed. Then came a new day, a day that ever after was to be the Lord’s day.

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 ¶ Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

What details in this account stand out most to you? Why?

John 20: 1-10 John outran Peter to the sepulchre but did not enter. Why didn’t John go in?

Russell M Nelson: When Simon Peter and John the Beloved ran to investigate the report that the body of their crucified Lord had been taken from the sepulchre, John, being younger and swifter, arrived first, yet he did not enter. He deferred to the senior Apostle, who entered the sepulchre first. (See John 20:2–6.)

John 20:7 the napkin, that was about his head…[was] wrapped together in a place by itself

The significance of the napkin being neatly wrapped and carefully placed by itself was that a grave robber would not be so meticulous. While the empty tomb was the first evidence of resurrection, the neatly wrapped napkin was the second—it suggested that the individual who wrapped that napkin may have been the resurrected Lord.

Why did Jesus say Touch me not?

Bruce R. McConkie

“The seeming refusal of Jesus to permit Mary to touch him, followed almost immediately by the appearance in which the other women were permitted to hold his feet, has always been the source of some interpretative concern. The King James Version quotes Jesus as saying ‘Touch me not.’ The Joseph Smith Translation reads ‘Hold me not.’ Various translations from the Greek render the passage as ‘Do not cling to me’ or ‘Do not hold me.’ Some give the meaning as ‘Do not cling to me any longer,’ or ‘Do not hold me any longer.’ Some speak of ceasing to hold him or cling to him, leaving the inference that Mary was already holding him. There is valid reason for supposing that the thought conveyed to Mary by the Risen Lord was to this effect: ‘You cannot hold me here, for I am going to ascend to my Father.’” (The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary)

If he had not yet ascended to his father – where had he been? Spirit world

 How can our Sabbath day observance be helped by remembering this account?

Acts 20:7

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Why do we keep the Sabbath on the first day of the week instead of the seventh?

‘It is evident from the Bible that the sacred day was the seventh day of the week during Old Testament times, whereas in New Testament times the Sabbath day was called the “Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10) and was observed on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb. In the present dispensation the Lord called the day of worship “my holy day” in a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith on Sunday, 7 August 1831. (D&C 59:9–10.)

Traditionally the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recognized Sunday as the day of worship, according to the pattern given in Doctrine and Covenants section 59. However, in the Middle East today, some branches of the Church observe the Sabbath on days other than Sunday, consistent with the custom of the countries in which they are located. This is necessary so that meetings can be held at a time when the members of the Church can be present.

Since the Sabbath is for man and not man for the Sabbath (see Mark 2:23–28) with its purpose not only to be a day of rest for the individual, but also to be a day of spiritual instruction and public worship, it is important that the Sabbath day be observed at a time when the people can attend. The significant fact seems not to be which day is observed so much as how and why the day is observed and that the local group of believers observe the same day each week.

In the Church the matter of Sabbath day observance can be settled quite effectively from the fact that the twelve successive Presidents of the Church from the Prophet Joseph Smith to President Spencer W. Kimball have all seen fit to observe Sunday as the proper day, and have thus set the pattern. The important factor is that the programs of the Church are under the direction of the holy priesthood and have the approval of the President of the Church—the prophet, seer, and revelator, and the Lord’s representative on earth. When rare exceptions to the established day have seemed necessary, as noted above, the proper priesthood authority is able to make the decision.’ (Robert J Matthews, Ensign January 1978)

Why had the disciples come together? (To break bread ie to take the sacrament, and to hear Paul preach)

How can remembering this episode help us to honour the Sabbath day?

CONCLUSION

Why do you think the brethren have asked us to focus on the Sabbath day for these next few months?

Consider how the topics we have discussed today can enrich your Sabbath day observance (and that of your family)