Relevant clips from The Chosen:

Luke 11:1-4 The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 12:1-8, Jesus Plucks Grain on the Sabbath

Matthew 12:9-13, Jesus Heals a Man with a Withered Hand

Jesus Christ will give me rest as I rely on Him.

Dear brothers and sisters, I grieve for those who leave the Church because they feel membership
requires too much of them. They have not yet discovered that making and keeping
covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in
baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power
of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!

The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God. (President Nelosn, General Conference, October 2022)

How have you experienced increased power come from making and keeping covenants?

How have you seen your life become easier through keeping covenants?

The Sabbath is a day to do good.

What can we learn about serving others on the Sabbath from the ways the Saviour served and blessed those around
Him?

Jesus Christ taught, “It is lawful to do well on the sabbath.” As we follow His example, we can serve others—even on our day of rest.

The Sabbath provides opportunities to serve not only God  but also others.

‘Jesus reaffirmed the importance of the Sabbath day devotion, but he introduced a new spirit into this part of worship.
(See  Matt. 24:20). Rather than observe the endless technicalities and prohibitions concerning what should and should not be done on the Lord’s day, he affirmed that it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath. (See  Matt. 12:12) He taught us that “the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day”  Matt. 12:8) and introduced the principle that “the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath”  (Mark 2:27). He performed good deeds on the Sabbath, such as healing the man with palsy (see  Mark 2:1–12) as well as the man with the paralyzed hand (see  Matt. 12:10–13) So the divine mandate of Sabbath day observance in our day is now more of a manifestation of individual devotion and commitment rather than a requirement of civil law.’ (James E Faust, General Conference, October 1991)

My words and actions reflect what is in my heart.

 

The Book of Mormon teaches us that when we are brought before the judgment bar of God “our words will condemn us … and our thoughts will also condemn us.”  Alma 12:14 Let us recognize profanity and vulgarity for what they are. They are sins that separate us from God and cripple our spiritual defenses by causing the Holy Ghost to withdraw from us. We should abstain and we should teach our children to abstain from all such expressions.

 We can also encourage our associates to do likewise. …..Our marrieddaughter who lives in Illinois had such an experience. As she took her turn carpooling the twelve-year-olds home from the soccer game, her noisy passengers
filled the air with profanity. Firmly, but with good humor, she told the boys, “In our family we only use that name when we worship, so we ask you, please don’t say that name disrespectfully in our car.” The boys immediately complied, and, what is even more surprising, most of them still remembered the next time it was her turn to drive. (Elder Dallin H Oaks, General Conference, April 1986)

In the Doctrine and Covenants we read:

“Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God. …“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion” (D&C 121:45–46).

How can we let virtue garnish our thoughts unceasingly?

The Preach My Gospel manual says:‘

‘Virtue originates in our innermost thoughts and desires. It is a pattern of thought and behaviour based on high
moral standards. Since the Holy Ghost does not dwell in unclean tabernacles, virtue is prerequisite to receiving the Spirit’s guidance. What you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong
measure of your virtue. ‘

And in Philippians 4:8 we read:

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The problem that we have is that impure thoughts can come into our minds without us wanting them to but as the saying goes – you may not be able to stop a bird from landing on your head but you can stop it from
building a nest there.

D&C 121: 46 sets out the promised blessings of living a life of virtue:

 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion• shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto
thee forever and ever.

We are told hear that our confidence shall wax strong in the presence of the Lord.  James E Talmage said ‘ Any man may enter the highest degree of the celestial kingdom when his actions have been such that he can feel at home there.’

Marion G Romney said ‘I can think of no blessings to be more fervently desired than those promised to the pure and virtuous. Jesus spoke of specific rewards for different virtues but reserved the greatest gift, so it seems to me, for the pure in heart, for they, said he, shall see their God. (Matt 5:48)
And not  only shall they see the Lord but they shall feel at home in his presence.’

We are also promised that the Holy Ghost shall be our constant companion because we won’t do anything to offend the Spirit. The virtuous will receive a scepter of unchanging righteousness and truth – in other words, they will be joint heirs with Christ.