Friday, January 11, 2013

Mormonism: Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

In Mormonism , many churches, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. The Sabbath day is a day of rest; rest from work, from play, and rest from worldly problems. Now I know that many people don't have a choice in keeping the Sabbath day holy, namely people in the medical realm, soldiers in the army, navy, and marines, security, and many other professions that require people to work. They work to save lives, and protect the country.
A lot of people go shopping on the Sabbath  There are a few good reasons why people either shop or get gas on the Sabbath because: Someone needs medication, the person(s) are going on a long drive to maybe their relatives or something like that, an accident happened, whether they lost their home due to fire/flood and they need to get some food and clothing. There are a few good reasons, but many shop because they feel like it. Former Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley stated in a talk;
“There isn't anybody in this Church who has to buy furniture on Sunday. There really isn't. There isn't anybody in this Church who has to buy a new automobile on Sunday, is there? No. There isn't anybody in this Church who, with a little care and planning, has to buy groceries on Sunday. No. … You don’t need ice cream to be bought on Sunday. … You don’t need to make Sunday a day of merchandising. … I don’t think we need to patronize the ordinary business merchants on the Sabbath day. Why do they stay open? To get customers. Who are those customers? Well, they are not all nonmembers of this Church. You know that and I know that." (Gordon B. Hinckley, 1996)
I think that both members and nonmembers of the Church should keep the Sabbath day holy. I am seeing quite a few cities where businesses are pushing to have their stores be opened on a Sunday. What are the benefits of being opened on a Sunday? A little more income? So what; I bet employees will be unhappy if they are asked to work another day. There are benefits to keeping the Sabbath  Some benefits include a day to look forward to to rest from work. They can rest from worldly troubles and from stress. It also gives families a chance to be together and to strengthen family relationships. It gives fathers a chance to see their children and not worry about work. It also gives people the chance to feel the Holy Ghost more strongly. The Sabbath is a day of rest from worldly things, and a day of repentance, church, and family.

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