For those of you who do not know me, I am Tamra (last name) and I
have been in the ward for nearly two years now. You’ll have to excuse me for
being horrible with names, but last week a young man at the beginning of his
talk said something like, do not go to FHE because that is where our victims
are found. I actually was a bit saddened by this because I go to FHE each week.
Go to FHE, you’ll have a great time. My recommendation is to leave before the
number of people in the building dwindle. Once people start leaving, there are
not as many to choose from. J
Bishop called brother Tanner over and when he came back, said anyone care to
give a talk on Sunday with me? My reaction: I started knocking on wood and
saying that I scathed by the last 2 years… quite frankly I am okay. So how am I
up here, bishop and brother Legere were outside when I left. I have been thinking about my talk and what
specifically I wanted to talk about when a friend of mine contacted me bright
and early the next morning with a dilemma, he had just gotten a promotion at work
which is great, but if he took it then it would be required of him to not be
active in his duties in the church... In which he inspired to work on.
I am not a fan of talking of such things as work because as
we well know, work is important. It is one of the many gifts heavenly father
has blessed us with, to be able to provide for ourselves, others, and one day
our own families. Growing up, I learned the importance of work. My parents were
both hard, diligent workers. When my mom got too sick to work, it was just my
dad and to cover expenses he would sometimes work 12 hour days, 7 days a week.
Growing up in that household, it is hard to not see the importance of work.
Then there are others whom work is required on Sunday with
little option. Some of us are doctors, and nurses, officers, firefighters, and
I'm sure the list could go on. These men and women provide a service to help
others in their time of need.
But if we get that option which way can we (or I should say,
should we) choose? Like all life decisions we should pray to our Heavenly Father
with all of our concerns and ask/say, this is my choice, is it right? I have
learned that when I don't get an answer, Heavenly Father is putting his faith
in me to see if I'll make the right decision... I've been taught all the things
I need to know, now it's time to see if I'll stick to those things. As brother
Leguere was telling me Monday night, the most difficult part about keeping the
sabbath day holy is ourselves. We are the ones to makes that decision, we are
the ones with that agency, so what are we going to choose?
It’s not always about work either. As president Spencer W.
kimball said, “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy
things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important but insufficient. The
Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges
about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will
be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating,
visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and
attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. To fail to do
these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, pp. 96–97.)
After reading this quote, clearly I have work to do. I have
improved, but clearly I can still do better. In fact, I use to be that girl who
would go into work on Sunday. As a first year teacher, still I might add, I was
having a hard time accomplishing all I needed to get done and making time for
other aspects in my life. Then December came and if you are not an elementary
school teacher, let me explain the stress... Grading, report card comments (for
every student, the comments were a page long... No joke and I had 34 children),
actual report cards, and parent conferences. Those 3 weeks were some of the
most stressful I have ever experienced. I even woke my roommates up at around
1am one morning from the anxiety I felt. No bueno. But... Winter break finally
came. What a glorious two weeks it was! I realized the importance of not
working on Sunday in those two weeks even though my roommates had tried telling
me before. Since then, I have rarely worked on a Sunday. I still get work accomplished;
I get things done that I need to get done. The perk, I'm not nearly as
stressed.
Elder faust's talk given at general conference in Oct 1991
states, "Over a lifetime of observation, it is clear to me that the
farmer who observes the Sabbath day seems to get more done on his farm than he
would if he worked seven days. The mechanic will be able to turn out more and
better products in six days than in seven. The doctor, the lawyer, the dentist,
the scientist will accomplish more by trying to rest on the Sabbath than if he
tries to utilize every day of the week for his professional work. I would
counsel all students, if they can, to arrange their schedules so that they do
not study on the Sabbath. If students and other seekers after truth will do
this, their minds will be quickened and the infinite Spirit will lead them to
the verities they wish to learn. This is because God has hallowed his day and
blessed it as a perpetual covenant of faithfulness. (See Ex. 31:16.)”
So since it is a covenant between our Heavenly Father and
ourselves, the important question remains, what can or should we do? Let me
provide you with 3 things that Elder Faust continued saying. “The first
has to do with the physical need for rest and renewing. Obviously God, who
created us, would know more than we do of the limits of our physical and
nervous energy and strength. The second reason is, in my opinion, of far greater
significance. It has to do with the need for regeneration and the strengthening
of our spiritual being. God knows that, left completely to our own devices
without regular reminders of our spiritual needs, many would degenerate into
the preoccupation of satisfying earthly desires and appetites. This need for
physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration is met in large measure by
faithful observance of the Sabbath day. The third reason may be the most
important of the three. It has to do with obedience to commandments as an
expression of our love for God. Blessed are those who need no reasons other
than their love for the Savior to keep his commandments. The response of Adam
to the angel who asked Adam why he made a sacrifice unto the Lord is a model for
all. Responded Adam, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” (Moses 5:6.) The
prophet Samuel reminds us, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken
than the fat of rams.” (1 Sam. 15:22.)”
As elder Faust continues, “In our time God has recognized our intelligence by not requiring
endless restrictions. Perhaps this was done with a hope that we would catch
more of the spirit of Sabbath worship rather than the letter thereof. In our
day, however, this pendulum of Sabbath day desecration has swung very far
indeed. We stand in jeopardy of losing great blessings promised. After all, it
is a test by which the Lord seeks to “prove you in all things” (D&C 98:14) to see
if your devotion is complete. Where is the line as to what is acceptable and
unacceptable on the Sabbath? Within the guidelines, each of us must answer this
question for ourselves. While these guidelines are contained in the scriptures
and in the words of the modern prophets, they must also be written in our
hearts and governed by our conscience. Brigham Young said of the faithful, “The
spirit of their religion leaks out of their hearts.” (Journal of Discourses, 15:83.) It is quite unlikely that there will be any serious
violation of Sabbath worship if we come humbly before the Lord and offer him
all our heart, our soul, and our mind. (See Matt. 22:37.) What is
worthy or unworthy on the Sabbath day will have to be judged by each of us by
trying to be honest with the Lord.” The answer to the question, what
should or can we do when given a choice is simple, as long as we try (I love
that word, try, because our Heavenly father knows that we are not perfect),
being true and honest in keeping the sabbath holy we will be blessed.
I want to close with my testimony…
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