Family Home Evening Lesson #21: FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH--SABBATH DAY OBSERVANCE

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing "Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love" Hymns pg. 177

3. Read Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

4. Read and discuss the following from "For the Strength of Youth"

The Lord has given the Sabbath day for your benefit and has commanded you to keep it holy. Observing the Sabbath will bring you closer to the Lord and to your family. It will give you needed rest and rejuvenation.

Many uplifting activities are appropriate for the Sabbath. Worship the Lord, attend church, spend quiet time with your family, study the gospel, write letters, write in your journal, do family history work, and visit the sick or homebound. Your dress before, during, and after church meetings should show respect for the Sabbath.

When seeking a job, share with your potential employer your desire to attend your Sunday meetings and keep the Sabbath day holy. Many employers value employees with these personal convictions. Whenever possible, choose a job that does not require you to work on Sundays.

Sunday is not a holiday or a day for recreation or athletic events. Do not seek entertainment or spend money on this day. Let your friends know what your standards are so they will not try to persuade you to participate in activities that are not appropriate for the Sabbath.

Then read and discuss the following from Russell M. Nelson:

When I was [young], I wondered just what activities were appropriate for the Sabbath. I read lists of do’s and don’ts, all compiled by others. But now I have a much better understanding, which I gained from two Old Testament scriptures (Exodus 31:12–13; Ezekiel 20:12, 19–20). Pondering these scriptures has helped me to understand. My behavior on the Sabbath constitutes my sign to the Lord of my regard for him and for my covenants with him. … I have concluded that our activities on the Sabbath will be appropriate when we honestly consider them to be our personal sign of our commitment to the Lord.

5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources: Day of Delight (New Era, June 1993)
Sabbath (FHE Resource Book)
The Sabbath Day (Gospel Principles, Chapter 24)