Lesson 4: The Commandments Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, (2004), 71–81
Our Sabbath-day behavior is a reflection of our commitment to honor and worship God. By keeping the Sabbath day holy, we show God our willingness to keep our covenants. Each Sabbath day we go to the Lord’s house to worship Him. While there we partake of the sacrament to remember Jesus Christ and His Atonement. We renew our covenants and show that we are willing to repent of our sins and mistakes. (Paragraph 73
On this day, we enjoy a rest from our labors. As we attend Church services and worship together, we strengthen each other. We are renewed by our association with friends and family. Our faith is strengthened as we study the scriptures and learn more about the restored gospel. (Paragraph 74)
When a community or nation grows careless in its Sabbath activities, its religious life decays and all aspects of life are negatively affected. The blessings associated with keeping the Sabbath day holy are lost. We should refrain from shopping on the Sabbath and participating in other commercial and sporting activities that now commonly desecrate the Sabbath. (Paragraph 75)
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Family or the Nation of one's self.
What happens when an individual or a family "grows careless in its Sabbath activities"?
What are possible signs we should look out for which indicate that we're in jeopardy? (What can we look out for so that we can recognize that we should make a change in our attitude toward the Sabbath?)
What are examples of changes we could make?
Perhaps the fix is prescribed specific to the behavior, or attitude?
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"a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person's behavior."
view, viewpoint, outlook, perspective, stance, standpoint, position, inclination, temper, orientation, approach, reaction; opinion, ideas, convictions, feelings, thinking
"a position of the body proper to or implying an action or mental state."
posture, pose, bearing
"uncooperative behavior; a resentful or antagonistic manner."
e.g. "I asked the waiter for a clean fork, and all I got was attitude"
"the orientation of an aircraft or spacecraft, relative to the direction of travel."
"A bad attitude is like a flat tire - if you don't change it you'll never go anywhere."
"You may not be able to control every situation and it's outcome but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it"
"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." - Zig Ziglar
(aptitude: a natural ability to do something.)
"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." - Albert Einstein
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude." - Colin Powell
"Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude." - Ralph Marston (Quaterback, Boston Bulldogs, 1929)
"What you do today can improve all your tomorrows." - Ralph Marston
"Beset by a difficult problem? Now is your chance to shine. Pick yourself up, get to work and get triumphantly through it." - Ralph Marston
"A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results." - Wade Boggs
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." - Lou Holtz
Latter-day Saints should set this holy day apart from activities of the world by entering into a spirit of worship, thanksgiving, service, and family-centered activities appropriate to the Sabbath. As Church members endeavor to make their Sabbath activities compatible with the intent and Spirit of the Lord, their lives will be filled with joy and peace. (Preach My Gospel: Lesson 4: The Commandments: Paragraph 76)
Wilt thou be made whole?
Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
What man is that which saith unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
As we move forward into a wonderful future, there are what some may regard as the lesser commandments, but which are also of such tremendous importance. I mention the Sabbath day. The Sabbath of the Lord is becoming the play day of the people. It is a day of golf, and football on television, of buying and selling in our stores and markets. Are we moving to mainstream America, as some observers believe?
In this, I fear we are. Our strength for the future, our resolution to grow the Church across the world will be weakened if we violate the will of the Lord in this important matter. He has so very clearly spoken anciently, and again, in modern revelation. We cannot disregard with impunity that which he has said.