The Sabbath is a Delight (FHE plans and quotes from Elder Nelson)

Lesson Plan

Share and discuss the following quotes from Elder Russell M. Nelson, “The Sabbath is a Delight”. April 2015 General Conference.

“The Sabbath was His gift to us, granting real respite from the rigors of daily life and an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor but for a rest from duty, with physical and spiritual relief.”

“In Hebrew, the word Sabbath means “rest.””

“We now partake of the sacrament on the Sabbath day in remembrance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.”

“It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father.With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, “What sign do I want to give to God?” That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear.”

Discussion: What activities can we do on the Sabbath that would make it a delight to us?

Elder Nelson suggested: going to church, partaking of the sacrament, being diligent in our callings, strengthen family ties, study and teach the gospel, family history work, give service to others.

“Not pursuing your “own pleasure” on the Sabbath requires self-discipline. You may have to deny yourself of something you might like. If you choose to delight yourself in the Lord, you will not permit yourself to treat it as any other day. Routine and recreational activities can be done some other time.”

Personal experience: After pondering Elder Nelson’s counsel, I have decided to forego my pleasure reading on Sunday (novels,  Facebook, and blog subscriptions) and instead spend my free time studying the gospel. I have been amazed to discover what is available on the Gospel Library iPad app!

Scripture

“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then … are ye sanctified in Christ.” (Moroni 10:32)

Further Study

Video excerpt from Elder Nelson’s talk

Elder L. Tom Perry, “The Sabbath and the Sacrament”. April 2011 General Conference.

(Visited 470 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *