JUDGEMENT DAY

I was reading in Romans chapter 14 the other day.  Paul was talking about why we shouldn’t judge others, but what caught my eye were the following verses:

             But why dost thou judge thy brother?  or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?  for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (New Testament | Romans 14:10 - 12)

If Paul is right in that we shall give account of our lives to God, what would we say?  Would we say something like, I know I am not perfect, but I did do this and that in thy name and start listing off the many wonderful things we did in life.

That should be the last thing we should do.  Trust me, the scriptures make it clear what our reaction should be.  King Benjamin stated,

              I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

            And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.

            And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

              And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you.  And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

            And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves?  I answer you, Nay.  Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.  (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 2:21 - 25)

Paul said, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

(New Testament | Ephesians 2:7 - 10)

Likewise Isaiah said, “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?  or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it?  as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.” (Old Testament | Isaiah 10:15)

Jesus said, “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (New Testament | John 15:4 - 5)

Likewise, he also stated, “The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 88:49 - 50)

Wait a minute!  What about all the time we have spent in doing our church callings, all the service we have rendered, the sacrifices we have made and the abuses we have suffered in His name!  Don’t they count for anything?

Paul said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

(New Testament | 1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3)

Before I explain why I put the above scripture in, let me show you what really counts.  Jesus said,

            “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

            For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

            Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee?  or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?  or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”(New Testament | Matthew 25:34 - 40)

You might say, well he just told us that our service does count!  However, we must notice that those whom he says this to, did not even know they had served Him!  They didn’t bring forth the list of their own good works, but Jesus did.  How is it possible not to know your own good deeds?  The answer is in the motive.  When we serve the Lord and others with any other motive than out of the pure love of Christ, which is charity, then we have received our reward.  If I do my callings or give service to get noticed, or to try to earn salvation points, or even just because I know I should, I have received my reward.  When we do things with charity, we don’t keep track of it, we don’t seek any reward, we are just happy to do it.  We do not let our left hand know what our right hand doeth. (New Testament | Matthew 6:3)  We simply forget about our service.

            And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (New Testament | Luke 18:9 - 14)

            We must remember to be like the publican.  We all far short of the glory of God.  As King Benjamin clearly stated, we are to recognize our dependence upon God, and our own nothingness.  We simply do not have anything to brag about!  Even, Nephi who had great visions and did great works and suffered many things because of his obedience to the Lord stated, “Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am!  Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.” (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 4:17)

            So what should we do at our judgement day?  Fall on our knees in gratitude for the Lord’s atoning mercy towards us unworthy creatures and acknowledge His hand in our lives.

Do Not Be Angry

                In teaching the people in ancient America, Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God.  But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment.” (Book of Mormon /3 Nephi 12:21-22) Christ says that we are not to be angry with whom the individuals we interact with, otherwise we will incur the displeasure of our Heavenly Father.  We can be angry at things like social injustice, bad government, high taxes, etc., but with individuals, we need to learn how to deal with annoying or offending situations without anger.

                Christ said, “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.  Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”(3 Nephi 11:29 - 30)  Likewise King Benjamin said, “neither will ye suffer that they (your children) transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin…”(Mosiah 4:14)

                There are many instances where we feel justified in getting angry-- too many to even begin to enumerate.  However, I believe that Jesus Christ provided solutions to help us quickly resolve that anger and be reconciled to those whom we are upset with. 

                Our first step in containing our anger is the knowledge that God does not approve of us being angry.  The second step is trying to live the two great commandments.  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:37 - 39)   

                Christ said, “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 12:44) In order to be true followers of Christ, we must love our enemies and need to remember that when someone makes us angry, in essence, they become our enemy.  In order to deal with our current enemy, we need to know that to love them is to wish for and respond with genuine concern for the welfare of their soul.   As the Lord “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world…” (2 Nephi 26:24), we should strive to do likewise, even for those who have offended us. 

                There are different levels of anger, from a short-lived, impromptu reaction to an unexpected offense to harboring resentment or holding a grudge for years.  Our anger at our two year old who just took a black marker to our light colored couch would be different than if our 12 year old did it or if our 32 year old neighbor did the same thing.   Most of us experience offenses great and small in our lifetime.  Any action we take towards the offender, whether it be to teach our child consequences for their actions or to legal justice being served for a great offense, needs to be motivated by the desire to help the offender learn and grow from their mistakes or actions.

                Christ said to “agree with thine adversary quickly” (Matthew 5:25) which I believe means to make up quickly with the person who has annoyed you, hurt you, upset you, etc.   Holding a grudge or refusing to forgive, does not do anyone any good.   “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14 - 15)  Jesus also said, “Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee— Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you. (3 Nephi 12:23 - 24)  We cannot even approach God, let alone have His Spirit to be with us, when we are or have been mad at someone, and not reconciled with them yet. 

                Often a source of contention or anger comes from others’ actions in regards to our personal possessions.  We are often tested to see if we will choose the better part which is love of God and His children more than the things of the world as in the child’s mistreatment of the couch.  Yet others should not be allowed simply to destroy things, but we need to deal with those situations without anger. 

                “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn thou not away”, said Christ. (3 Nephi 12:42)  Again we are dealing with personal possessions and often we are annoyed when others want the things we possess. This natural tendency occurs at a very young age, as often children fight over the same toy.  We need to “let go” of being possessed by our possessions and freely share.  The Lord said that “it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 49:20)

                 On rare occasions, our possessions may be stolen from us.  A wonderful example of what our attitude should be is the reaction of the Bishop in “Les Miserables” when Jean Valjean stole the silverware. 

                   The next morning at sunrise Monseigneur Bienvenu was strolling in his garden. Madame    Magloire ran up to him in utter consternation.

                   "Monseigneur, Monseigneur!" she exclaimed, "does your Grace know where the basket of silver is?"

                   "Yes," replied the Bishop.

                   "Jesus the Lord be blessed!" she resumed; "I did not know what had become of it."

                   The Bishop had just picked up the basket in a flower-bed. He presented it to Madame Magloire.

                   "Here it is."

                   "Well!" said she. "Nothing in it! And the silver?"

                   "Ah," returned the Bishop, "so it is the silver which troubles you? I don't know where it    is."

                   "Great, good God! It is stolen! That man who was here last night has stolen it.

Monseigneur, the man is gone! The silver has been stolen!"

                   The Bishop remained silent for a moment; then he raised his grave eyes, and said gently to Madame Magloire:--

                   "And, in the first place, was that silver ours?"

Madame Magloire was speechless. Another silence ensued; then the Bishop went on:--

"Madame Magloire, I have for a long time detained that silver wrongfully. It belonged to the poor. Who was that man? A poor man, evidently."

                The Bishop did not let his possessions possess him.  He loved his “enemy” and that love was even more evident when the police caught Jean Valjean and brought him to the Bishop.

                   "Ah! here you are!" he exclaimed, looking at Jean Valjean. "I am glad to see you. Well, but how is this? I gave you the candlesticks too, which are of silver like the rest, and for which you can certainly get two hundred francs. Why did you not carry them away with your forks and spoons?"

               

                In returning kindness instead of anger, the Bishop succeeded in not only getting rid of his enemy by turning him into a friend, but also, because of his interest in the welfare of Jean Valjean’s soul, said:

                                 

                   "Do not forget, never forget, that you have promised to use this money in becoming an honest man." Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of ever having promised anything, remained speechless. The Bishop had emphasized the words when he uttered them. He resumed with solemnity:--"Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God."

                   This recurred to his mind unceasingly. To this celestial kindness he opposed pride, which is the fortress of evil within us. He was indistinctly conscious that the pardon of this priest was the greatest assault and the most formidable attack which had moved him yet; that his obduracy was finally settled if he resisted this clemency; that if he yielded, he should be obliged     to renounce that hatred with which the actions of other men had filled his soul through so many years, and which pleased him; that this time it was necessary to conquer or to be conquered; and that a struggle, a colossal and final struggle, had been begun between his viciousness and the goodness of that man….Did a voice whisper in his ear that he had just passed the solemn             hour of his destiny; that there no longer remained a middle course for him; that if he were not henceforth the best of men, he would be the worst; that it behooved him now, so to speak, to               mount higher than the Bishop, or fall lower than the convict; that if he wished to become good    be must become an angel; that if he wished to remain evil, he must become a monster?

                Victor Hugo continues to write, “On emerging from that black and deformed thing which is called the galleys, the Bishop had hurt his soul, as too vivid a light would have hurt his eyes on emerging from the dark. The future life, the possible life which offered itself to him henceforth, all pure and radiant, filled him with tremors and anxiety. He no longer knew where he really was. Like an owl, who should suddenly see the sun rise, the convict had been dazzled and blinded, as it were, by virtue.That which was certain, that which he did not doubt, was that he was no longer the same man, that everything about him was changed…”  The actions and words of the Bishop changed Jean Valjean’s life for good.  Even if it hadn’t changed his life, the Bishop did the right thing.

                The Lord said, “…if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded; But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 98:23 - 24)  Notice that we are to bear persecution and affliction from the hands of others patiently.  Getting angry is not bearing it patiently. 

                Unfortunately, the individuals we get any at the most often are members of our own family.  Children are so active and loud, especially in large families, and there can be bickering, disobedience, complaining, fighting, rough housing, etc. that can annoy and upset parents.  I have lost my temper at my children more than once.  However, I had an experience that I have often pondered on.  The Lord filled me with His love for three days when I was in my early thirties.  I had four children at the time, who were very rambunctious and I often found myself yelling at them in order to get their attention or obedience.  However, during those three days, I could not possibly raise my voice to those precious souls God had given me to take care of.  I was able to handle conflicts or disturbances with calmness and love.  A great peace settled over our home for those three days.  Then after that I got sick and by the time I got well, I was back to my old self, but desired greatly to become that person I was for those three days.  I am in my sixties now and my children are grown, and I have learned a lot about what I needed to change in myself and it isn’t until now that I am being taught about the Lord’s perspective on anger.  I guess I always knew that we shouldn’t raise our voices, but I felt justified in doing so and felt that was the only way I could get my kids attention or, by golly, they should know that what they did angered me!  I really wish I understood what I now understand about anger back then.  Perhaps the reason I am just now gaining an understanding of this, is that I had so much other things to work on in myself first.  I never have been one to hold grudges against another and have learned a lot what it means to forgive through some serious offenses to my family.   It is now that I am learning that what we would consider minimal anger is not pleasing to the Lord.   I hope I can help someone else understand this much earlier in their life than me.

                Someone might argue that there are several scriptures that mention God’s wrath, His anger, and His vengeance. For example, “And again I say unto you, if ye observe to do whatsoever I command you, I, the Lord, will turn away all wrath and indignation from you, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against you. (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 98:22) or “Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by. So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes.  I the LORD have spoken it. (Old Testament | Ezekiel 5:13 - 15)

                We assume God’s anger and wrath is the same as ours.  It is not.  He explains, “I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.”(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:32)  When we are disobedient and choose wickedness over righteousness, God’s punishment is to withdraw His spirit and leave us to our own devices and misperceptions.   “I have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man.” (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 63:33) God did not inspire wars, but with the withdrawal of His spirit, Satan is free to influence men to contend with one another and wars ensue.

                Another great key to curbing your anger is to try to develop a sense of humor.  Satan doesn’t have a sense of humor and to dispel the temptation to get angry, turn it into something funny.  Finding humor in a situation can dispel angry thoughts instantly.  

                One piece of advice that I have found really works is to not “sweat the small stuff” in life.  Sometimes we get angry over things that really do not matter.  So what if the driver in front of you made you miss the green light and added a minute to your commute.  So what if your wife doesn’t shut the cabinet doors in the kitchen. We are being hypocritical when we focus on the faults of others! (3 Nephi 14: 5) Our relationship with others is what is really important. “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (vs. 2) Christ continues, “Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” (3 Nephi 14:12)

                The only scripture that perhaps justifies anger towards someone is found in Doctrine and Covenants 121, however, there is a stipulation that we must be certain that we are “moved by the Holy Ghost” when we do so.  Most often, we simply react to an unpleasant situation and the Holy Ghost had nothing to do with it.   The context of this scripture is love towards that individual during that unpleasant moment.

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:41 - 44)

                Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 13:19 - 21)  The eternal heavenly thing that cannot be stolen or corrupted is the love we have for each other and God.  Although that love may not be perfected yet, it is something we should strive for, to pray for, and in so doing, our relationship with God and our fellow beings will increase in joy.

Shabbat Hamalka — The Sabbath Queen

Orthodox Jews call the Sabbath day, “Shabbat Hamalka,” which means Queen or Bride of the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is the most important ritual observance in Judaism, and the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. Understanding Israel’s Shabbat can help us as Latter-day Israel to more fully understand and appreciate our Sabbath and the symbolism behind this special day.

In the scriptures, faithful members of the Church have been likened to the betrothed Bride of Christ [i.e. Rev. 19, 6-9, Hosea 2]. The symbolism of the Shabbat can be likened to the faithful saints [the Bride] entering into the rest of the Lord or His presence. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (“Come, my Beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] Bride”). The word Kallah means bride and is also the same word Ka'al — which means it is done, accomplished, completed or finished.

As a mystical entity, the Shabbat Hamalka represented the female side of Yahweh. In Talmudic literature, Rabbi Hanina [could represent Christ] used to wrap himself in festive clothes toward evening on Friday and say, “Come, let us go to receive Shabbat the Queen.” Likewise, Rabbi Yannai used to put on festive clothes on the eve of the Sabbath and say, “Come, O bride, come O bride!” [Shabbat Hamalka, Ilil Arbel, Encyclopedia Mythica].

Using this symbolism, let’s imagine ourselves [the Bride] engaged to a person whom we will meet once a week [Jesus Christ]. We are encouraged to call him every day, but allowed to be in his presence only on the specified day of the week. Can you imagine how we would prepare to meet our loved one! We certainly wouldn’t do our homework, housework or go shopping on that day — we would have done it ahead of time. We would want to spend as much of that day with him as we could. We would present our best selves to him and express our love and devotion. “For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High” [Doc. & Cov. 59:10].

Likewise, the Sabbath is a day that we should prepare for with “singleness of heart”, “rejoicing and prayer” and with “thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances”! [Doc. & Cov. 59:13-15]. The Sabbath day is a day set apart by our Lord, Jesus Christ for us to devote to Him and Him to us. It is a day symbolically to enter into His rest and to learn of Him.

The Shabbat was always a joyous day for ancient Israel. We are to call “the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord” [Isaiah 58:13].

 Alfred Edersheim wrote:

At the outset, indeed, it must be admitted that the whole social Rabbinical legislation on the subject seems to rest on two sound underlying principles: negatively, the avoidance of all that might become work; and, positively, the doing of all which, in the opinion of the Rabbis, might tend to make the Sabbath “a delight.'”

Hence, not only were fasting and mourning strictly prohibited, but food, dress, and every manner of enjoyment, not incompatible with abstinence from work, were prescribed to render the day pleasurable. “All the days of the week,” the Rabbis say, “has God paired, except the Sabbath, which is alone, that it may be wedded to Israel.” Israel was to welcome the Sabbath as a bride; its advent as that of a king. [Edersheim, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services, Chapter 9, “Sabbath and the Temple, The Law not a Burden, but a Gift”]

It is interesting to note that fasting was not allowed on the Sabbath. When Jesus was asked why His “disciples fast not,” He responded, “Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?” [Matt 9:14-15]. The Shabbat was a day of joy because children of Israel were symbolically in the presence of the Lord. It is noteworthy that in the early days of the Church, fast days were held on Thursdays.

The Shabbat involves two interrelated commandments: to remember [zachor] and to observe [shamor]. “Observe” is equated with the female side of the Shabbat and “Remember” with the male side, thus giving the Shabbat both genders. It is not coincidence that Christ is equated with remember. Helaman reminded his sons to:

Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the son of God, that ye must build your foundation.” [Helaman 5:12]

Our Sacrament prayers likewise remind us to “always remember him.” And, of course, we are to observe the Sabbath and to keep it holy.

Around 2 or 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon, observant Jews begin Shabbat preparations. The mood is much like preparing for the arrival of a special, beloved guest. The house is cleaned, the family bathes and dresses up, the best dishes and tableware are set, and a festive meal is prepared. This is a good pattern for us as Latter-day Saints in preparing for the Sabbath. The Primary song, “Saturday” exemplifies this attitude in preparing for the Sabbath as we “clean the house, do our chores and shopping and wash our hair so that we can be ready for Sunday” [LDS Children’s Songbook, p.196].

Two candles are lit in the evening, for Jewish Sabbaths begin at sunset. This ritual, performed by the woman of the house [she could represent the Bride, or the Church], officially marks the beginning of Shabbat. Her head is usually covered. The two candles represent the two commandments: zachor [remember] and shamor [observe]. She passes both hands over the candles three times, drawing or inviting the light into her home, her family and herself. As we remember and observe the Sabbath, we likewise invite the true light of Christ into ourselves, our homes, and our families.

After the lighting of the candles, the family attends a brief service that lasts about 45 minutes. After services, the family comes home for a festive, leisurely dinner. Before dinner, the man of the house recites Kiddush, a prayer over wine sanctifying the Shabbat. Then the prayer for the bread is recited over two loaves of challah, a sweet, eggy bread shaped in a braid. The family then eats dinner.

Although there are no specific requirements or customs regarding what to eat, meals are generally re-heated, stewed or slow cooked items, because of the prohibition against cooking during Shabbat. After dinner, the birkat ha-mazon (grace after meals) is recited. Although this is done every day, it is done on Shabbat in a leisurely manner with many upbeat tunes. By the time all of this is completed, it may be 9 p.m. or later. The family has an hour or two to talk or study Torah, and then go to sleep. It is interesting to note that blessings over wine and bread sanctify the Shabbat, much like our Sacrament. “Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you” [Exodus 31:13].

The next morning Shabbat services begin around 9 a.m. and continue until about noon. [We both like the 3-hour block time!] Sabbath services are an important part of the day. “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day” [Doc. & Cov. 59:9]. There is strength and power in worshipping together and in renewing our covenants with the Lord.

After services, the family says kiddush again and has another leisurely, festive meal. A typical afternoon meal is cholent, a very slowly cooked stew. By the time birkat ha-mazon is done, it is about 2 p.m. The family studies Torah for a while, talks, takes an afternoon walk, plays some checkers, or engages in other leisure activities. A short afternoon nap is not uncommon. It is traditional to have a light, third meal before Shabbat is over. We likewise, are given this time to study the scriptures, to rest, and to spend time with our families. We must remember that the “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” [Mark 2:27].

Visiting the sick and helping others in need are in line with keeping the Sabbath holy. As we serve others on the Sabbath Day, we are serving our Lord, Jesus Christ [Mosiah 2:17]. After Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath, the ruler of the synagogue accusingly said, “There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day” [Luke 13:14]. Jesus was criticized for performing a physical “labor” on the Sabbath. We need to remember that “it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day” [Matt. 10:12].

Shabbat ends at nightfall, when three stars are visible, approximately 40 minutes after sunset. At the conclusion of Shabbat, the family performs a concluding ritual called Havdalah (separation, division). Blessings are recited over wine, spices and candles. Then a blessing is recited regarding the division between the sacred and the secular, between Shabbat and the working days, etc. The blessings were expressions of gratitude and we can liken the wine, the spices and candles as reminders of the communion, the fragrance and spirit of that day and pray that they linger throughout the week.

The Shabbat is also a commemoration of the freedom from slavery in Egypt. Moses told the children of Israel, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.” [Deut. 5:15, emphasis added]

Most of us are “slaves” to the 9-5 grind. During the week, we are slaves to our jobs, to our creditors, to our need to provide for ourselves. On the Sabbath, we are freed from these concerns, much as our ancestors were freed from slavery in Egypt. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” [Matt. 11:28]. Coming unto Christ can renew us for the week as “the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things” [Doc. & Cov. 33:16].

The Sabbath day is truly a day that we can be delivered out of the land of Egypt or spiritual Babylon and enter into the rest of the Lord. Sin is enslaving and the Sabbath day is designed for us to come unto Him, renew our covenants by partaking of the Sacrament and repenting of our sins. “But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord” {Doc. & Cov. 59:12]. “And now, my brethren, I would that ye should humble yourselves before God, and bring forth fruit meet for repentance, that ye may also enter into that rest…and now these ordinances were given… that thereby the people might look forward to him for a remission of their sins, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord” [Alma 13:13, 16]. It is only through the atonement of Jesus Christ that we can escape the bondage of sin.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave] of sin. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” [John 8:34,36]. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” [Galatians 5:1].

The Shabbat is also a commemoration of end of creation, for God rested on the seventh day. By resting on the Sabbath day, we remember and acknowledge that God is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things and it should be a day of gratitude for all that He has given us. Enjoying the beauty of His natural creations is an appropriate Sabbath activity. Drawing closer to our family members, the greatest of God’s creations, is also appropriate. Often the Jewish Fathers would bless their children on the Sabbath.

The Sabbath can also be likened to the rest the righteous receive after their labors of this earth life in returning into God’s presence. Alma explained that at death the spirits of men are “taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow” Alma 40:12]. Enos likewise declared, “And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest” [Enos 1:27]. Eternal life is also equated with rest [see Alma 13:29].

At the end of seven years, God told Israel that they were to let the land rest. “Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; But in the seventh year shall be a Sabbath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord, thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of the vine undressed; for it is a year of rest unto the land…and all the increase thereof be meat” [Leviticus 25:1-7] In Zeno’s allegory, there is a lot of planting, pruning and gathering until the end of the world. I believe these Sabbaths can be symbolic of the Millenium, when the creating, the planting, pruning and gathering of men are over and all are at rest. “And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation. For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver” [Doc. & Cov. 45:58-59].

There are great promises associated with keeping the Sabbath day holy. In Isaiah 58:13-14, we read, “If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” “Yea, inasmuch as ye do this, the fullness of the earth is yours, …and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens…” [Doc. & Cov. 59:16-20]. Great temporal and spiritual blessings await those who delight in keeping the Sabbath day holy.

The great symbolism of the Sabbath is for faithful members of the Church, as the Bride of Christ, to enter into His presence, whether in this life or after death or in the Millennium. Truly Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, and we should be making preparations during the week so that we can devote our time to be in His presence and learn of Him, to serve Him, to repent of our sins, to express our love and gratitude.

The Sabbath day is the day of rest from our labors, our sins, our sorrows through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and the day we can “rest” with Him. He has promised those “that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off” [Isaiah 56:4-5].