Words for the Weekend

Sunday: Holy Day

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 [the Sabbath]:

· one will be on his knees in prayer
· preparing lessons
· studying the gospel
· meditating
· visiting the ill and distressed
· writing letters to missionaries
· taking a nap
· reading wholesome material
· attending all the meetings of that day at which he is expected.
· Take time [on the Sabbath] to be together as families to converse with one another
· to study the scriptures
· to visit friends, relatives, and the sick and lonely
· work on your journals and genealogy
· The Sabbath is a day on which to take inventory—to analyze our weaknesses, to confess our sins to our associates and our Lord
· It is a day on which to fast in “sackcloth and ashes.”
· It is a day on which to read good books
· a day to contemplate and ponder
· a day to study lessons for priesthood and auxiliary organizations
· a day to study the scriptures and to prepare sermons
· a day to nap and rest and relax
· a day to visit the sick
· a day to preach the gospel
· a day to proselyte
· a day to visit quietly with the family and get acquainted with our children
· a day for proper courting
· a day to do good
· a day to drink at the fountain of knowledge and of instruction
· a day to seek forgiveness of our sins
· a day for the enrichment of our spirit and our soul
· a day to restore us to our spiritual stature
· a day to partake of the emblems of [the Lord’s] sacrifice and atonement
· a day to contemplate the glories of the gospel and of the eternal realms
· a day to climb high on the upward path toward our Heavenly Father

-Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
“Chapter 16: The Sabbath—A Delight,”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church:

Spencer W. Kimball, (2006),165–77

No Day At the Beach

Brother McLay and I love being parents. We adore our children. We love spending time with them. We learn from them all the time. We have fun--lots of fun--being their parents.

That said, It's not always easy being a parent. Really. It's no day at the beach.

Right now you might be rolling your eyes, thinking, "Ha! That's nothing. You should try having a parent."

Well, that's hard, too. We've been there. But now that Brother McLay and I are parents, we get to see the other side of the coin, too.

Ephesians 6:1-2 read, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment..."

Commandment. Honoring your parents is a commandment. (SELF STUDY: Look up the word HONOR in the dictionary. What exactly does it mean to honor your parents? Look particularly at the first definition on dictionary.com: honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions) Why is honoring your parents a commandment? Well....because, it doesn't always come naturally. The Lord knows this, so he teaches us--and YOU--what our role as children should be, no matter what our parents are like.

I ran into one of Brother McLay's seminary students at the park the other day. She is an incredible young woman. Just as beautiful and incredible and lovely as young women come. She expressed some frustrations she'd been having with her mom. We chatted about her situation until I had to leave (in other words: stop my children from hanging off the monkey bars, like...um...monkeys.) I gave her a quick hug and waved good-bye.

"Be patient with your mom," I said as I walked away, "She's doing her best." (Because, after all...I'm a mom and I'd want my kids to be patient with me)

I then felt impressed to add, "Which is not to say it is THE BEST, but it's her best." (Because, after all, I'm a mom and I know we moms really do try our best but sometimes don't do it very well.)

Let's now go back and finish that scripture in Ephesians 6:2. It says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and thy mother (which is the first commandment...with promise.)"

What is this promise? The FIRST promise given with a commandment? You'll find it in Exodus 20:12 and it says, "that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord God giveth thee." Some people joke that the promise is your days will be long. But, if you read it carefully, the promise is your days will be long in the land. Crossreference it, and you'll learn that the land here is the promised land. Honor your parents, and your days will be long in the promised land.

It is not coincidence that the first commandment to have a promise attached to it is the commandment to honor your father and mother. Instead, here is a beautiful reminder to us that the Lord knows. He knows how difficult it is to be a child. He knows what kind of humility it takes to be teachable, to learn the lessons of youth, to honor a mother who is just trying her best. He knows. And, so He gives you a clear and blessed promise for your obedience.

With that said, we invite you to take a vacation this weekend from eye-rolling, griping and whining about your parents. Honor them. Love them. And let the promised blessings come.