Here is a lesson I taught recently about the importance of the Sabbath Day:
Before class I wrote the following scripture references on the board:
Exodus 20:8
Deuteronomy 5:12
Leviticus 19:30
Mosiah 13:16
Mosiah 18:23
I started class by asking my students the following question:
Q-Which day of the week is your favorite day? Why?
In Moses 3, we find Moses continuing with his account of the creation and we find God doing the following…
Read Moses 3:1-3 and look for what was different about the seventh day.
Q-What did the Lord do differently on the seventh day?
Sanctify = to make something sacred or holy
I asked my students to choose one of the passages from the board about the Sabbath day and look for another action word the Lord uses in reference to the Sabbath day
I invited them to create a tag or bookmark in their gospel library app and label it Sabbath Day. Then as we studied today they could easily add the scriptures/talks we go over for future reference.
Deuteronomy 5:12 "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.
Mosiah 13:16 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."
Mosiah 18:23 "And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God."
Q-What action word did you discover? (keep)
Let's look at what the word keep means...
First divide your class into groups of 2-3 then do the following activity.
Use the definition page found below and allow your students to randomly or purposely choose which section they would like to use for this activity. (This is another chance to get them up out of their seats by coming up to the front to choose from the board or choosing out of a bag, etc.
Activity Instructions: Read through the definitions with your companions and look for which ones you feel best describe the way God wants you to "keep" the Sabbath Day. Be prepared to share what you discover.
Give the students 1-2 minutes to decide which definition(s) they feel best represent what God means when He says "keep the Sabbath Day"...there is definitely more than one
When the students are done you can have them get up and write the definitions they chose on the board or share verbally with the class.
Ask the following:
Q-What was it about that particular definition(s) of keep that really spoke to you?
Q-With this understanding of the word keep, what does it mean to you when you hear that God keeps His promises?
Q-What does that teach you about who God is? (His attributes, character, how He feels about you?, etc.)
There is more that the Lord wants you to know about the Sabbath Day. He not only wants you to keep it, but there are also 2 other important words that are associated with the Sabbath.
Let's Read Exodus 31:16 and see if you can find the first important word that is associated with the Sabbath Day…
Exodus 31:16 "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant."
A Covenant--
Q-What is a Covenant? (go to Gospel Topics in the Gospel Library to find the answer)
Read the first paragraph under the topic Covenant
A covenant is a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions. When we choose not to keep covenants, we cannot receive the blessings, and in some instances we suffer a penalty as a consequence of our disobedience.
Q-What does perpetual mean?
continuing or enduring forever; everlasting.
lasting an indefinitely long time
continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless
blooming almost continuously throughout the season or the year.
Q-What more do you learn about the Sabbath Day from Exodus 31:16?
Covenants always have blessings associated with them because God just loves to bless His children…so let's find some of the blessings:
The following worksheet contains the scripture references and instructions needed for the following activity.
Activity Instructions: With your group, read the scripture and answer the questions given. Specifically look for how it would relate to your life today.
Isaiah 58:13-14
"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."
Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-10,15-16
Leviticus 26:2-4
When they are finished, discuss what blessings they found by asking them the following:
Q-What does the Lord ask you to do?
Q-What do you think the images and references mentioned could represent in the life of a teenager living today?
There is one more thing associated with the Sabbath Day…
Let's look for another significant work that is associated with the Sabbath day…Read, as a class, the following scriptures: Ezekiel 20:20, Exodus 31:13, Exodus 20:12 and find what else the Sabbath is…
Q-According to these scriptures, what else is the Sabbath Day? (A Sign)
Q-What is a sign? (Look in Gospel Topics for the answer)
Read first 2 paragraphs under the topic Sign and think about the Sabbath Day.
Signs are events or experiences that demonstrate the power of God. They are often miraculous. They identify and announce great events, such as the Savior’s birth, death, and Second Coming. They remind the children of God of covenants the Lord has made with them. Signs may also bear witness of a divine calling or indicate the Lord’s disapproval. The word sign is also used in scripture to denote a memorial of an event that is to be remembered (see Exodus 13:1–10).
Signs are associated with gifts of the Spirit. They are often an indication of faith in God. The resurrected Jesus Christ taught His disciples, “Signs shall follow them that believe” (Mark 16:17; see also Mormon 9:24–25).
We’ve looked at what ancient prophets have said, let's look at what a modern day prophet says about the Sabbath Day…
Handout Pres. Nelson's Talk "The Sabbath Is a Delight"
Activity Instructions: Highlight sections of this talk that you feel would be particularly relevant for your students to understand. I highlighted 3 different sections and handed them out to have the students study in a small group of 2-3. I felt strongly to included paragraph 9 in each section read.
When they are finished ask the following:
Q-What did you discover?
Q-In your experience, how has your desire to keep the Sabbath Day been a sign to you and others that you follow Jesus Christ?
Testify to the importance of keeping the Sabbath Day because it is not just a day of rest but it is a perpetual covenant and a sign between us and God.
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