Keeping The Sabbath Day Holy

What will you with your Sabbath Day?? 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I wish to share an article I found about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. I know that The LDS Church is putting an emphasis on ways to keep the Sabbath Day holy. Most LDS members know that this is a basic doctrine of our Church, but some of us look at it as a restriction- being told the things we should not do on Sunday. Rather, let's focus on the things we can do to make Sunday more meaningful and more worthwhile. I personally believe that Sunday is a blessing- with "restrictions" or not. This is a day where I know I can be with my family and friends to rejoice in the Gospel's truthful message. Sunday is my day set aside from the world, set aside to serve others and do His work. I love Sundays. And although I have to work on some Sundays- I do everything I can do to make Sundays a little different, and a little more special.

Let's take a look at the article I found on LDS.org. Click here to read "Five Ways to Celebrate the Sabbath as a Family". This article has 5 main ideas- with some sub heading ideas to help you get to the "big idea".

The way I have looked at this is to find some things that I know I need to work on- picking only 3 or 4, and focusing on those until I feel I can add more things to work on. (Don't over whelm yourself!!)

Here are the few I have chosen:
1. Make the Sabbath Different- specially "Make Sunday Feel Different" &
2. "Make Sunday Sound Different"
For number one, I want to do my part to participate in wholesome activities with my family, especially on Sunday. I want to do my part to help us participate in activities that we wouldn't normally do everyday. To do this I will have to make the effort on Saturday to make sure that we accomplish the things we need too so that Sunday can be focused on the Savior.
For number two I want to make sure that I am listening to LDS music. I have found on Pandora Internet Radio that there is a station called "LDS Hymns of Worship" and this station has beautiful music that invites the Spirit and helps you to be happy! I am going to try and play this music more often to help set the mood/tone for Sunday Worship.
3. "Perform Family Service"- To set this into motion I want to try and invite my family to help me make cookies or other desserts for families in our area who may be in need. We can take the treat together and write them a "thinking of you" card to let them know things will be okay and we are here for them. We may also invite other families to participate with us in serving others, or in Family activities.

These are three things I decided I want to try to work on. I just want to challenge you to look over the list of suggestions and find a few things that you feel you could do better on, and make a plan to execute them! Write it down, put it on the fridge, on the calendar and do it! I know that by making an effort every week to make the Sabbath more special, and different than all the other days of the week- by giving our Sabbath to our Heavenly Father, we will be truly blessed. Our days and weeks will be better, and we will be so much happier. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us when we strive to follow Him. I know He lives, and He loves every single one of us.
Of this I testify, In the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen

Love,
Samantha