June 26, 2011 Relief Society Lesson
The Sabbath and the Sarament, Elder L. Tom Perry
May 2011 Ensign
The New Testament is a sacred volume and is the centerpiee of scrptural history, just as the Savior should be the centerpiece of our lives. We must commit ourselves to study it and treasure it. In Paul's writings to Timothy, we read: "These things command and teach...Be thou an example of the believers, in the work, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." We are to be an example to others of our beliefs.
Begining with the creationof the world, one day was set apart from all others. "And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.." God rested from His labors on this day, and He expects HIs children to do the same. He commanded the children of Israel: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy... Six Days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord ty God...Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it." Our meals should be simple and require little Sabbath day preparation. We should focus on things of a spiritual nature. Exodus 16: 21-30 tells of the instruction given to the Israelites to collect two days worth of manna on the sixth day to sustain them on the sabbath.
Adam and Eve were instructed to observe the Sabbath. On the eve of His crucifixion, Christ implimented the sacrament with his disciples. He took bread, blessed it, gave it to the disciples and said, "Take eat; this is my body. He took the cup, blessed it, and said, "This is my blood of the the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." When He appeared on the American continent he introduced the sacrament. Even during the dark periods of apostasy, this pattern of Sabbath day worship and the sacrament continued to be practiced in many forms.
When the gospel was restored, Peter, James, and John appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery; and under their direction the priesthood authority necessary to administer the sacrament to members of the Church was restored. Young priesthood holders must be worthy to administer the sacrament by keeping the comandments and living gospel standards.
The sacrament is the center of our sabbath day observance. We are to keep ourselves unspotted from the world; go to the house of prayer and offer up our sacraments; and rest from our labors. We are to avoid worldly distractions. Elder Melvin J. Ballard suggested: "We want every Latter-day Saint to come to the sacrament table because it is the place for self-investigation, for self-inspection, where we may learn to rectify our couse and to make right our own lives, bringing ourselves into harmony with the teaching of the Church and with our brethren and sisters."
