I will keep the Sabbath Day Holy
by Melanie Day

 

I want to share a story with you today.  As I tell you this story I will be choosing reverent helpers to help me hold the pictures...so I'll need you to  be quiet and to listen very carefully.
 

Click here to print out pictures to go with this story from the Friend

“I’m impressed with the five goals you scored in today’s game.” Collin turned around and realized the coach was talking to him. “I’m starting a new soccer team and want to know if you would like to be on it.”
 

“Would I ever!” Collin thought. Collin was nine, and he enjoyed playing soccer. When he and his parents attended the first planning meeting for the new team, the coach explained that they would be playing in many tournaments on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. “Not on Sunday,” Collin thought.
 

After talking with his parents, Collin told the coach he wanted very much to be on the new team, but he would not play soccer on Sunday. He thought the coach would be mad and not let him be on the team. The coach paused for a moment and told Collin that he still wanted him to play. Collin felt peace in his heart and knew he had made the right decision. He was glad he had made the team. His parents reminded him that even if he had not been allowed to join the team, he had made the right decision.

In our day we have also been commanded to keep the Sabbath day holy. Read and discuss D&C 59:9–19, 23. Ask the children to identify what is being asked of them and what blessings are promised in return.

(ask) What are we asked to do? (See verses 9–15)

(ask) What temporal blessings are promised? (See verses 16–19)

(ask) What spiritual blessings are promised? (See verses 9 and 23)

As we keep ourselves unspotted from the world by keeping this commandment, we can become more like Jesus Christ and become worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

SONG - Saturday (pg.196)

GAME - Place a picture of the Savior on the right side of the board and a paper cutout of a child on the left. Post pictures or word strips of appropriate Sunday activities around the room. (Click here for some ideas).  Have the children count off days of the week one by one, starting with Monday. Continue until you reach the child who says Sunday. Have the child stand and suggest an appropriate activity for the Sabbath or choose an activity from the pictures. Move the paper child one step closer to the Savior. Repeat until the child cutout is next to the Savior. Testify that keeping the Sabbath day holy will bring us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

SUMMARY - Just as it is important not to do certain things on the Sabbath day so that we can keep it holy, it is also important to do some things. We should do those things that will help us feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They have taught us that Sunday is the day we worship Them. The Lord said, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). We can keep the Sabbath day holy when we go to church, take the sacrament, and do other things that will help us feel the Spirit on the Lord’s day.  Share your testimony.
 

OTHER Optional Activity Ideas:
 

Sabbath Day is a day to readjust from Families in Zion

Gather items mentioned in the song, "Saturday". Items may include nail clippers, nail file or emery board, shampoo, soap, shoe polish, shopping/grocery bag,. . . use your imagination. Place items on a tray and choose a child to come be your helper.  Have everyone watching memorize the objects for one minute. The child your chose will take away one object while everyone else has their eyes closed. Then have them open their eyes.  Choose one person to guess which item is missing. 

Sabbath Day Activity Ideas:
 

Pray

Write in journal

Help prepare the meals

Write thank-you letters

Visit relatives and friends

Go to church

Listen to uplifting music

Read my scriptures
Fill out a pedigree chart

Learn to play or sing a Primary song

Write letters to or draw pictures for the missionaries

SOURCES-

- “Sharing Time: The Lord’s Day,” Friend, Nov. 2004, 17