Deseret News | Orson Scott Card: Sabbath Day rules

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Orson Scott Card: Sabbath Day rules

ramper | 5:21 a.m. April 30, 2009

Kudos Mr. Card on a sensible and enjoyable view of the Sabbath. Those who choose their interpretation of the letter of the law without regard to the spirit of the law seem to take delight in holding a mirror up to any who do not agree with their Taliban style methods.

Instereo | 8:10 a.m. April 30, 2009

Personally, here in Utah, I'd rather shop on Sunday because there are very few in the store. I figure why lose the spirit on Saturday fighting the crowds when I can have peace on Sunday.

I agree with "ramper" that Taliban style methods of enforcing religious rules defeats the whole purpose of religion.

timothy | 10:04 a.m. April 30, 2009

I have to admit that Orson hit it right on the mark..Some folks are so hung up on the letter of the law that they certainly violate the spirit of it...As a non member married to a born and bred member i can still remember our first married sunday together when per my normal habit i went down to the local coffee shop for a strong jolt and the New York Times...My beloved was a little bent;even though she was aware of my long standing habit(which persists to this day)...I think she was concerned about what some of the members would think...I responded by telling everyone in the ward, that i was friends with, exactly what i was doing while all the other men were at priesthood..Some were aghast at my blasphemy but the majority just said"Linda,we told you he was a scoundrel when you married him" in jest of course...At any rate one should treat every day as sabbath,give the Lord his due,love your neighbor and sometimes pick up ice cream on a sunday for dinner...

Comments continue below

Alex | 10:47 a.m. April 30, 2009

I find that if you spend your time focusing on what you SHOULD do on the Sabbath, what you SHOULD NOT do generally takes care of itself. The Sabbath is the day of spiritual rest. If you finish your day having been spiritually fed, and having edified others by your service, you are probably just fine. You generally can't do that, however, without keeping that day free from your vocation (to the extent possible), not causing others to have to work more than absolutely necessary, and from going to church to worship.

Roland | 11:12 a.m. April 30, 2009

Some critics of George Orwell were upset by his callousness about the burning of churches in Catalonia in 1936.

Those of us non-believers leave it to the faithful to burn each other's churches, mosques, and synagogues, which tey can always be relied upon to do!

You will squabble over the minutae of the "Sabbath"; you will argue over whether your god is three-in-one or three separate with one purpose; you will fight over who has authority from god to bless the sick, ordain others, and name babies.

In a vast and complicated discussion about the universe, where we know more and more about less and less, one faction of "believers" - itself composed of mutually warring factions - has the sheer arrogance to tell us that, despite their eternal disagreements, THEY KNOW! They preach the "mysteries" of godliness and the "atonement", but claim to KNOW! They insist we already have all the essential (saving) information we need.

Such stupidity combined with such pride and arrogance should be enough to exclude "believers" from being taken seriously.

The person who is certain, and who claims divine warrant for his certainty, belongs to the infancy and ignorant of our species.

Alex | 11:14 a.m. April 30, 2009

Ramper and Instereo:

While your points on those who focus on the minutiae of the Sabbath day observance at the expense of substance are well taken, let us keep it real here. Just so you know, Taliban style methods are things like the death penalty, and you know it. I don't see the most strident Sabbath day observers in this country doing that. No need to beat up straw men.

Alex | 11:36 a.m. April 30, 2009

I have noticed that the best way to keep the letter of the law is to focus on keeping the spirit of the law. Those who focus on minutiae of the letter of the law in the long term don't end up keeping the letter of the law very well anyway. Conversely, those who have no focus on the Sabbath day at all or who rationalize it away, keep neither the spirit, nor the letter.

Obviously while we should live the other days of the week consistent with the Sabbath day, other days of the week are NOT Sabbath days.

Anonymous | 1:46 p.m. April 30, 2009

It's stuff like this, is why I stopped going to church all together.

washcomom | 2:24 p.m. April 30, 2009

To each their own on what they constitute Sabbath activities should be. All the Lord asks is that you honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days did he labor, and on the seventh He rested.

Doctors and emergency personnel don't have the luxury of having their Sabbath off when they are on call.

People should just remember that most others are trying hard - just like you are, and not to judge.

ramper | 3:15 p.m. April 30, 2009

re: Alex
I understand you point but I was not referring to any death penalty. The Taliban use of social intimidation is far more prevalent than their extreme uses of force. There are too many people who want to have the power to work out everyone else's salvation.
re: washcomom
Your last line was excellent. Many people are on call on the Sabbath and I remember years back I had the pleasure of meeting S. Dilworth Young who was on his way back from Philly to Salt Lake. I left the flight line to meet him and wished him a safe trip. It was on a Sunday. I know he appreciated being able to get back home on that day.

Tia | 4:11 p.m. April 30, 2009

Wow. As a former Mormon, I am impressed with this article and the viewpoints expressed!

I Can Breathe Now! | 4:33 p.m. April 30, 2009

When I was Mormon I secretly hated Sundays. My active Mormon family members still express to me privately how much they hate Sundays. I am so thankful I got out of that repressive "religion."

Mela | 4:33 p.m. April 30, 2009

I'm saddened by people who use "keeping the spirit" as an excuse to shop on Sunday. Sure, I'd love to avoid crowds too, but I'm not going to contribute to making someone else work on Sunday just so something is a little more convenient for me.

Aaron | 4:51 p.m. April 30, 2009

This is a great article!
I think that just about everyone in the church (me included) has done what those college girls did at one point or another. Whether it be the issue of Caffeine, PG13 (or even PG) movies or keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses...and in some cases differing levels of understanding and beliefs on these minor issues.
As a people we Mormons can often be caught looking down on those that are behind us (in some respects) on the road to perfection. That haughtiness alone is a serious fault and a set back.
The 11th Article of Faith states "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where or what they may."
Look to the beam in your own eye.

bustarhythmic | 5:10 p.m. April 30, 2009

I am returning to church after years of inactivity. Upon return, I approached the Sabbath the same as ever. Then I was challenged to "keep it holy". I turned off the television. I noticed an increase in spirit. Later I read THE HOLY SECRET and gained further insight into this concept. When our hearts are turned to the Holy then the Sabbath will follow.
Funny thing, I have interpreted conference in the past, and have not recieved monetary compensation for it. I am not sure if any others do.

Anonymous | 9:05 p.m. April 30, 2009

My great grandmother who lived in territorial Utah, (and lived to her late 90's), would cook all food on Saturday, and her family only had cold meals on Sunday. My grandmother and my mother were never bothered by cooking on the Sabbath. I'm sure it was much harder for my great grandmother to pre cook foods and have to keep them cold with an ice box, than her descendants with refrigerators.

kc | 7:10 p.m. May 2, 2009

I am confused about Sunday or Saturday as the sabbath. My whole life I thought it was Sunday. Saturday and Sunday are both family days where I refrain from working on my usual occupation, but I do some laundry, dishes and cooking. I go to church on Sunday am generally. I do want to honor my Father and His commandments. I do rest more, even napping on Sundays. I hope this is pleasing to Him as He has blessed me so much and comforted me in many distressful times. I hope He will show me what he prefers and makes a way for me to obey. Perhaps he doesn't care which day as long as my heart is tender and open to hear Him on these days.

kc | 7:13 p.m. May 2, 2009

I remembered something else about the sabbath. That Jesus said it was good to do good on the sabbath as Jesus healed people on the sabbath. So, reaching out to others is definitly a pleasing thing to do on Sunday as long as we don't overdue and wear out. He still wants us to rest and honor Him.

Timothy | 7:26 p.m. May 2, 2009

What you "scriptorians" fail to read is that the Sabbath was to be kept by believers and their households! It does not matter if non-believers work on the Sabbath. That is why Jews have for centuries hired non-Jews to perform work on the Sabbath that they were forbidden.

So, you see, shopping on the Sabbath is NOT wrong simply because it makes someone else "work" on the Sabbath. Those who are working on the Sabbath are, by definition, non-believers. They have the choice to work or not.

This is why I take my family out to eat all three meals on the Sabbath. Nobody in my household works on the Sabbath preparing meals or cleaning up after meals.

JJ | 8:20 a.m. June 3, 2009

Hold on, hold on!

Sunday is NOT the Sabbath day! The Sabbath is the SEVENTH day of the week, which is Friday sunset to Saturday sunset (Biblical days begin at sunset!).

This day was NEVER changed to Sunday by God. Nor does Sunday commemorate the resurrection of Jesus (it is in BAPTISM that we identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ).

However HUMANS did change the day. Observing Sunday as Sabbath is a TRADITION OF MAN which is CONTRARY TO THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD.

If you really profess to worship the true Creator, then obey His commandments! Worship, by definition is an act of recognizing who's WILL should prevail! If He is your Lord, then His will should prevail and you should surrender in total obedience. However if you decide that you have the right to choose how you worship Him (by observing Sunday instead of the Sabbath), then your will has prevailed! You are worshipping God in your own way! But we are told to worship Him in TRUTH and in Spirit!

Peace!

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