“Instructing the Saints how to keep the Sabbath and how to fast and pray.”

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 59

Polly Knight

Polly Knight was the wife of Joseph Knight Sr. She was the matriarch of the Saints from Colesville, New York. These Saints were the first to gather to Zion.

Though terminally ill, she made the journey to Missouri, hoping to be buried in Zion’s blessed soil. She died 2 weeks after arrival.

Joseph Smith attended her funeral and said that Polly “sleeps in Jesus until the resurrection.”

After the funeral Joseph received D&C 59.

D&C 59:1-3: Find phrases that might be of comfort to Polly’s family and friends.

SACRED COMMANDMENTS

D&C 59:9-12,15

“Our observance or nonobservance of _________________________ is an unerring measure of our attitude toward the Lord personally and toward his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead” (Elder Mark E. Petersen).

Look for one insight into how we can keep the Sabbath day holy.

the Sabbath day

LET’S LIST SOME SUNDAY RULES!

• How does keeping Sabbath commandments relate to our love of the Lord?• How does loving our neighbor show our love for the Lord?

RULES OR PRINCIPLES?Teachers who are commanded to teach “the principles of [the] gospel” and “the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77) should generally forgo teaching specific rules. For example, they would…not provide a list of dos and don’ts for keeping the Sabbath day holy. Once a teacher has taught the doctrine and the associated principles from the scriptures and the living prophets, such specific applications or rules are generally the responsibility of individuals and families.

Dallin H. OaksOct. 1999 Gen. Conf.

Some Sabbath Day Principles

• What I do on the Sabbath should bring me closer to God.• What I do on the Sabbath should be unselfish.• What I do on the Sabbath should keep me unspotted from the

world.• What I do on the Sabbath should not stop someone else from

keeping the Sabbath.

The Sabbath of the Lord is becoming the play day of the people. It is a day of golf and football on television, of buying and selling in our stores and markets. Are we moving to mainstream America as some observers believe? In this I fear we are. What a telling thing it is to see the parking lots of the markets filled on Sunday in communities that are predominately LDS.

Our strength for the future, our resolution to grow the Church across the world, will be weakened if we violate the will of the Lord in this important matter. He has so very clearly spoken anciently and again in modern revelation. We cannot disregard with impunity that which He has said.

Gordon B. HinckleyOct. 1997 Gen. Conf.

“Over a lifetime of observation, it is clear to me that the farmer who observes the Sabbath day seems to get more done on his farm than he would if he worked seven days. The mechanic will be able to turn out more and better products in six days than in seven. The doctor, the lawyer, the dentist, the scientist will accomplish more by trying to rest on the Sabbath than if he tries to utilize every day of the week for his professional work. I would counsel all students, if they can, to arrange their schedules so that they do not study on the Sabbath. If students and other seekers after truth will do this, their minds will be quickened and the infinite Spirit will lead them to the verities they wish to learn. This is because God has hallowed his day and blessed it as a perpetual covenant of faithfulness” (Ensign, Nov. 1991, 34). James E. Faust

Do you have a testimony of this?

WORDS YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD

“FASTING” OR “FAST SUNDAY”

D&C 59:14A word the Lord associates with

“fasting”

•Alma 5:45-46•Alma 6:6•Alma 8:26•Isaiah 58:6,9•Helaman 3:35•Matthew 17:14-21•D&C 59:14•D&C 88:76•Hymn 139

Reasons for Fasting

The law of the fast has three great purposes. First, it provides assistance to the needy though the contribution of fast offerings, consisting of the value of meals from which we abstain. Second, a fast is beneficial to us physically. Third, it is to increase humility and spirituality on the part of each individual.

L. Tom Perry, April 1986 Gen. Conf.

FASTING 101DISCUSSION

1. About how long should a fast normally last?

2. Is it ok to drink water while fasting?

3. How often should a person fast?

4. How much fast offering should a person pay?

5. Should you fast if you are sick?

6. At what age should children start fasting?

7. What should you do if fasting makes you irritable?

8. What is the difference between fasting and just being hungry?

9. What do YOU do to make the most of Fast Sunday?

10.Do you have a testimony of Fasting? Why or why not?

D&C 59:21

How do we offend God or get him angry at us?

Are you grateful for…

5 THINGS?10 THINGS?50 THINGS?

100 THINGS?

Could you list them?

GRATEFUL FOR 100 THINGS?

• 10 living people you are grateful for.

• 10 people who have died you are grateful for.

• 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.

• 10 material possessions you are grateful for.

• 10 things about nature you are grateful for.

• 10 things about today you are grateful for.

• 10 places on earth you are grateful for.

• 10 modern-day inventions you are grateful for.

• 10 foods you are grateful for.

• 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

BLESSINGS• Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:23–24 - what

blessings are promised?

“Instructing the Saints how to keep the Sabbath and how to fast and pray.”

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 59