The Mosaic injunctions of Sabbath day observance contain
many detailed do's and don'ts.
This may have been necessary to teach obedience
to those who had been in captivity
and had long been denied individual freedom of choice.
Thereafter, these Mosaic instructions
were carried to many unwarranted extremes,
which the Savior condemned.
In that day the technicalities of Sabbath day observance
outweighed the "weightier matters
of the law" such as faith, charity,
and the gifts of the Spirit.
In our time God has recognized our intelligence
by not requiring endless restrictions.
Perhaps this was done with a hope
that we would catch more of the spirit of Sabbath worship
rather than the letter thereof.
In our day, however, this pendulum
of Sabbath day desecration has swung very far indeed.
We stand in jeopardy of losing great blessings promised.
After all, it is a test by which the Lord seeks
to "prove you in all things" to see
if your devotion is complete.
Where is the line as to what is acceptable and unacceptable
on the Sabbath?
Within the guidelines, each of us
must ask and answer this question for ourselves.
While these guidelines are contained in the scriptures
and in the words of the modern prophets,
they must also be written in our hearts
and governed by our conscience.
Brigham Young said of the faithful,
"The spirit of their religion leaks out of their hearts."
It is quite unlikely that there will
be any serious violation of Sabbath worship
if we come humbly before the Lord
and offer him all our heart, our soul, and our mind.
What is worthy or unworthy on the Sabbath day
will have to be judged by each of us
by trying to be honest with the Lord.
On the Sabbath day we should do what we have to do
and what we ought to do in an attitude of worshipfulness
and then limit our other activities.
I wish to testify unequivocally concerning the blessings
of Sabbath day worship.