by Jay and Victoria Gunther

Sabbath Guidelines
List of 101+Sunday Activities

Hi. My name is Vickie Gunther. As parents raising ten children, my husband, Jay, and I have worked really hard at (and struggled with!) being able to have the Sabbath be a holy day in our home. With a family our size, that's not always easy. Of course, if you have any children you already knew that! Even on your own, keeping the Sabbath day holy can be challenging.

With our main Sunday meetings scheduled together in one block of time and with the directive to reduce and simplify our other Sunday meetings, most of us have many hours on the Sabbath that are spent outside of church meetings.

We have a few guidelines that we use in conducting our Sabbath days.

1. Sunday is a day for the family to devote to worship and service.

We try to have all of our Sunday activities basically fall under one of those categories. By service, we don't mean the "mow somebody's lawn" kind of service. It's more the "visit someone in the hospital, write to the missionaries, take cookies to the new member" kind of service.

"We urge all Latter-day Saints to set this holy day apart from activities of the world and consecrate themselves by entering into a spirit of worship, thanksgiving, service, and family-centered activities appropriate to the Sabbath. As Church members endeavor to make their Sabbath activities compatible with the intent and Spirit of the Lord, their lives will be filled with joy and peace." (First Presidency Message, 1993)

2. The Sabbath is a day of rest.

This doesn't mean to us that Sunday is a day to lounge around all day "resting". We feel that it is a day to rest from the things of the world and our wordly labors.

"Sweet is the day of sacred rest. No mortal care shall seize my breast..." (Hymn # 147)

It is also a day to more fully enter into His rest.

Moroni 7:3 -- "Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven." D&C 84:24 -- "...which rest is the fulness of his glory."

"True, Sunday is a day of rest, a change from the ordinary occupations of the week, but it is more than that. It is a day of worship, a day in which the spiritual life of man may be enriched. A day of indolence, a day of physical recuperation is too often a very different thing from the God-ordained day of rest. Physical exhaustion and indolence are incompatible with a spirit of worship. A proper observance of the duties and devotions of the Sabbath day will, by its change and its spiritual life, give the best rest that men can enjoy on the Sabbath day." (President Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine)

President Spencer W. Kimball made these comments:

"The Sabbath is not a day for indolent lounging about the house or puttering around in the garden, but is a day for consistent attendance at meetings for the worship of the Lord, drinking at the fountain of knowledge and instruction, enjoying the family, and finding uplift in music and song.

"The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important, but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, writing letters to missionaries, taking a nap, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day at which he is expected." (President Spencer W. Kimball, First Presidency Message, January 1978)

3. The Sabbath is to be spent, for the most part, with the family.

Instead of scattering in a dozen different directions at friends' homes, and at this and that activity, the Sabbath should primarily be a day that is spent together as a family. Elder Clayton of the Seventy recently said the following:

"The 1980 letter from the First Presidency about the block schedule of Sunday meetings, made it clear that one of the main purposes of the new schedule was to give families more time to be together. This is time that can be spent in studying the scriptures and in activities which strengthen the home.

"This places a greater responsibility on the family. Sundays should be carefully planned and carried out so that families can experience greater spiritual growth. Appropriate activities are ones which would strengthen family ties, bless the sick, and encourage participation in such things as service, journal writing, supporting and encouraging missionary work, and so on.

"Sunday is a family day. Protect it as such at all costs." (Redlands, California Stake Conference, April 1998)

There are, however, many family activities that may not be appropriate on Sunday. In our home, television watching is one of these, unless it is a church video, something along the lines of an animated scriptures videotape for the younger children, or other uplifting gospel-related program. President Hinckley recently said:

"It is beneath the dignity of the Latter-day Saints to watch TV on the Sabbath day, especially sports." (1998 meeting in the Salt Lake Temple with the General Authorities, per Elder Clayton)

We also do not shop, participate in recreational activities, attend parties, and play or watch sports, as these are all activities that we have been counseled to not be involved in, during recent General Conferences.

I like this illustration used by Clifford E. Young years ago in General Conference:

"I had the privilege of attending a sacrament meeting in this city during the summer vacation. To attend this meeting I came up from my home in Utah County with my daughter, and as we were riding along Sunday afternoon we passed a ball park. Two games were being played, one in one end and the other in the other end of the park, and there were hundreds of people there and a large number of boys and girls witnessing these games. My daughter remarked: 'Dad, just what harm is there to these boys and girls in watching this sport? Isn't there a rather wholesome influence about it? They're doing no harm here Sunday afternoon; aren't they better here than they would be some other places?' I was rather challenged. These questions are always a challenge. I didn't say anything. We rode along. We had a lovely meeting. The spirit of it was so impressive; it was reflected in the music, the administering of the sacrament as it should be, and in very deed we were made to feel that we were remembering the Lord, that we were renewing our covenants, taking upon ourselves again his holy name, being made to feel that he is near, and when the meeting was over, we felt that we wanted to keep his commandments.

"After meeting, we rode home. My daughter's reaction was heartening, 'Dad,' she said, 'I know the answer now. I know the harm. I know the danger. If this thing is permitted to go on, boys and girls will lose their desire for the lovely thing that we have had tonight, and something will be taken out of their lives that they can't recover.' She continued, 'If men and women and boys and girls could just realize what it means to be spiritually fed on the Sabbath day, many of our problems of keeping this day holy would be solved.'" Clifford E. Young, October 1948 General Conference

4. The Sabbath is a spiritual gauge of our desire to be God's people.

One of our favorite mentors, John Lund, instructs that the way we keep the Sabbath day holy (or not) is a fairly good indicator of our level of spirituality and closeness to the Savior. There are blessings associated with the sacred observance of the Sabbath day which impact on all areas of our lives.

"There is power in keeping the Sabbath day holy—power to help others as well as ourselves. If we would have God's blessings and protection as individuals, as families, as communities and as nations, we must keep His Sabbath day holy." (Elder John H. Groberg, October 1984 General Conference)

Observing the Sabbath signifies that we are God's people. It was chosen to be the sign of the covenant that exists between the Lord and his chosen people.

Exodus 31:12-13 -- "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."

"...Recognition of a sacred Sabbath signifies the perpetual covenant existing between the Lord and His true followers. But if the sign of the covenant disappears, does the covenant itself cease to exist? Can we afford to be deprived of this covenant? Can we count the cost of such a loss?" (Elder Mark E. Peterson, The Way to Peace)

5. The example set in the home by how parents honor the Sabbath will do more to teach children than any other instruction or influence.

We all know that our children watch us and don't miss much. They hear talks in sacrament meeting, General Conference, Primary, Sunday School or seminary about how we should observe the Sabbath. When they then see us doing something else, it sends a powerful message, whether we want it to or not. That message is: "The gospel is just something we talk about. It has to do with 'church', but not much do to with how we really act in our home or in our lives."

Is that the message you want your children to learn? What about when what they've been taught about and talked to about honesty or chastity or some other critical aspect of the gospel becomes "something we just talk about at church" in their minds?

President Thomas S. Monson shared this story about the power of parental example in honoring the Sabbath as a holy day of rest:

"The son of (the late) H. Verlan Andersen related that years earlier, he had a special school date on a Saturday night. He borrowed from his father the family car. As he obtained the car keys and headed for the door, his father said, 'The car will need more gas before tomorrow. Be sure to fill the tank before coming home.'

"Elder Andersen's son then related that the evening activity was wonderful. Friends met, refreshments were served, and all had a good time. In his exuberance, however, he failed to follow his father's instruction and add fuel to the car's tank before returning home.

"Sunday morning dawned. Elder Andersen discovered the gas gauge showed empty. The son saw his father put the car keys on the table. In the Andersen family the Sabbath day was a day for worship and thanksgiving, and not for purchases.

"Elder Andersen's son declared, 'I saw my father put on his coat, bid us good-bye, and walk the long distance to the chapel, that he might attend an early meeting. No son ever was taught more effectively by his father than I was on that occasion. My father not only knew the truth, but he also lived it.' " President Thomas S. Monson, October 1996 General Conference

We hope that understanding how the Lord feels about this holy day, along with possibly implementing some of the ideas on the next page, will help us all in showing our desire to be his people, plus set an example for our children, by more fully observing a sacred Sabbath day.

Sunday Activities

The first 101 items listed here were originally printed in the Church News in 1983. All of them may not apply to your circumstances. Also, there might be some that you may not even feel would even be appropriate for the way your family worships on the Sabbath. However, I have included all of them in their original form.

We suggest that after you look through this list, that you print it out and more carefully read over the ideas and suggestions. Mark the ones that you might be interested in doing sometime. Ask other family members to do the same. Perhaps everyone could put their initials next the ideas that they are interested in. Then on a Sunday or in Family Home Evening, go over your list all together and decide which things you are going to do this next week.

Make specific plans for your Sundays in advance. A bishop needs to plan what is going to take place in Sacrament Meeting, and teachers need to prepare their lessons for Sunday. But we have a more important stewardship in our homes than any of these good people! It would be good if we as parents, would prepare for what will go on there on Sunday. A sacred Sabbath starts before Sunday morning.

1. Children and adults could read their Church magazines from cover to cover.

2. Prepare any future talks or lessons.

3. Use crock pot recipes to cut down on extra cooking.

4. Prepare Family Home Evening lessons for the next day.

5. Visit those you know who are in the hospital.

6. Attend temple classes.

7. Invite someone who may be unable to cook for themselves such as an elderly person or shut-in, to share dinner with your family, or take dinner to them.

8. Make a list of members who may need a ride to sacrament meetings. Invite them to ride with you.

9. Surprise someone in need with a visit.

10. Find a unique way to fellowship less active families.

11. Have family scripture study. Younger children may want to draw representational pictures beside their favorite scriptures. This will enable them to find the same scripture and remember what it was about in the future.

12. Visit the temple grounds as a family or bring a non-member friend.

13. View the movies inside the Visitors Center or take a tour.

14. Give time to a nursing home or to others who may need help reading letters from loved ones or writing them.

15. Re-visit families on your Home and Visiting teaching routes who may need to be visited.

16. Utilize time together in the car or at dinner to discuss what each family member learned at Church that day.

17. Check out filmstrips from the library and view them.

18. Rest and reflect on what was taught in Church classes.

19. Listen to scripture tapes or view scripture videos.

20. Read material that is Church-oriented or uplifting.

21. Tape morning broadcasts of BYU devotionals and play them back during the day and throughout the week.

22. Read children's scripture story books to them. Visit the ward library and find out what is available to check out.

23. Pair children up in separate rooms together with games or books, etc. This allows each child time to build a one-on-one relationship with each of his/her brothers and sisters. Partners are rotated each Sunday.

24. While children are spending special time together, Mom and Dad can spend time alone together and perhaps fix an unusual or creative breakfast for the children.

25. Label and catalogue the family picture journal (photos, slides or videotapes of family.)

26. Have a simple and short music lesson. Familiarize children with music symbols and words. Teach them how to lead music.

27. Prepare stories about your children to tell them.

28. Tell children stories of when you were their age.

29. Have grandma or grandpa tell stories about themselves or the lives of other relatives.

30. Record these personal profiles for Book of Remembrance or journals.

31. Decorate special jars for tithing and mission funds.

32. Take a walk as a family. Discuss the blessing Heavenly Father has given us through nature.

33. Invite married family members home for a visit or go visit them.

34. Decorate a Sunday "Things to Do" box and fill it with ideas. Draw one out each Sunday to do.

35. Plan and rehearse a family musical recital.

36. Perform the recital at a nursing home or children's hospital.

37. Make shadow portraits or silhouettes of family members or of the prophets. Include them in scrap books or use to decorate cards.

38. Tape a special program for a missionary or loved one far away. Include talks, stories and songs.

39. Make phone calls or write letters to those special friends and loved ones to let them know you're thinking of them.

40. Prepare home or visiting messages for the month.

41. Set goals or begin a "Pursuit of Excellence" program. Chart your success each Sunday.

42. Compose an original song expressing a lovely thought or deed. Encourage children to express themselves also.

43. Develop greater love and appreciation for music by listening to great works.

44. As a family, invent a design, crest, emblem or logo to display on a family banner. When it is complete, unfurl it during family home evenings or other special family occasions.

45. Practice a skill such as knitting, etc. Make a gift for a friend.

46. "Adopt" a friend. Select someone special.

47. Have a "Hands Across the Water" day. Let return missionaries in the ward help you select a country. Help family members to become familiar with the customs of LDS around the world.

48. Customize copies of the Book of Mormon for the missionaries to give out by marking important scriptures and adding your personal testimony.

49. Produce a puppet show depicting a historical Church event.

50. Dramatize events from the Bible and Book of Mormon with family members. Be sure to dress for your parts.

51. Form a rhythm band to help younger children learn the music to hymns and Primary songs.

52. Construct an "I'm Grateful For..." mobile to hang in children's rooms.

53. Take turns role playing and acting out stories.

54. Make a set of paper dolls representing the members of your family. Use them in flannel board stories or at Family Home Evening to demonstrate proper reverence, behavior at Church, manners and attitudes.

55. Make gifts such as sachets from cloves, oranges and ribbon to give away to "adopted friends."

56. Have each family member make a personal scrap book. Include pictures, important letters, certificates, school and Primary papers.

57. Make some kind of book. Write a story inside with a good moral. Illustrate it and then make a tape recording, complete with sound effects and music. Younger children may then look and listen to the book themselves.

58. Make a tape or letter. Have children set goals for the year and share feelings or testimonies. Save the tapes and letters for a year and then listen and/or read them.

59. Compose some poetry or write a story.

60. Write letters, thank-you cards, get-well and thinking-of-you notes.

61. Make family progress charts, achievement cards and award certificates.

62. Use salt dough or clay or construct a nativity scene, Liahona, or other Church artifact. Use your imagination.

63. Learn the missionary discussions (you never know when you may need them).

64. Make puzzles from pictures in old Church publications.

65. Clip and file favorite articles from Church publications for future reference.

66. Expand your collection of visual aids for lessons and talks by removing pictures from old Church magazines and mounting them.

67. Make personalized, handmade cards for birthdays, I love you, thinking-of-you or get-well cards.

68. Remember birthdays for the upcoming week of ward members, Church leaders, relatives, etc. Mark them on a calendar as a reminder to call or mail a personalized card.

69. Make a scroll story with butcher paper and two sticks.

70. Plan a family service project. Ask your bishop for ideas.

71. Invent a Church-related game or play one you may already have.

72. Study religious history.

73. Make dot-to-dot pictures of objects like the golden plates or the start of Bethlehem to keep little ones quietly entertained.

74. Memorize scriptures, hymns, stories , or poems.

75. Read a good play as a family. Have each member assume one or more parts.

76. Have each member of the family take turns reporting on a General Authority, prophet, bishop or other Church leader. Tell stories and display or draw pictures.

77. Have a story swap. Each member of the family must have a story of courage or valor to swap about a relative, Church leader or famous person.

78. Listen to tapes of conference or talks of the General Authorities.

79. Practice playing or singing hymns.

80. Look at books containing great works of art with children. Discuss each painting with them.

81. Set missionary goals whether they are full-time, stake or personal.

82. Invite a family in the ward you would like to know better to your home for a family fireside.

83. Set genealogy goals.

84. Have personal family interviews.

85. Write a family song or cheer.

86. Write a family newsletter to send to friends and relatives.

87. Write a giant letter to the missionaries from your ward. Each person writes his letter on the same large piece of butcher paper.

88. Plan family outings, picnics, camp outs, vacations, and holidays.

89. Make a picture book for each family member. Include pictures of themselves at different ages, other family members, and special events.

90. Take a few minutes to plan next Sunday's activities. Decide what must be done during the week to prepare for it.

91. Plan a family D.I. drive day where the family cleans the house and garage in search of items to donate.

92. Tape Church meetings for members who usually are unable to attend.

93. Practice reverence with children by sitting quietly for a short period of time. Listen to quiet music or conference tapes.

94. Play this game or make up a variation. Cut the Articles of Faith and several scriptures which have been memorized by players into words. Mount the cut words on cards. Deal six cards to each player and put the rest into a draw pile. Take turns starting a scripture or Article of Faith. As each player takes his turn, add an appropriate card from your hand to your own and the other players' sentences. If you do not have a card that can be played, discard one card to the bottom of the draw pile and take a new one. If drawn card is still inappropriate, pass. Winner is the fist one to use all the cards in his or her hand.

95. Play the Scripture Hunt game. Each player takes a different page of scriptures. After reading that page, each player then writes a one sentence question, the answer to which is found somewhere on the page. At the signal, swap pages and questions. The first player to locate the correct answer to his question is the winner.

96. Play Hang Man, or Word Scramble on chalk boards. Use Church-related words.

97. Learn some new finger plays with the children.

98. Have a memory jolt (quiz) contest. See what is remembered from last Sunday.

99. Make your own filmstrip stories. Dip an old filmstrip in bleach for a few minutes. When the emulsion is loose, rinse the film under running water (do not touch the bleach). Wipe dry and then add your own pictures with permanent colors.

100. Select a talent you would like to develop. Set some goals to help you achieve the talent and then work toward developing it.

101. Each Sunday, feature a different family member in a "Why I Love You"spotlight. Display a picture and a hobby or craft of that person in a prominent place for a week. Write a brief history of the member and list all of their qualities and strengths.

102. To encourage family to know who the current prophets and apostles are, photocopy their picture from the center of the conference issue of the Ensign. Make enough copies for half the members of your family. Play a simple game by putting a small treat (M&M, small marshmallow or nut, etc.) on each individual's picture. Divide into partners. One partner decides which one of the individuals pictured is going to be "it", and either writes it down, or tells mom or dad. The other partner tries to not name who was picked. He will call each apostle or member of the First Presidency by name. ("Was it President Thomas S. Monson?") For every person he names who was not the name picked, he gets to eat the treat. Once the person picked is named, the other partner gets to eat all the remaining treats. (BTW, our children call this game "Don't Eat the Prophet.") :-)

103. Keep a notebook with a section for each child to use for interviews. At our house, an interview consists of us meeting one-on-one with the children, and asking them, "Okay. What would you like to talk about? What would you like help with? What would you like to see done differently around here? What would you like to have happen in the next week or so? Is there anything you want or need that isn't being taken care of?" Take careful notes of what is discussed, and follow through during the week. At the end of the interview, mom or dad might then have a request for the child such as, "It would mean a lot to me if you would work on (whatever) during the week." Because they have had their concerns listened to, they are usually very willing to work on our concerns. Review the children's list with them during the next interview, so they can see that you did what they asked where you could.

104. Study the General Conference addresses as a family, so that everyone knows what counsel our living prophets are currently giving us. Determine what you are going to do in your home as a family to implement their counsel.

105. Appoint yourselves to the unofficial Ward Welcoming Committee. When a new family comes to church, show up at their house later that day with a plate of cookies and a note saying who you are, prepared in advance. Make it a point to check with the quorum and Relief Society secretaries to find out the names and addresses of new people in the ward. Sometimes just one person or family can make all the difference between people feeling unwelcome, and having them feel, "Gosh! This ward is so friendly!" Be that one person or family.

106. Have an object lesson contest in your family. Pick one or two items around the house - any simple tool or item - and have everyone come up with story about how that item can illustrate a gospel principle. --Leslie North

107. One of the things we have tried is that my mother gave us a scripture to memorize and a topic. With that topic we had to write a short 5 min talk. We could use the scripture that we had memorized, (it was usually related). The older kids would help the younger kids. Then after a set amount of time, we would all give our talks to each other. Mom has kept these talks in a binder for our use if we ever had to give talks in church. It was neat to see how much we could learn about a certain topic, and it is neat to watch the younger kids grasp on to the gospel, and be able to memorize scriptures and testify of their truthfulness. --Heidi Scott

108. We hold our lesson for Family Home Evening on Sundays. Then on Monday, we plan a fun activity or a "field trip", like going to the library, the park, etc. These are things and/or places we wouldn't go to or do on Sunday. This has worked wonders in our home for having regular Family Home Evening. --Brent Gadberry

109. Bake cookies for an elderly couple or a less active family in your ward. Leave them on a pretty plate on their doorstep ring the doorbell and run. --Christian Larson

(See Daily Living home page; Teachings About the Sabbath home page)

Copyright by Jay and Victoria Gunther