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The Sabbath Day

(Since I can't have a ward calling, maybe sharing my notes from our Relief Society lessons can be one way I can participate in our ward. Please feel free to tack on anything that stood out to you though!)
Another wonderful lesson today. We enjoyed having Brother Mariner's daughter, Beth Mortensen, visit with us along with our two graduating laurels: Nicole Hammond and Maddy Trimble accompanied by Sister Amanda Morphy Glenn and her sister-in-law. 
Sister Robyn Christensen Wilson taught our third lesson on the Sabbath Day. We decided this topic is being repeated because we still need to hear it AND because each time we hear it is an invitation to work on one thing. Then the next time we hear it we can work on a different thing which will help us to continue to progress. 
Several things our sisters have been working on: getting to church early (not an easy feat with 8:00 a.m. church), preparing the church bag and meal prep etc the night before--"Saturday is a Special Day, it's the day to get ready for Sunday!", and Sister Kristen Winter's six year old daughter remarked that listening to beautiful music helps her enjoy Sunday. Sister Wilson has decided to participate in choir as a way to enrich her Sabbath. She says it has been a joyful experience. (They still need more sisters!!) Sister LeAnn Rosaaen Risenhoover shared a comment she learned from a young woman in another ward "On Sunday as the young men prepare the sacrament is not the time to prepare for the sacrament" She testified that as she takes the time to reflect on her week on Saturday and start then her preparations for repentance than her Sabbath experience is enriched. Sister Dana Sue Kast Janulis has recognized that although none of her family are members, her whole family has been blessed by her obedience to the Sabbath day. 
Sister Wilson pointed out that in the days of Abraham it was referred to as the "Holy Sabbath". Then it changed to just the "Sabbath". That morphed into "Sunday". And now, we talk of "the weekend". We need to find ways to bring the "Holy Sabbath" back! Sister Vicki Ashton shared how a previous bishop challenged them to do one thing to lift someone else. She reminded us that we don't need to wait for someone to be struggling to reach out. We can notice good things and applaud them along the way. Years ago she wrote a note to a young man who gave a talk. Than recently this young man reached out to her husband on Facebook and asked him to thank her for that note and how it was a turning point for him. Sister Leslie Winward Wright shared how Sister Ruth Boyes is so good at that and how her children have been blessed by thoughtful notes from her. 
I personally could relate as Sister Wilson said sometimes Sundays become "Selfish Sabbaths" for her as she focuses on things that she wants to do. She challenged all of us to do two things this month: 1) Find a way to help lift another on the Sabbath and 2) Find a way to help your family come together and make Sunday a priority--some tradition that will make the Sabbath a delight. We shouldn't despair if we don't see results right away or if we fall short. Like working out and brushing our teeth, results will be there for consistent effort. So, keep trying! And, as Sister Rachel Terry Thomas reminded us, let's be careful to not judge each other on how we decide to keep the Sabbath day holy. Thank you sisters for blessing my Sabbath day experience by sharing your comments and testimonies.

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