Throughout the first half of 2018, on the fourth Sunday of each month, quorums, groups, and Relief Societies have been instructed to discuss the topic of the Sabbath Day. Numerous approaches and learning activities have been suggested in the Ensign to address this fundamental doctrine. Some of these include:

• The Sabbath is a day to remember what God has done for us.
• The Sabbath is a day to worship.
• Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath.
• Partaking of the Sacrament allows us to have the spirit with us always.
• Jesus Christ is our example of honoring the Sabbath.
• The Sabbath is a day to serve others.

As members consider how to better serve on the Sabbath, we may come to recognize that doing family history work is an excellent suggestion, whether it be journaling, indexing, researching/seeking out names, teaching others, sharing family history stories/experiences with family members, etc.  President Russell M. Nelson, while speaking about the Sabbath in 2015, stated,

“Searching for and finding family members who have proceeded you on earth – those who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel while here – can bring immense joy.”

The joy is completed only as temple ordinances are done. We know President Nelson is not only a believer in family history work, but is also a doer. He and Sister Nelson shared some of their personal family history experiences last year at Rootstech 2017, in a session which also inspired me to do a little better.

What great joy has come to our family through sacred covenants and ordinances performed in holy temples. These are the kind of experiences we hope to replicate time and time again in the future: blessing after blessing, feast after feast, until the work is done.  –Glen Steenblik