Sacrament, the Lord’s Day & the Sabbath
Jesus Christ taught that “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” What is the Sabbath? Is the Sabbath the same as the Lord’s Day? What day of the week does the Lord proscribe that we meet together to take the sacrament? How are we to administer and take the sacrament with each other?
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Who is the Sacrament For on The Lord’s Day? – 00:01
- The sacrament is for the people of Christ’s church, which are they who believe in Christ, repent, and are baptized (3 Nephi 18:5,11).
- Members are to “watch and pray always” lest ye are overcome by the temptations of the devil. (15,18-19)
- Do not administer the sacrament to those not worthy to partake of it. (28-29)
- Once the person repents (broken heart & contrite spirit) and is baptized, then administer the sacrament. (30)
- Return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart. Christ will heal them. (32)
- Return, repent, come unto Christ with full purpose of heart = Receiving Christ = Offering as a sacrifice a broken heart and contrite spirit. The healing is the sanctification at the baptism of fire & the Holy Ghost. (3 Nephi 9:17,20)
Difference Between The Lord’s Day & The Sabbath – 23:10
Lord’s day vs Sabbath. The Lord’s day is the first day of the week. Christ’s resurrection and day of Pentecost happened on this day.
Sabbath Day – 24:10
- God rested on the 7th day (Saturday) and sanctified it. (Genesis 3:2)
- The first time Sabbath is specifically named in the Bible is as Moses received the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:8:-11)
- Abinadai declared a seven day week, one day set apart as the Sabbath, in remembrance of the creation and is to be kept holy. (Mosiah 13:16-19)
- One day of the week, the Sabbath, set apart to gather, teach, and worship God. And gather together as often as possible. (Mosiah 18:23, 25)
- The Jews, in addition to Saturday, had additional Sabbaths, or High Holy Days. (Colossians 2:16-17)
Colossians 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:17 ; but the body is of Christ.
The Lord’s Day – 30:20
The first day of the week is Sunday. Christ was resurrected on this day, and this was the day that the apostles received the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.
Although different calculation s were used by both the Sadducees and Pharisees, the Pentecost in Acts 2:1 was Sunday for both groups. For the Sadducees, Pentecost always fell on Sunday, counting 50 days after the first weekly Sabbath. For the Pharisees, since there was a Friday Passover, the yearly Sabbath, the count started 50 days after Passover.
- Christ prophesies that the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost will soon occur for the Apostles. (Acts 1:4-5,8)
- Apostles receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:1-8)
- The Apostles would meet together on Sunday. (Acts 20:7)
Acts 20:7
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.Christ Was Resurrected on a Sunday – 35:15
Mark 16:9
9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene…On a Sunday, Mary and the other Mary meet angels at the tomb, Christ shows himself to them.
Matthew 28:1-10
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Mary discovers the resurrection has taken place on Sunday:
Luke 24:1-6
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Christ Appears to Apostles on Sunday – 40:44
Mary discovers the resurrection, Christ appears to her and his apostles on a Sunday.
John 20:1,11-22
1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.…
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Christ Spent Three Days in the Heart of the Earth – 43:48
Matthew 12:40 records “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Two Sabbaths the Week Christ Was Crucified – 44:25
Christ would lie 3 days and 3 nights in the grave. There were two Sabbaths that week.
The first Sabbath, Thursday, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread (a high Sabbath) began at dusk on Wednesday (day of the Crucifixion) extending through dusk Thursday. Joseph of Arimathea obtained Christ’s body Wednesday afternoon and laid him in his tomb before dusk Wednesday (Mark 15:42-47).
After the first Sabbath and before the second (the normal weekly Sabbath), on Friday the women purchased spices and returned and prepared them the same day, then rested on the Sabbath (Saturday) (Mark 16:1-7; Luke 23:50-56). They came to anoint Christ’s body Sunday morning and were told by angels that he had been resurrected.
Wednesday Crucifixion & Sunday Resurrection – 47:45
Using a Jewish calendar, three days and three nights could be counted as such:
- Wednesday night (night one)
- Thursday day (day one)
- Thursday night (night two)
- Friday day (day two)
- Friday night (night three)
- Saturday day (day three).
Jesus could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening (beginning of the first day of the week to the Jews to just before sunrise Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb at or shortly before sunrise (Mark 16:2 & John 20:1).
Christ Meets Apostles Sunday, Day of Resurrection – 50:22
Christ’s Apostles walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. He administered the sacrament to them, and ate with them the same day as His resurrection (Luke 24:13). On the road to Emmaus, not recognizing Jesus, his Apostles tell Him that it’s been three days since Jesus’ crucifixion (Luke 24:21-53.) Wed evening to Saturday evening would be counted as three days (and three nights). Saturday at dusk (Sunday) starts the first day of the week.
Acts 20:7
7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.Revelation to Joseph Smith to Worship on The Lord’s Day – 57:45
In August 1831 (section 59), the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that we are commanded to go to the Lord’s house, meet together, offer up our oblations (worship, offerings – including a sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit) and our sacraments all on the Lord’s day.
DD&C 59:7-15
7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.8 Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—
16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
22 Behold, this is according to the law and the prophets; wherefore, trouble me no more concerning this matter.
