The Sabbath Day

This week I had a bishopric training and then our ward council on improving Sabbath day observance.  We had some great discussions and then some specific ideas on how we can improve that in our ward.  We had some video clips of the training the general authorities received just before last conference.

As you think of either our ward specific, or the Sabbath in general what ideas do you have that I could use?  What things should/could change, and how, to improve the Sabbath day?  There is a great focus to develop greater faith in Christ through improved Sabbath day observance.  This will go on for the next few years so I am looking for lots of ideas that we can use over time.  They can be grand or just small.  But all leads to improving the Sabbath.

I am realizing that the family not being in school is a bad influence on me.  We stayed up until 12 last night, and I had to be up at 5 to get ready for early meetings.  Not a smart way to live!  But I will keep blaming it on everyone else staying up to have fun.  Not that this excuse holds much water as most of the days last week Ty and Alysia got up around 5 to get ready, and Kieren still gets up with me at 6 for work.  

This week starts school and seminary so we will be up at 5:25 at the latest.  But I am still going to try and console myself by blaming the rest of the family for my staying up late. :)

At the end of this week we are driving Kieren out to BYU and taking Ty so he can have a BYU tour.  I don't know that I am looking forward to 24 hrs driving, but it will be fun to be with Kieren and Ty.  We are stopping at Kieren's friend's house on the way, so our second day will be an 18 hr deal.  I hope I like car travel!

I pondered today the way the Savior loves regardless of the individual.  It is easy for us to love those like us, and to feel compassion for those that follow our same patterns.  But when we have true Christlike love for those very different, or with different behaviors, or with diverse backgrounds that make then in a very different "world" that us, that is when we are truly working the way the Savior works.  Helping and loving them just because we want to see them lifted to a higher level.

I hope you all take the chance to reach out to others around you.  Follow the promptings you receive, large and small, and follow through.  Simple acts can make a big difference in peoples lives.

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4