The Lord knows the wants of his mortal children, and has appointed unto
them one-seventh part of the time for rest, though we cannot say, in
every sense of the word, that this is a day of rest to the Latter-day
Saints or to the professing Christians, some of whom are in the habit
of rising at sunrise to hold prayer-meetings; they then eat breakfast
and hurry away to the morning service until noon; in the afternoon they
again have meetings, and class meetings, prayer meetings, confessing
meetings, etc., and so continue until nine in the evening. To such
persons I cannot consider it really a day of rest. 10:187.
Coming to this Tabernacle to worship and do the will of God for one day
in the week, and following our own inclinations and doing our own will
at all other times, is a folly; it is useless, and a perfect burlesque
on the service of God. We should do the will of God, and spend all our
time {258} for the accomplishment of his purposes, whether we are in
this Tabernacle or elsewhere. 12:34.
If I had my own mind, I would devote the time for meetings like this
within the measure of the six days, and on the seventh rest from all
my labors, for the express purpose of renewing the mental and physical
powers of man. They require it, as the Lord well knew; hence he
established a day of rest. The natural tendency of the physical powers
of man is to decay; and to preserve them as long as possible, they need
this retirement from labor--this rest--this ease. 8:58.
_Preaching and Listening in Meetings_--While we have the
privilege of speaking to each other, let us speak words of comfort
and consolation. When you are influenced by the Spirit of holiness
and purity, let your light shine; but if you are tried and tempted
and buffeted by Satan, keep your thoughts to yourselves--keep your
mouths closed; for speaking produces fruit, either of a good or evil
character. 7:268.
As we have met in the capacity of a General Conference, we shall expect
to hear instructions from the Elders pertaining to the building up of
the Kingdom of God on earth. This is our calling, this is the labor
devolving upon us, and it should occupy our attention day by day from
morning until evening and from week to week; in fact, we have no other
calling or business. 13:260.
Today we are able to meet together to speak to each other, to
strengthen and do each other good; and by forsaking our fields for a
season, to gather together to worship our God, I can assure you that
our crops will be better than they would be if we were to spend all
our time in our fields. We may water and plant and toil, but we should
never forget {259} that it is God who gives the increase; and by
meeting together, our health and spirits will be better, we will look
better, and the things of this world will increase around us more, and
we will know better how to enjoy them. 11:116.
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