Sunday Attire...Is It Appropriate for All Day?

A question that has been reoccurring through my life is whether you should wear your Sunday clothes all day or just those few hours immediately around your Sunday worship services?  I don't know that I have the answer, but I do have my answer.

It seems to me that the Sabbath is a full day, 24 hours, from midnight to midnight.  However, I don't believe in extremes.  So you don't need to sleep in your Sunday clothing but I think you should wear it longer than just to worship.  To me the Sabbath is a day to put aside earthly whims and desires and focus more on the spiritual.  I find this hard to do at church with many class members not prepared for the lesson (however, I can't say that I'm always prepared either).  But if you can't focus on the spiritual at church what is going to change things towards God at home?

It doesn't seem like too big of a sacrifice to get up in the morning, get dressed in your Sunday best, attend your worship services and then stay dressed the rest of the day.  When it is night, get ready for bed.  Staying in your Sunday clothes helps to temper the activities of the day and gives you the advantage of remembering it is the Sabbath, whether you spend time praying, reading scriptures, or any of 100 different activities deemed appropriate for Sundays.

Would I consider it a sin to wear jeans on Sunday.  No, not really, but I don't imagine that you'd catch me wearing them very often.  However, we should keep in mind that if we're doing activities that distract us from the spiritual then you'd be walking a fine line.  In my mind, clothing helps set the mood and attitude.  So whether you wear jeans or a tux, ultimately it doesn't matter; what matters is if you can keep yourself focused on the spiritual aspects of the Sabbath day.

Thoughts from (135) Stake Conference (Sunday Session)

Sunday session we were forced to find seating in the overflow (Little Theater) of our Stake Center. I guess than can happen when you get 135 stakes meeting together and you arrive just 10 minutes before the session begins. Although we found these seats initially we discovered that the very front row in this room was available (I think someone left) so we quickly relocated to the very front of the room. This allowed us to be virtually undistracted by the others in attendance (and hopefully we weren't too much of a distraction to them).

This session was broadcast from the BYU Marriott Center and was hosted by the 22 BYU stakes. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf presided at the meeting and was the concluding speaker. Elder Boyd K. Packer (president of the quorum of the 12 apostles) and Elder Marlin K. Jensen (of the 70) were also in attendance and were featured speakers. Here are some thoughts that impressed me at this session of conference:

Sister Dibb (of the Relief Society) - real vs counterfeit. We have become so used to imitations and counterfeits that we don't know what were missing (example: store bread vs homemade bread). The world (Satan) creates imitations that don't have lasting value (pleasure vs happiness) and tries to convince us that its the real deal. When we reflect on the memories, if we have the wonderful feelings of the experience it was real but if we have regret or sadness then it was a counterfeit. Satan can never have a family so he wants YOURS! She also related a story of a newly rich person who bought himself a nice Porsche Boxter with his new-found wealth. He then discovered he was discontent because his richer friend has a nicer car. At that point he made the conscious decision not to be in the "race" and sold his car and bought a Toyota (we all have to fight the devil inside each of us).

Elder Marlin K. Jensen (of the 70) - loving those who are "different." Different has many meanings, physical, social, spiritual, educational, racial, etc. The leaders of the church have been called to teach gospel ideals and can never do otherwise. We don't apologize for the ideal and it is something that each of us should strive for but it can't be a measuring stick for our eternal worth (because we will all fall short of ideal). There are many who have fallen short and aren't living all the gospel standards but we should be open and love them (especially love them as we try to help them back to the gospel). Our discipleship could be evaluated by how well we love those who are different. No matter what our calling or position, at one time or another we can all be considered the lost sheep that another must find and bring back to the fold. And spiritual gifts are for those who keep the commandments (AND for those who seek so to do).

President Boyd K. Packer (Pres. of Apostles) - the priesthood is confered in whole, not pieces. Every Melchizedek priesthood holder hold all the priesthood that the apostles and the prophet hold; however, different keys are given in the use of that priesthood. The priesthood must be bestowed in person (it can't be transmitted over the internet or by audio/visual broadcast). This church is getting large (13 million people) and the only way that the apostles can visit each stake is through the broadcasting system; it just isn't practicle for personal visits to all the stakes. Training & teaching, visits and interviews can all be done through video conferencing and broadcasting and can be done instantaneously. Even paperwork can be transmitted to distant locations but gospel ordinances and priesthood must be bestowed in person.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (2nd Counsilor, 1st Presidency) - spiritual flightplan. Pilots are given coordinates to their final destination but they are also given reference points along the flight path. We know our ultimate destination, to return to the celestial kingdom, but we are given reference points along the path to make sure we are still heading in the right direction. Some of those reference points include: baptism, sacrament, priesthood ordinations, endowment and temple sealings, etc. As we pass these points in our spiritual path we can know we are on the path to exaltation. Missionary work is very important and should be one goal (reference point) for every young man. Those who have not made that decision should be encouraged to make an inspired decision to go on their mission. Missionaries affect people and families for generations.



These broadcast meetings are surprising inspirational and I am certainly grateful that I had the chance to attend this meeting with my family. My boys did their best to be reverent for 2 full hours (plus 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting) and did a remarkable job; while they didn't sit perfectly still for 130 minutes they were very well behaved and was pleased with their efforts. From this weekend's meetings I know that I need to start having morning AND evening prayer with my family and consistent FHE.

Thoughts from Stake Conference (Sautrday Session)

We had our Stake Converence this morning (and yesterday evening). The evening session was presided over by our Stake President, Gaylun Smith. This morning we joined the other 134 stakes in a regional stake converence presided over by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and broadcast from the BYU Marriott Center to our stake center. We arrived just 10 minutes before the start of the broadcast and had to find a seat in the overflow (Little Theater) but at least we got the front row. That way our boys weren't distracted by the comotion of so many people. And my boys were amazingly reverent for all 2 hours (the last 30 minutes was really getting tough for Donovan; Michael and Aleky slept through parts to pass the time). Here are a few thoughts that made an impressions on me this conferece (in my own words):


President Smith (Saturday Evening Session) - our homes can be like temples. If we think about what makes temples special we can includes those elements in our homes: be dedicated, have appropriate artwork, uplifting music, and clean; gospel principles are taught each day.



President Willis (Saturday Evening Session) - "Stay away from the churning waters." He related a story about how the fish processing plants used to dispose of the unused fish part by dumping them into the bay; this disposal method attracked the Lemon Sharks to feeding. The feeding sharks caused the churning waters in the bay. Some teenage boys took notice and decided to investigate by building a raft of the driftwood and paddling out to the churning waters. From their vantage point over the churning waters they decided to hit the sharks with their sticks and paddles. As the time passed the wood began to get wet from the splashes and one boy lost his footing, hit his head on the raft and fell into the churning water. His friend immediately dove in and save him but not before both boys recieved many shark bites. While the second boy showed extreme bravely by immediately diving in to save his friend we learn several valuable lessons. 1) there are many things in life that attract our interest but are not safe; 2) stay away from the temptations and don't justify ourselves in approaching temptations and problems; 3) we can be rescued from our own mistakes but not before we receive many injuries to ourselves, both physical and spiritual.



Sister (Stake Relief Society President) - reminded us of "good, better & best." She referenced a talk from our last general conference about how our lives are too full of good things and that just because something is good isn't enough justification to do it any more. We must discriminate between something that is just good and something that may be better or best for our time. Specifically, we need to read our scriptures, have famiy prayer, attend our church meetings and and family home evenings. These things qualify as best things and cannot be left undone without serious consequence.



Stake Primary President - we must listen to our church leaders and spend our time pondering how their council applies in our lives. Too many times we try to convince ourselves that we are the exception to the rule or that certain council may not apply to us; this is the wrong perspective. We should spend our time figuring out how the rules and council apply to our lives.



This Saturday evening session was especially delightful because Aunt Cheyenne came down and babysat our 4 boys. So we were able to attend this session alone! We could actually pay attention to the speakers and it really helped Michelle and I to feel the spirit.