Can Mormons work on Sundays?

Question

Is there a definate law within the religeon that forbids work on sundays? In the case of factories changing shifts to include weekends, would they be able to argue that a Mormon CAN work on Sundays? Could you provide the website or pages where the information is held.

Answer 1

yes but no.
The church will not excommunicate a person for working on Sundays but they teach in church that God commands us not to work on Sundays and we should regard the day as a day of the Lord. We understand that some people like doctors and such must work on a Sunday so we are sensitive to the issue. For the most part however we suggest you try not too, even if it means a lower paying job.

Answer 2

First I would like to let the Ninja guy know that no one has been excommunicated for working on Sunday. Now to answer your question Yes there is a law about working on sunday. It is not a "Mormon" law but it is found in Exodus 20, and goes something like this. . . Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Answer 3

When I grew up in Utah, in the 70's and 80's, it was known that every business was closed on sundays. Soem still are when I go to see my parents, and some are open. The mormons see the sabbath as a day of rest because God rested on the seventh day of creation. That means all the mormon wives are not suppose to do housework except make the meals and change diapers.

Answer 4

I'm actually preparing to teach a lesson on keeping the Sabbath (Lord's Day) Holy next month in Elder's Quorum. Here's a link to the manual.

http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b3bc55cbf541229058520974e44916a0/?vgnextoid=da135f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=1479862384d20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1&contentLocale=0

About working it says "It is true that some people must work on the Sabbath. And, in fact, some of the work that is truly necessary—caring for the sick, for example—may actually serve to hallow the Sabbath. However, in such activities our motives are a most important consideration.

Sometimes Sabbath observance is characterized as a matter of sacrifice and self-denial, but it is not so. It is merely a matter of shifting times and choosing seasons. There is time enough, particularly in our era of the world’s history, during the six days of the week in which to do our work and play. Much can be done to organize and encourage weekday activities, avoiding the Sabbath."

I hope that helps.

Answer 5

I am an active, practicing LDS and I am at work right now on Sunday. I work in a hospital emergency room where my job is to coordinate transportation from smaller rural hospitals into our larger hospital when necessary for the proper level of care. This job is the proverbial "ox in the ditch" that is necessary for the world on a Sunday. I have not broken the sabbath by working, but feel that I am doing exactly what I should be in helping those who cannot help themselves in their current circumstances.

Answer 6

The Church teaches consistent doctrine with the Ten Commandments, that we should keep the Sabbath day holy. In other words, we are counseled to do activities on Sunday that are consistent with bringing the Spirit of the Lord into your lives and doing things consistent with worshiping God. Many forms of work make it difficult to think about God and worship him on the Sabbath, jobs where loud music or machinery are present. So Sunday work is discouraged.

However, it is recognized that some forms of work are necessary to keep society functioning, like hospital work or fire departments or police and emergency work. If you are in those lines of work, it is recognized by the Church that such work is acceptable or necessary for Sunday.

Answer 7

There are no absolute rules about the Sabbath. In conference talks, it is acknowledged that some must work to provide essential services. Never the less members are encouraged to keep the day holy.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said: "Modern-day prophets have encouraged us not to shop on Sunday. ... Those of us who shop on the Sabbath cannot escape responsibility for encouraging businesses to remain open on that day. Essential services must be provided, but most Sabbath transactions could be avoided if merchants and customers were determined to avoid doing business on the Lord's day" ("Brother's Keeper," Ensign, Nov. 1986, 21).

There are personal goals to be set and achieved in the spirit of humility and meekness and not in judgment of others. When we can achieve this level of Sabbath observance, we will experience quiet strength, knowledge, and peace. I like the statement of Elder Mark E. Petersen (190084) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

"We can readily see that observance of the Sabbath is an indication of the depth of our conversion.

"Our observance or nonobservance of the Sabbath is an unerring measure of our attitude toward the Lord personally and toward his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead. It is a sign of whether we are Christians in very deed, or whether our conversion is so shallow that commemoration of his atoning sacrifice means little or nothing to us" ("The Sabbath Day," Ensign, May 1975, 49).

Answer 8

I can only remember this from a sacrament meeting talk years ago that you should not only refrain from working on the Sabbath, but also keep from doing anything that makes another person work. This meant shopping specifically, but could also mean using vending machines, ATMs, internet, or buying a sunday paper. They have no problem with the paper being delivered, though, so this might have been a local "teaching".
However, if you're in the NFL or named Osmond, you most certainly can work anytime your schedule permits.

Answer 9

well according to the legal rights we are allowed to reserve Sundays as days off! If you have to work you have to work! Although you shouldn't!

Answer 10

Yes we can work on Sundays if we need to.

gw