Practical Religion
References
Religion a Personal Matter
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, etc., this man’s religion is vain-James 1:26; read verse 27.
For a summary of religious duties, and the nature of practical or genuine religion, read the General Epistle of James.
Paul to King Agrippa: After the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee-Acts 26:5.
The Nephites sought to defend themselves, their country, their rights, and their religion-Alma 43:47.
Blessings of the Lord attributed to a devout observance of religion-Alma 44:3; read also verses 4 and 5.
The Title of Liberty: In memory of our God, our religion and freedom, etc.-Alma 46:12, 13.
The freemen covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government-Alma 51:6.
Consider the characteristics of true religion as set forth in the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount-Matt., chaps. 5, 6, 7.
We believe that religion is instituted of God-D&C 134:4; see also verses 9 and 10.
Faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify men for the ministry-D&C 4:5.
No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, etc.-D&C 12:8.
And if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing-D&C 18:19.
And above all things, clothe yourself with the bond of charity, as with a mantle-D&C 88:125.
Be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly-D&C 121:45.
What ye do to the poor ye do to the Lord-D&C 42:38; read also verse 29; 44:6; 52:40.
Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor-D&C 56:16. Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, etc.-verse 17.
Search to be made for the poor that their wants may be administered to-D&C 84:112.
The order of the Church for the benefit of the poor-D&C, sec. 104.
He who imparts not of his portion to the poor shall lift up his eyes in hell-D&C 104:18.
Displeasure of the Lord on account of those who would not impart of their substance to the poor and afflicted-D&C 105:3.
Tithes and Offerings
Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek-Gen. 14:20.
Jacob covenanted to pay tithes to the Lord-Gen. 28:22.
All the tithe of the land was holy unto the Lord-Lev. 27:30; see also verse 32.
Disposition of the tithes of the children of Israel-Num. 18:24.
Thither shall ye bring your sacrifices and your tithes-Deut. 12:6.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed-Deut. 14:22, 23.
Men commissioned to care for the tithes-Neh. 13:11-13.
In the days of Malachi the people had robbed God in the matter of tithes and offerings-Mal. 3:8; see also verses 9-12.
The frequent mention of offerings as distinct from tithes in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
See mention of tithes in Book of Mormon, Alma 13:15; 3 Nephi 24:8-10. For mention of offerings see 1 Nephi 5:9; 7:22; 2:7.
Tithing as required in the present dispensation-D&C, sec. 119.
Verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people-D&C 64:23.
House of the Lord to be built by the tithing of the people-D&C 97:11, 12.
Note that the Nephites were strict observers of the law of Moses until that law was superseded by direction of the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ, who ministered unto them in person, and declared that the law had been given by him. As shown by Biblical references herein, tithes and offerings figure conspicuously in the requirements of the Mosaic law. In proof that the Nephites did observe the requirements of the law of Moses see the following: Mosiah 3:14, 15; 12:28-37; 13:27-33; Helaman 15:5; 3 Nephi 15:2-10.
The Sabbath
Tomorrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord-Exo. 16:23.
Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy-Exo. 20:8-11. Note in verse 11 that the institution of the sabbath was prefigured in the events of creation: And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it-Gen. 2:2, 3; also Moses 3:2; Abraham 5:1-3.
Six days in which to do work and the seventh on which man and animals should rest-Exo. 23:12.
The keeping of the sabbath was made a sign between Jehovah and his people Israel-Exo. 31:13-17; Ezek. 20:12.
The seventh day to be one of rest even in earing time and in harvest-Exo. 34:21; see also 35:2; Lev. 23:3.
Special offerings were to be made on the sabbath-Num. 28:9, 10.
The Israelites in the wilderness were commanded to gather an extra quantity of manna on the sixth day and none on the seventh-Exo. 16:16-31; see also verses 4 and 5.
Blessings on the man who kept the sabbath-Isa. 56:2; see also 58:13, 14.
Under the law of Moses the punishment for sabbath violation was death-Exo. 35:2; Num. 15:32-36; compare Jer. 17:27.
Christ’s teachings regarding the sabbath, his actions thereon, and accusations brought against him as a sabbath-breaker-Matt. 12:1-8; also verses 10-14; compare Luke 6:1-11, and Mark 2:23-28. See instance of the woman healed on the sabbath day-Luke 13:11-17. A man suffering from the dropsy was healed on the sabbath-Luke 14:1-6. See other instances-John 5:5-18; 7:21-24.
Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the sabbath-Mark 2:28; see also Matt. 12:8.
The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath-Mark 2:27.
Paul reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath-Acts 18:4; see also Acts 17:2. Observe that on the first day of the week, not the seventh, the disciples are said to have come together to break bread-Acts 20:7.
Sunday, the first day of the week, was the day on which Christ was resurrected-Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:9.
The first day of the week came to be observed instead of the seventh day as the sabbath-1 Cor. 16:2. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day-Rev. 1:10.
Let no man judge you of the sabbath days-Colos. 2:16.
The Nephites observed to keep the sabbath day holy unto the Lord-Jarom 5; see also Mosiah 13:16-19.
Alma commanded the people that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy-Mosiah 18:23.
Note that the observance of the sabbath was an important feature of the law of Moses; and furthermore, observe that the Nephites were strict observers of the law of Moses until the law was superseded by the gospel left to them by the resurrected Christ, who was he who had given the law-2 Nephi 5:10; 25:24-30; Jarom 5; Mosiah 2:3; Alma 30:3; 3 Nephi 1:24.
Go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day-D&C 59:9, 10. Remember that on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High-verses 12-14.
And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the sabbath day to keep it holy-D&C 68:29.