Home-centered, Church-supported curriculum will dramatically change families

 "The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith. I promise that as you diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, over time your Sabbath days will truly be a delight. Your children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior’s teachings, and the influence of the adversary in your life and in your home will decrease. Changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining."

- President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church, "Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints," General Conference, Oct 2018, https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/becoming-exemplary-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

Rest from our labors

"The Lord has instructed us to rest from our labors on this day. I am sure this means that a hay baler stands idle in the field on the Sabbath. The family business has a Closed sign facing a potential customer on Sunday. The cash register does not ring to record one of our purchases on His special day. It is truly a day to rest from our labors."

- L. Tom Perry, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "“And Why Call Ye Me, Lord, Lord, and Do Not the Things Which I Say?”," General Conference, October 1984
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1984/10/and-why-call-ye-me-lord-lord-and-do-not-the-things-which-i-say?lang=eng&_r=1

Example of a Sabbath miracle

"A more recent miracle occurred at the Wells Stake Welfare Tannery some years ago where hides of animals were tanned into leather. On regular workdays, the hides were removed from the vats and fresh lime placed in the vats, after which the hides were returned to the lime solution. If the hides were not turned on holidays, they would spoil. But the change was never made on Sunday, and there were no spoiled hides on Monday. Explained J. Lowell Fox, the supervisor of the tannery at the time:

" “This brought a strange fact to our minds: holidays are determined by man, and on these days just as on every week day, the hides need to have special care every twelve hours. Sunday is the day set aside by the Lord as a day of rest, and He makes it possible for us to rest from our labors as He has commanded. The hides at the tannery never spoil on Sundays. This is a modern-day miracle, a miracle that happens every weekend!” (Handbook for Guide Patrol Leaders, Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1964, p. 37.)"

- Elder James E. Faust, "The Lord’s Day," General Conference, October 1991
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/the-lords-day?lang=eng

Sabbath observance will keep us free from materialism

"In this day of increasing access to and preoccupation with materialism, there is a sure protection for ourselves and our children against the plagues of our day. The key to that sure protection surprisingly can be found in Sabbath observance: “And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day.” (D&C 59:9.)

"Who can question but that sincere Sabbath observance will help keep ourselves unspotted from the world?"

- Elder James E. Faust, "The Lord’s Day," General Conference, October 1991
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/the-lords-day?lang=eng

Sabbath ideas

• Make a Sunday album. Get a three-ring binder, some page protectors, and cardstock. Attach an illustration from a magazine such as the Ensign to a sheet of cardstock. On the facing page write an inspirational story from the life of the person in the photo. You can do the same thing with photographs of your ancestors by researching and including stories about their lives.
• Create Sunday games by cutting out and laminating the games that come in the Friend. If you need to write on them, use an overhead projector marker. The ink will wash off easily with a damp cloth.
• Make a family trivia game. Gather up information about relatives and use it to generate questions. Write each question on a card (for example, “Who served a mission in Rome, Italy?”) along with the answer. Take turns asking questions of the other players.
• Write a creative letter to a missionary or a loved one. Get a big piece of paper and have everyone in the family write on it in a different color and in a different direction. You can also write on a roll of adding machine tape or the plain side of wrapping paper.
• Ask family members to tell stories about “the good old days.” Have someone record the stories to include in a family history.
• Write notes or draw pictures of appreciation for your bishopric, neighbors, and family members. You can focus on a different person each Sunday.
• Make a list of blessings. In different colors of ink, write the names of the people and things you are thankful for on a roll of shelf paper. Number each item. The list will become quite long if you really think about your blessings and express your gratitude for them. Of course, you can use other paper instead, but you can roll the shelf paper into a scroll and tie a ribbon around it to remind you of your Heavenly Father’s love for you.
• Catch up on journal writing by taking time to write about recent events, or follow the counsel of President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, to reflect about how you have seen the hand of the Lord in your life.
• Hold a family council and decide how to serve others or how to focus your Sabbath observance on the Savior.
Whatever you do on Sundays, ask if the Savior would approve of the activity. Uplifting activities “inviteth and enticeth to do good continually” (Moroni 7:13). Ask yourself, “What message am I sending to God by what I do on the Sabbath day?” 

- Paula J. Lewis, "Making the Sabbath a Delight," Ensign, March 2016
https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/03/making-the-sabbath-a-delight?lang=eng

Honoring the Sabbath strengthens families

“Honoring the Sabbath is a form of righteousness that will bless and strengthen families, connect us with our Creator, and increase happiness.”

- Elder Quentin L. Cook, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Shipshape and Bristol Fashion...”, October 2015 General Conference

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/shipshape-and-bristol-fashion-be-temple-worthy-in-good-times-and-bad-times?lang=eng

Acting in faith leads to devout families

"It takes faith—unseeing faith—for young people to proceed immediately with their family responsibilities in the face of financial uncertainties. It takes faith for the young woman to bear her family instead of accepting employment, especially when schooling for the young husband is to be finished. It takes faith to observe the Sabbath when "time and a half" can be had working, when sales can be made, when merchandise can be sold. It takes a great faith to pay tithes when funds are scarce and demands are great. It takes faith to fast and have family prayers and to observe the Word of Wisdom. It takes faith to do ward teaching, stake missionary work, and other service, when sacrifice is required. It takes faith to fill foreign missions. But know this—that all these are of the planting, while faithful, devout families, spiritual security, peace, and eternal life are the harvests."

- Elder Spencer W. Kimball, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, "Faith Precedes the Miracle," Conference Report, October 1952, pp. 46-51, http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=607