As I Keep the Sabbath Day

In 2015 author and composer Nathan P. Howe and his wife were young parents with four children under the age of six. Worshipping on the Sabbath, especially during sacrament meeting, was often difficult with young, active children. During the April general conference, Brother Howe was inspired by President Russell M. Nelson’s talk “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” which emphasized viewing Sabbath observance as a sign to God instead of as a list of dos and don’ts. Motivated by this shift in focus, Brother Howe wrote the hymn “As I Keep the Sabbath Day.”

The hymn highlights ways to make Sabbath worship more delightful: renewing sacred covenants, expressing gratitude to God, and inviting the Holy Ghost to be with us. Brother Howe reflected, “The spirit with which we approach the Sabbath matters more than any checklist of ‘approved’ activities. Offering our best to God looks different for each of us.” This hymn invites all to focus on the Savior and find holiness on the Lord’s day.

Find lyrics, sheet music, and recordings for As I Keep the Sabbath Day

Scriptures

Principles

We demonstrate our love for God when we rest from our labors and keep the Sabbath day holy.
When we partake of the sacrament, we make a covenant to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, keep His commandments, and always remember Him.
We can draw closer to Jesus Christ when we strive to worship God at home and at church on the Sabbath day.

Questions to Ponder

What can you do to keep the Sabbath a sacred day?
How can you make your worship on the Sabbath a sign of your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What can you do on the Sabbath to invite the Lord’s rest, peace, joy, and light into your life?

Related Gospel Study Guides

From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:

Activities for Families

Make a Sabbath memory game. Notice the feelings and actions mentioned in this hymn: “gentle peace,” “worship,” “renew sacred covenants,” “give the Lord my best,” “love,” “pray,” “serve,” “sing,” “give gratitude,” “take the sacrament,” “gladly hear His holy word,” and “live that His Spirit may come and stay.” Cut out 24 paper squares and write one of these feelings or actions on each one, making 12 matching pairs. Turn the squares over and play by looking for the matching pairs. After each match, sing another verse and chorus of the hymn.
Talk about Sabbath activities. Sing this hymn together as a family. Discuss the activities your family enjoys doing to dedicate the day to the Lord. Encourage family members to sing the chorus of this hymn and consider how to keep the Sabbath a holy day.