Ellen Chat Conversation

Ellen White taught that sleeping during much of the Sabbath dishonors God and misuses this sacred time. She wrote, "None should feel at liberty to spend sanctified time in an unprofitable manner. It is displeasing to God for Sabbathkeepers to sleep during much of the Sabbath" (1TT 291). She addressed the common excuse people give for excessive Sabbath sleeping. Some claim they work so hard during the week that they need to catch up on rest during the Sabbath. However, Ellen White explained that "they dishonor their Creator in so doing, and, by their example, say that the six days are too precious for them to spend in resting. They must make money, although it be by robbing themselves of needed sleep, which they make up by sleeping away holy time" (1TT 291). She pointed out that such people excuse themselves by saying the Sabbath was given for rest, so they won't deprive themselves of sleep to attend meeting. Ellen White called this "a wrong use of the sanctified day" (1TT 291). Instead of sleeping away the Sabbath hours, she counseled that families should observe the day properly by assembling for worship and devoting "their time and energies to spiritual exercises, that the divine influence resting upon the Sabbath may attend them through the week" (1TT 291). She emphasized that "of all the days in the week, none are so favorable for devotional thoughts and feelings as the Sabbath" (1TT 291). It's worth noting that Ellen White did recognize the need for proper rest in general. She taught that God instituted the Sabbath as a day of rest to repair exhausted energies, noting that "no mind can continue day after day without cessation, either in business which taxes the mental powers, or in the acquirement of knowledge, without injury" (PH043 39.1). The key distinction is between using the Sabbath for spiritual refreshment and worship versus sleeping away most of the sacred hours. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about proper Sabbath observance and activities? • How did Ellen White counsel people to prepare for the Sabbath during the week? • What did she teach about balancing work and rest during the six working days? --- 📚 **thousands of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=What+does+Ellen+White+say+about+sleeping+on+the+Sabbath%3F)

Ellen White gave extensive counsel on making the Sabbath a delight for children, emphasizing that parents must be intentional and engaged. She taught that "parents can and should give attention to their children, reading to them the most attractive portions of Bible history, educating them to reverence the Sabbath day, keeping it according to the commandment" (CG 532.5). The key principle is that parents must actively make the Sabbath "the most interesting day of the week" (2T 584.2). **Active Parental Supervision and Engagement** Ellen White was clear that parents must know where their children are and what they're doing on the Sabbath. She warned, "I have found that on the Sabbath day many are indifferent and do not know where their children are or what they are doing" (CG 533.2). She stated firmly: "Parents, above everything take care of your children upon the Sabbath. Do not suffer them to violate God's holy day by playing in the house or out-of-doors. You may just as well break the Sabbath yourselves as to let your children do it" (CG 533.2). However, this doesn't mean the Sabbath should be restrictive or boring for children. Ellen White emphasized that "the Sabbath was made the most pleasant day of the week for the children" (CCh 20.4). She explained that "we should devote time to interesting our children. A change will have a happy influence upon them" (2T 584.2). **Practical Sabbath Activities with Children** Ellen White provided specific examples of appropriate Sabbath activities. She recommended that "we can walk out with them in the open air; we can sit with them in the groves and in the bright sunshine, and give their restless minds something to feed upon by conversing with them upon the works of God, and can inspire them with love and reverence by calling their attention to the beautiful objects in nature" (2T 584.2). In her own family practice, she described how "in pleasant weather parents can take their children out to walk in the fields and forests, and talk to them of the lofty trees, the shrubs, and the flowers, and teach them that God is the Maker of all these things. Then teach them the reasons for the Sabbath—that it is to commemorate God's creative works" (4MR 105.2). She also shared from her personal experience: "When my children were small we had a large family of adopted children. We would have our work away before the setting of the sun. The children would hail the Sabbath as a joy. They would say, Now father and mother will give us some of their time. We would take them out for a walk. We would take the Bible and some religious instruction to read to them, and explain to them the Scriptures" (2SAT 107.3). **Making the Sabbath Attractive** Ellen White understood that children need variety and interest. She noted that "the children can be interested in good reading or in conversation about the salvation of their souls. But they will have to be educated and trained" (CG 532.5). In her own home, "if the day was rainy or cold, she would gather the children around the fire in the house and read to them, often reading from materials she had gathered from here and there as she made her journeys" (CCh 20.4). She also mentioned practical touches like having some choice dish not had on other daysfor Sabbath dinner (CCh 20.4), showing that the Sabbath should be special in every way. **The Sabbath as a Day of Service, Not Idleness** Ellen White clarified that proper Sabbath observance isn't about doing nothing. She wrote, "Is the Sabbath to be a day of useless idleness? No; a spirit of service is to be manifested in the home and in the church" (4MR 105.2). The focus should be on spiritual activities, family time, worship, and teaching children about God's character through nature and Scripture. The underlying principle is that parents must be deliberate and engaged, making the Sabbath a day children look forward to because of the special time with parents, the beauty of nature study, the interesting Bible stories, and the overall atmosphere of joy in God's presence. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:** • What did Ellen White say about Sabbath preparation on Friday to make the Sabbath restful? • How did Ellen White counsel parents to teach children reverence during worship services? • What specific Bible stories or nature lessons did Ellen White recommend for Sabbath instruction?