Why Sunday is the Sabbath
Before the Savior's resurrection, the Sabbath was observed on Saturday, which is the last, or seventh day, of the week.
The Jews still observe Saturday as the Sabbath. The Seventh Day Adventists observe their Sabbath on Saturday. Others also believe that Saturday is the Sabbath.
There are even some Latter-day Saints who think we should be observing the Sabbath on Saturday. Somehow they have got caught up in some idea that it's wrong for Sunday to be the Sabbath. Some think the earlier Church leaders must've gotten caught up in the idea that since so many other religions observed Sunday Sabbaths, we (the LDS) should as well.
First, the Sunday as the Sabbath started with the Savior's resurrection, which was on the first day of the week, or Sunday.
But, most importantly in Latter-day revelation, received by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, we are told when we should be observing the Sabbath
"And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy." D&C 68:29
But what day is considered the Sabbath?
Prior to the Savior's atonement and resurrection, the Sabbath was on Saturday. But after that incomparable event, the Sabbath was to be observed on the "Lord's day."
It was on the first day (Sunday) that the Savior was resurrected.
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." (John 20:1)
And in Acts 20:7 we learn the disciples gathered to "break bread" on the first day of the week.
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
I think D&C 59:8-13 is the real key to telling us what day, at least during these last days, should be observed as a Sabbath.
So, the short answer to the question, "why do we observe Sunday as the Sabbath?," is because the Lord told us to.
Anyone claiming we should be observing Saturday as the Sabbath needs to take their cause to the scriptures and the Lord, because it's clear a change was made.
For additional information, the Bible Dictionary explains well why the Sabbath observance was changed from Saturday to Sunday.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/sabbath?lang=eng#p3
The Bible Dictionary also has an entry about the Lord's Day.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/lords-day?lang=eng
"Lord’s Day
"Occurs in the Bible only in Rev. 1:10. The first day of the week is meant, being the day of our Lord’s Resurrection and also the day on which the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. References to its weekly observance are found in Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1–2; and in many early Christian writers. It was never confounded with the Sabbath, but carefully distinguished from it (Col. 2:16). The term is used also in D&C 59:9–13."
The Jews still observe Saturday as the Sabbath. The Seventh Day Adventists observe their Sabbath on Saturday. Others also believe that Saturday is the Sabbath.
There are even some Latter-day Saints who think we should be observing the Sabbath on Saturday. Somehow they have got caught up in some idea that it's wrong for Sunday to be the Sabbath. Some think the earlier Church leaders must've gotten caught up in the idea that since so many other religions observed Sunday Sabbaths, we (the LDS) should as well.
First, the Sunday as the Sabbath started with the Savior's resurrection, which was on the first day of the week, or Sunday.
But, most importantly in Latter-day revelation, received by the Prophet, Joseph Smith, we are told when we should be observing the Sabbath
"And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy." D&C 68:29
But what day is considered the Sabbath?
Prior to the Savior's atonement and resurrection, the Sabbath was on Saturday. But after that incomparable event, the Sabbath was to be observed on the "Lord's day."
It was on the first day (Sunday) that the Savior was resurrected.
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre." (John 20:1)
And in Acts 20:7 we learn the disciples gathered to "break bread" on the first day of the week.
"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
I think D&C 59:8-13 is the real key to telling us what day, at least during these last days, should be observed as a Sabbath.
8 Thou shalt offer a asacrifice unto the Lord thy God in brighteousness, even that of a broken heart and a ccontrite spirit.
9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself aunspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of bprayer and offer up thy csacraments upon my dholy day;
10 For verily this is a aday appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
11 Nevertheless thy avows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
12 But remember that on this, the aLord’s day, thou shalt offer thine boblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy afasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy bjoy may be full.
In the above verses we learn that the Lord's Day is a holy day, and we should observe it as our Sabbath day, a day of rest, a day when we offer our sacraments, and when we should gather to the "house of prayer."So, the short answer to the question, "why do we observe Sunday as the Sabbath?," is because the Lord told us to.
Anyone claiming we should be observing Saturday as the Sabbath needs to take their cause to the scriptures and the Lord, because it's clear a change was made.
For additional information, the Bible Dictionary explains well why the Sabbath observance was changed from Saturday to Sunday.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/sabbath?lang=eng#p3
The Bible Dictionary also has an entry about the Lord's Day.
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/lords-day?lang=eng
"Lord’s Day
"Occurs in the Bible only in Rev. 1:10. The first day of the week is meant, being the day of our Lord’s Resurrection and also the day on which the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles. References to its weekly observance are found in Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1–2; and in many early Christian writers. It was never confounded with the Sabbath, but carefully distinguished from it (Col. 2:16). The term is used also in D&C 59:9–13."
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