Introduction

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Proverbs 6:9

During his mortal ministry, the Lord asked, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward?”¹ He explains that a faithful and wise steward is one who is found doing the Lord’s work when he returns. An unfaithful and foolish steward is one who, endowed by his master with with instructions and the capacity to fulfill them says “in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming” and begins “to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;”² Although we may not find ourselves literally playing the part of the debauched servant, many of us are certainly filling the role figuratively by taking no thought or only a minor thought of the very purpose for which we were born. Though we may claim to have the eternal purpose as our goal, we do not live wholly to that end but merely figure that by having exaltation as an afterthought we will somehow end up accepted of the Lord. We eat, drink, and are merry, for tomorrow we will die and everything will be as we suppose.

Many of us are blessed with such circumstances that we are

endowed not only with the needs of survival, but with surplus time, money, and energy. The Lord said, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required:”³ We are all guilty, to some degree it seems, of squandering our plenty on things which would surely not please the Lord. This is the sin of living unto ourselves. This is the result of relegating eternity to an afterthought instead of the center of our lives. This is the danger the Lord warned about in the parable of the sower. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”¹⁸⁴ Living unto self makes impotent the power of the in the life of the individual and in the lives of those to gospel whom he owes responsibility.

“But,” you may say, “I work very hard, and I deserve a break!” Stop right there.

First, you don’t deserve anything. All that you have now was given to you of the Lord. Anything you have become is either meant as a test to see what you will do with your increase, or a simple result of your following his commandments, or both. If you were to dedicate your entire life to others, upon reaching the judgment bar, and seeing what the Lord is giving you in exchange for whatever evorts you have exerted, you would still consider yourself an unworthy servant.

Second, there is a difference between the “vain things of the world” which Satan tempts you to seek and the “good things of the earth,” which are for our use and benefit.

What is the difference? The good things of the earth give you comfort sufficient for your needs, or the degree of comfort you need to sustain your mission in building the kingdom of

God. Building the kingdom is building treasures in heaven. The intelligence you help another to develop, the gospel knowledge you carry to another, the righteous intelligence which is expanded in you, the alleviation of suvering of your brother—these are things which will carry into the next life: who you have become and what you have done for the improvement of others. This is the corn of which the law of Moses permitted the beasts of burden to partake as they ground it with their labor.⁴ The vain things of this world, however, are those things which do not with into the next life. The home go you unnecessarily large you built, the toys and superfluous vehicles you have purchased with the stewardship with which God has entrusted you, the prolonged and expensive vacations—these things have no lasting worth, and are snares to prevent you from spending your time and money on things which will actually further the Lord’s cause.

The Lord said, “I will that ye should overcome the world.”¹⁸⁶ He also commands us to forsake the world.⁵ There is nothing intrinsically evil about the world itself. Like our own bodies, it holds the potential of being celestially perfect. We forsake the world when we use our lives for that which is eternal and holy. Elder Perry said:

When we think of eternal life, what is the picture that comes to mind? I believe that if we could create in our minds a clear and true picture of eternal life, we would start behaving diweren'tly. We would not need to be prodded to do the many things involved with enduring to the end, like doing our home teaching, attending our meetings, going to the temple, living moral lives, saying our prayers, or

reading the scriptures. We would want to do all these things and more because we realize they will prepare us to go somewhere we yearn to go.⁶

One aspect of an accurate perspective of eternal life is that it will not be a rest in the sense that many think. The Celestial Kingdom is a place of rest, not from work, but from the sins of the world. Heaven is a place we go to work, not to escape from work. If we really understand that, we will learn that work is a divine and eternal and leisure’s is to principle, proper place maximize our working ability, not for drunken misappropriation of kingdom-building resources, or, as the Lord would say, to consume upon our lusts.¹⁸⁹ The Lord’s work is what our hearts should rest upon, and not our incorrect definition of the Lord’s rest. “Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.”¹⁹⁰

The proper role of rest follows what I call the p-day principle. The p-day principle derives its name from preparation day. P- day is commonly known as the one day per week missionaries have on from their missionary labors. Under this definition, they are free to walk around in civilian clothes, play sports, go to the grocery store, the mall, and go out to eat, all without worrying about their normal missionary duties. This is a false tradition. In reality, p-day is the one day per week appropriated for accomplishing all non-proselyting activities which will make them more effective missionaries during the rest of the week. They are to buy whatever food and other supplies they will need, they are to wash their clothes, and they are to rest. Sports and other recreation only has a place inasmuch as it will assist them to

be more effective in the week. Running a marathon, for example, would probably not be a good use of their preparation day, since it would leave undone their laundry and grocery shopping, and would leave them exhausted for the rest of the week. Meanwhile, while on preparation day, a missionary is still expected to do his best to contact those whom he encounters and invite them to come unto Christ in whatever way possible.

Applying this principle to our consecrated view of leisure, we should see leisure not as a self-serving time of lazy gratification, but as a time to sharpen our saw to be able to continue our labors in the kingdom. A simplified application of the p-day principle is to consider a group of people trying to push a football linebacker sled across the 100 yard field. If they shoulder into the pads and push with all their might, with a vow to not quit until they accomplish their mission, they will wear themselves into the ground in no time and utterly fail. Applying the p-day principle, they will take rests along the way. Though they will take as many rests as they need to complete their goal, they will not rest more than they need to nor for longer than needed.

Brigham Young said that recreation is

That our minds may rest, and our bodies receive that recreation which is proper and necessary to keep up an equilibrium, to promote healthy action to the whole system...to rest their minds, to convene in a social capacity, and enjoy the society of each other, with their families, and to give renewed activity and energy, which will invigorate and strengthen them in the discharge of the arduous duties devolving upon them. (Journal of Discourses 1:29)

Brother Brigham counseled emphatically against using our time unwisely: “We have to give an account of the days we spend in folly.”⁷

Leisure for the sake of leisure is a trap that is rampant in our society and within the Church. Unfortunately, some think that the goal in this life is to achieve a point where you can retire from work, and spend your days without any productive work. Most exercise a of that as much as can preview goal they get away with in the interim. President Uchtdorf clearly quelled this questionable status quo when he said,

retirement is not part of the Lord’s plan of happiness. There is no sabbatical or retirement program from priesthood responsibilities—regardless of age or physical capacity. While the phrase ‘been there, done that’ may work as an excuse to avoid skateboarding, decline the invitation for a motorbike ride, or bypass the spicy curry at the buvet, it is not an acceptable excuse for avoiding covenant responsibilities to consecrate our time, talents, and resources in the work of the kingdom of God. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Two Principles for Any Economy,” Liahona, Nov 2009, 55–58)

How do we avoid unrighteous leisure? President Eyring suggests a remedy to empty leisure. “Too often we use many hours for fun and pleasure, clothed in the euphemism, ‘I’m recharging my batteries.’ Those hours could be spent reading and studying to gain knowledge, skills, and culture.”⁸ It is a worthwhile investment to train ourselves to appreciate constructive activities. It is not natural for us to enjoy such things, but we can train ourselves to. Just as eating healthy and exercising, the more we pursue constructive leisure activities, the more our bodies train to expect the rewards of such endeavors, and the more we enjoy them.

We must always seek to avoid the adversary’s snares which

he lays to get us to waste our time and money on things that are of no worth! One way of doing this is to remember all of the eternal tasks which still remain to be done. Even when we are at a loss for pressing external priorities, there are limitless internal character improvements which still remain before we are prepared for all of the blessings the Lord has in store for us. Said Brigham Young,

Of the time that is allotted to man here on the earth there is none to lose or to run to waste. After suitable rest and relaxation there is not a day, hour or minute that we should spend in idleness, but every minute of every day of our lives we should strive to improve our minds and to increase the faith of the holy Gospel, in charity, patience, and good works, that we may grow in the knowledge of the truth as it is spoken and prophesied of and written about. (Journal of Discourses 13:310)

In President Young’s time, Saints worked very hard; building settlements, serving missions, and traveling across the plains. After long days of walking across the plains, I can imagine the Saints circling the wagons after a long day of exposure to the elements. After all the duties of the day were attended to, I can see a man playing a fiddle while others danced. I can see pioneers sitting around the campfire sharing enlightening conversation. I don’t think the Lord or of his servants would have a any problem with that. I can, however, imagine the fallout if they the and did the same. had stopped halfway through day They a righteous and holy goal set, they moved along on their path towards its completion, and they participated in leisure in a limited fashion—limited to what was to necessary accomplish their goal. Everything we do in life should be circumscribed by the bounds the Lord has set. Leisure is no diweren't. When it ceases to be useful for our eternal it ceases to be purpose,

appropriate.

When we focus on the Lord’s purposes in our recreational pursuits, it becomes very hard to allow our participation in anything that could be deemed morally questionable. If recreation that is morally or productively neutral is questionable when not profitable, then surely we should not participate in anything ungodly. If our purpose is to build the kingdom, anything which doesn’t meet the Lord’s standard surely will not help us to do it.

Brigham Young was a big fan of dancing. He did not, however, endorse all kinds of dancing. Can you imagine Brigham Young at a modern dance club? He said “The atmosphere of the dance should be such that if any elder be called from the party to to administer to a sick he could leave with the go person, same spirit that he would go from his Elder’s quorum meeting.” When giving a blessing, you have to obtain a feeling of closeness with God. You would have a very difficult time obtaining that closeness while at a dance with the latest dancing trends of the world, loud, worldly music, and hedonistic purpose. This is juxtaposed to Brigham Young’s dances. These featured uplifting music, engaging conversation, and appropriate dancing.

Brigham Young’s recreational counsel to only go where the Spirit can follow did not apply only to dances. He said, “I have frequently told the people at our places of recreation, if they cannot go there with the Spirit of the Lord, they had better stay at home.”⁹ Can you imagine walking out of the last movie saw in a theater to a How about the last you go give blessing? TV show you watched? Anything which does not increase your association with the Holy Ghost impedes it.

John Wesley’s mother was very concerned with him going to college. She wrote the following in a letter to him, giving him a

standard by which to judge the worthiness of diweren't types of recreation.

Would you judge the lawfulness of pleasure, take this rule: whatever weakens your reason; whatever increases the authority of your body over your mind; whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience; whatever takes away your relish for things spiritual; whatever obscures your sense of God; that is sin to you no matter how innocent it may seem in itself.

Never get involved in pastimes that are so loud and involved that you can’t think, that you can’t hear the still small voice. If you find that during one of your recreational activities you feel prompted to leave and feel pressure to stay, then don’t do that thing. It just isn’t worth ovending the Holy Ghost. If you were an astronaut on a space walk, would you unhook yourself from your tether? Even just for a moment? Of course you wouldn’t. It just isn’t worth unplugging yourself from God, no matter how much you enjoy the activity. Before long, you will be going without feeling the Spirit for such bouts at a time that it will become the norm. If you encounter something ungodly in your recreation, cut it out of your life completely. If you don’t, it won’t be long before you are so numb to the Holy Ghost because of your persistent disobedience that you begin to think your behavior is okay because it doesn’t feel bad anymore.

Don’t participate in any recreation whose thrill is derived from danger. Elder John Groberg said, “we shouldn’t do foolish or rash things, as there is enough evil and danger around without our seeking it out.”¹⁰ How painfully foolish would you feel if you had to stand before God in the day of judgment, knowing that the only reason your mortal life had come to an early end

was that had taken risks in the name of thrill you unnecessary seeking, and by one small misstep had failed to accomplish your mission in life?

You must wean yourself on of the recreation of the world. The gospel helps in that process. The more truth you seek through a diligent study of the scriptures, faithful meditation of the gospel, and pouring over books written by and about leaders of the Church, the more you will see that there is a higher standard than that which is accepted by the status quo. Wilford Woodruv’s biography by Matthias Cowley is a wonderful example of a resource which can be leveraged for your benefit. In it, you find v: such gems as the following description of Wilford Woodru

his standard of purity and excellence was so high that he never indulged in light-mindedness or in trifling recreations. To him they were grievous sins in the sight of God; and he believed with the Prophet Joseph that they should be eschewed. He was constantly striving for a higher plane upon which he might firmly plant his feet. (Matthias Cowley, “Wilford Woodruv”, 26)

There is an element of Mormon culture that involves playing board or card games. It is seen as a great way to turn on the TV and be together as a family. What ever happened to uplifting conversations about life and the gospel? Family history? Scripture study? Family projects? Joseph Fielding Smith said,

While there is no objection to the brethren and sisters meeting together from time to time to engage in some relaxation, the devoting of the time to some foolish practice as the playing of cards or games of chance is contrary to the spirit and teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.¹¹

Besides being an utter waste of time, most games encourage

winning at the expense of others. Most are competitive. Most encourage contention. There are many good ways to spend time in groups. Productive ways. President Eyring said, “we cannot waste time entertaining ourselves when we have the chance to read or to listen to whatever will help us learn what is true and useful.”¹²

Besides exercising the body, there are many ways to exercise the brain. It was common in years past for educated people to gather and discuss some advancement in science or politics, and to discuss Even if are stuck on certainly religion. you playing board games, find or create one which rewards and encourages Christ-like behavior, or actually being together as a family in more than just the physical sense. I made a game called “Prove It” that consists of principles of the gospel written on cards with relevant scriptures on the back. The object of the game is for players to read the principle and then look up scriptures which it. I know of another called “The prove game Ungame” which consists of cards with personal questions on them that each player has to answer. There is no winner, just honest conversation. bonds or are as I’m Family friendships strengthened you play. sure if we really tried we could invent many other games that are beneficial and not just entertaining.

Only in modern times has time for relaxation been relegated to fruitless (or at least less than ideal) endeavors. What the Lord said to missionaries years ago applies to our lives. “Thou shalt not idle away thy time.”¹³ When was the last time you got together with a group of friends on Sunday evening to discuss the doctrine? To discuss how to be better home or visiting teachers? To talk about the aspects of Christ’s mortal ministry? When

was the last time you discussed intriguing elements of a good work of nonfiction? When was the last time you set your mind to solve a modern problem? Discussed a solution to a pressing political problem? Or, simply talked about finance and how to prepare for retirement effectively? The trick to keep your life balanced while also never wasting time is to find activities which are productive, which make you a better, more capable person, and which you find enjoyable. The order in that statement is not coincidental.

Maybe none of these activities seem very relaxing or enjoyable to you. Intelligent uses of time, like nutritious food, are unpalatable to the unrefined. However, with persistence, your tastes will improve. You will be able to recognize the good and desire to eschew the bad. Many people who go for a short while without watching TV would prefer to never watch it again. I’m not sure if it is because they see TV as something bad as much as they realize all of the better activities they have missed out on by spending their precious time watching it.

You can train your mind to enjoy things were are productive and uplifting. I never liked to read. Now I love it. I have trained myself to trade in idle pastimes for things like memorizing new vocabulary words, reading non-fiction books, and writing. These things are relaxing to me. They are not work, but pleasure. Yet they build me up more so than most of the work I do in a day. President Eyring said, “you need determination to capture the leisure moments that you now waste.”¹⁴

This is wisdom, to trick your body into working as it plays. Elder Scott said, “order your life more effectively; and eliminate trivia and meaningless details and activity; they waste the perishable, fixed, and limited resource of time. Choose to emphasize

those matters that have eternal consequence.”¹⁵

Once you have replaced less-effective and overly indulgent recreation in your life with p-day principle recreation, there is still one untapped frontier of productivity. You probably would not consider time spent waiting in a line or driving in your car as leisure time. After all, you are in pursuit of some activity like work or getting a prescription filled at the pharmacy. These times are idled away almost without your noticing it. These are great times to listen to audio books, read paper books, or memorize new vocabulary words. Just think, you could learn a whole new language while waiting in line at the drugstore!

A moment in the scriptures or a good book of poetry can whole and even a change your day, maybe give you paradigm shifting moment which changes your entire life. Longfellow said,

See some good picture—in nature, if possible, or on canvas— hear a page of the best music, or read a great poem every day. You will always find a free half hour for one or the other, and at the end of the year your mind will shine with such an accumulation of jewels as will astonish even yourself. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Quoted in “Golden Nuggets of Thought,” Vol III, Ezra L. Marler, Bookcraft, SL, 1958, 26.)

Joseph Smith had some pretty dramatic results just by reading one verse of scripture, namely James 1:5. A missionary needs only 7 seconds to reroute someone’s eternity by contacting them and inviting them to hear the message of the restored gospel. Our time is just as important in our sphere as the missionaries’ time is in their sphere or Joseph Smith’s time was in his. Jonah thought that going to Nineveh would be a waste of time. Upon preaching, the whole city repented in a miraculous manner, and “sixscore

thousand persons”¹⁶ —that’s four football stadiums worth—were given a chance to live, and a better chance at eternal life. Make the most of your innocuous transit and wait times!

Even if you choose not to travel the high road of righteous recreation, you can at least use your time more wisely than most do now. For example, if your children are not performing well in school, or have a poor relationship with you, but have extracurricular schedules full of which are not as as things important their in school or their with grades relationship you, perhaps it is time to focus on that which is of real worth, and not that which will have a nominal effect on their future. Pull them out of those extracurricular activities which you claim are for their benefit, and spend time with them, giving a benefit which can’t be bought.

If you have the Lord on your mind while doing recreation, you are sure to always be engaged in a proper pastime. It isn’t so much that we overindulge ourselves in recreation, as some work very hard. It is more that the pastimes we choose are vain and idle pursuits. It is improper to think that by thinking of the Lord you must be reciting scripture or on your knees praying. What it means is to seek his purposes. To think of the Lord in a baseball game, for example, is not to bring your scriptures but to be aware of people who are left out, to seek to complement players who are doing well—in short, to lift and inspire all that you can. This same pattern can be applied to all things. In a violin concert, you can say a mental prayer and thank God for the gift of music. You can reaHrm your intent to put as much hard work and evort into your goals as the violin player has into

hers. You can make it an uplifting experience—an experience that will cause the rest of your life to be better. If you cannot or would not address God in prayer during a pastime, it is probably better that you not practice it. Would you consciously unplug yourself from the guidance and sanctifying influence of the Holy Ghost?

Consecration leads to making the most of all time, even recreational time, for the advancement of the kingdom of God.