Tongans keeping the Sabbath
Image of Tongan beach by Jansan
“Ye shall keep my sabbaths…Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.”
One nation that strives to keep the Sabbath day holy is Tonga. Sabbath observance is such a focus in Tonga that it is included in the Tongan constitution:
“The Sabbath Day shall be kept holy in Tonga and no person shall practice his trade or profession or conduct any commercial undertaking on the Sabbath Day except according to law; and any agreement made or witnessed on that day shall be null and void and of no legal effect.”
While Tonga’s constitution protects the Sabbath Day, it does not force religion upon Tongans:
“All Men are free to practice their religion and to worship God as they may deem fit in accordance with the dictates of their own worship consciences and to assemble for religious service in such places as they may appoint.”
Though Tongans are not forced to be religious, the majority of Tongans choose to be religious in their observance of the Sabbath Day. Here are a few things Tongans do to keep the Sabbath Day holy.
3 Ways Tongans keep the Sabbath holy
1) Tongans close stores and businesses on the Sabbath.
Almost every Tongan business is closed on Sunday. Even public transportation stops, including buses and taxis.
2) Tongans prepare for the Sabbath on Saturday.
Many Tongans will prepare their Sunday meal on Saturday night so as to avoid having to cook large meals on the Sabbath.
3) Tongans attend church on the Sabbath.
The vast majority of Tongans are Christian and many attend church regularly. Tongan church meetings often include biblical readings, sermons, singing and dancing.
“Let us prepare and conduct ourselves on the Sabbath in a manner that will call down the blessings promised us upon ourselves and our families. I bear my special witness that the greatest joy we receive in this life is in following the Savior. May we keep His commandments by keeping His sacred day holy.”
- L. Tom Perry
Personal Notes:
I know God blesses us as we keep His day holy. Throughout my life I have tried to not work, exercise or study school subjects on the Sabbath. Instead I have sought to attend church, read the scriptures, pray and visit others on the Sabbath. I know God has and will continue to bless me as I keep the Sabbath day holy.
I really like this website. I was especially attracted to this topic. My Father served a mission in New Zealand, and another mission in Hawaii, so he is always very friendly with the Tongan people. I didn’t realize that Tongans in general are so observant of the Sabbath Day.
The Sabbath Day has always been a very special and holy day for me and my family. Many times it seems that today society is leaning more and more towards making the Sabbath Day a day of pleasure, as Isaiah prophesied.
I have a strong conviction that the more we strive to observe the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, the more we will be protected by the Spirit and the more we will prosper in the land.
Hi Jay! Thanks for sharing that. That’s cool- my friend Mark served a mission in New Zealand and my other friend Christ served in Hawaii. I appreciate your insights.
Wow! I didn’t know this. Preach my Gospel says, “When a community or nation grows careless in its Sabbath activities, its religious life decays and all aspects of life are negatively affected.” Who can deny this has happened in America? It’s so apparent. Mormon family functionality has become so bold lately because families that don’t observe the Sabbath weaken. As a result, we stand out in a world that has become so full of divorce, abortion, fornication, pornography, and disloyalty.
My family recently picked up a hitch hiker for a couple hour drive. He didn’t talk much; he mostly observed us all interact with each other. At the end he said he wished his family was Mormon.