The Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in Eden, and in God's purpose they are indissolubly linked together. On this day more than on any other, it is possible for us to live the life of Eden. It was God's plan for the members of the family to be associated in work 251 and study, in worship and recreation, the father as priest of his household, and both father and mother as teachers and companions of their children. But the results of sin, having changed the conditions of life, to a great degree prevent this association. Often the father hardly sees the faces of his children throughout the week. He is almost wholly deprived of opportunity for companionship or instruction. But God's love has set a limit to the demands of toil. Over the Sabbath He places His merciful hand. In His own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, with nature, and with one another.

Sabbatten blev ligesom familien indstiftet i Edens have, og i Guds plan er de uløseligt knyttet til hinanden. Mere end på nogen anden dag er det på denne dag muligt for os at leve et liv som i Edens have. Det var Guds hensigt, at familiens medlemmer skulle være forenede gennem arbejde og studium, gennem tilbedelse og forfriskende hvile, faderen som sit hjems præst og både faderen og moderen som deres børns lærere og kammerater. Men da syndens følger havde ændret livsbetingelserne, hindrede dette for en stor del denne forening. Ofte ser faderen knap sine børn hele ugen igennem. Muligheden for kammeratskab eller belæring er næsten fuldstændig blevet ham berøvet. Men Guds kærlighed har sat en grænse for kravet om arbejde. Han holder sin barmhjertige hånd over sabbatten. På sin egen dag bevarer han familiens mulighed for samfund med ham, med naturen og med hinanden.