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A Sobering
Look: LDS Sports and the Sabbath
by
Kelly L. Martinez
Right off the
bat, I would like to reiterate Meridian Sports’ objective. I quote
from a Meridian Sports column from June 15, 2001:
“Meridian
Sports' intent is to keep LDS sports fans informed on the athletic
accomplishments of fellow Latter-day Saints. By reporting on those
accomplishments whether they were made on Sunday or not we hope
that no justification, rationalization or condemnation is interpreted
by the reader in regards to LDS doctrine on the topic of Sabbath
day observance. Look for a Meridian Sports column on this topic
in the future.”
The future is
here.
Early on, the
idea of writing an article on this sensitive issue was one I always
knew I’d wind up doing, but had delayed because I knew it would
be a difficult undertaking … one that would ruffle some feathers
and rattle some cages. I feel compelled to write this article now,
in light of some of the e-mails I’ve received in regard to this
perpetually sensitive topic.
Rewind
One Sunday in 1988, I hurried home from church to catch a Lakers-Jazz
playoff game on TV. It was a crucial game in the series and the
game was being played at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City.
What I remember
most about that game was not who won or who played well, but an
image displayed on network television for the entire world to see:
a sporting arena in Utah full of fans in white shirts and dresses.
I later learned that many of those fans had left church before
sacrament meeting so they wouldn’t miss the opening tip!
I first became
aware of my own attire while watching this scene unfold still
in my white shirt and slacks, shoes kicked off and every bit as
much in attendance at the Salt Palace as any of those Jazz fans
800 miles away.
I imagine the
scene has been repeated many times since then especially during
the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals but it was the first time I had made
the observation and it caused me to pause and reevaluate my own
actions.
A word from
our Sponsor
“He
that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone ...” (John
8:7)
I do not wish
to cast unrighteous judgment upon any LDS fan or athlete for their
choice to watch or play sports on the Sabbath. To do so would be
duplicitous, as I have participated in such behavior myself.
My intent here
is to explore the issue of the LDS athlete and Sabbath day observance.
Is it a necessary evil? A byproduct of one’s chosen profession?
If I could speak to each of you personally, I’m certain the answers
to these questions would be as varied as the colors of a rainbow.
The facts
“Remember
the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8
In section 59
of the Doctrine and Covenants, we are told that the Sabbath is a
day to rest, worship, offer up vows in righteousness, confess our
sins, partake of the sacrament, prepare food with singleness of
heart, and perfect our fasting.
President
Spencer W. Kimball elaborated on these points and said the Sabbath
could also be used for reading good books, scripture study, talk
preparation, visiting the sick, preaching the Gospel, proselytizing,
visiting quietly with family, doing good, seeking forgiveness of
sin, journal writing, fellowshipping nonmembers, and enjoying uplifting
music.
President
Ezra Taft Benson went a little further, telling us what the
Sabbath should NOT be used for. Gardening and odd jobs around the
house, taking trips to canyons or resorts, wasting time, refueling
the car, making up for sleep lost on Saturday, being so busy there
is no time for prayer or meditation, reading material that does
not contribute to our spiritual uplift, shopping, and engaging
in sports are things that are in violation of the Sabbath.
From the First
Presidency in 1993: “Since the creation of the earth, the Sabbath
day has been established by God for the spiritual well-being of
His children. Throughout generations of time, the sacred law of
the Sabbath has been upheld by the prophets of God as a holy observance
to help sanctify and bring joy to those who would keep the commandments
of the Lord. So important is this matter that the observance of
the Sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments written by the finger
of the Lord on Mount Sinai … We sense that many Latter-day Saints
have become lax in their observance of the Sabbath day. We should
refrain from shopping on the Sabbath and participating in other
commercial and sporting activities that now commonly desecrate
the Sabbath.”
I searched the
Church website’s gospel library extensively and could find no exceptions
to these words of counsel and commandment.
The subjects
I have interviewed several LDS athletes for my Meridian columns
over the past year. One thing I have made certain to do when interviewing
them is to never make my personal opinion known on the Sabbath day
issue. I ask the athlete’s opinion, and then let them answer. A
couple of them have been defensive, but most have openly and honestly
answered.
There is a common
sense of distress amongst them that their profession/sport creates
a situation where they feel as if they have no other choice but
to play or work on Sunday. Each athlete came to their decision after
prayer and spiritual striving.
Here’s what
some of them have had to say:
Los Angeles
Clippers radio broadcaster and former NBA player Michael Smith:
“I would love to be able to say that I can’t work on Sundays.
I think if I said that, they’d hire somebody else. Am I wimp?
Am I less than courageous? Am I lacking the faith that Nephi
had? I think that at this point in my life, this is my profession.
This is what provides for my family. I’m not in a position
to choose.”
Los Angeles
Laker Mark Madsen: “This is, basically, an occupational
decision that I've made. It's definitely not an ideal situation
because we do have some Sunday games. I don't have a choice about
that; I have to play in those games because that's my job. When
we do have Sunday games, I make every effort to make it to as many
church meetings as I can. (Playing on Sunday) is definitely something
I don't recommend, but it's the profession I've chosen.”
Former Los Angeles
Dodger and current New York Met McKay Christensen: “Playing
on Sunday is, by far, the most difficult aspect of playing professional
baseball.”
Former Duke
Basketball player and recent college grad Matt Christensen:
“Being required to play basketball on the Sabbath is something
I’ve never been comfortable with. Now that basketball is over for
me, I’ll be glad to be able to observe the Sabbath in the way it
should be observed.”
A territorial
effect
In the Territory of French Polynesia better known as Tahiti
soccer is huge.
In 1977, a momentous
event took place in the Tahitian soccer world. At the time, Erroll
Bennett was on top of his game and was one of the best soccer
players the tiny island nation had known. As a result of effective
fellowshipping and a deep conviction that the Church was true, Bennett
and his wife decided to be baptized. Bennett was no ordinary soccer
player, either. He was the soccer player playing on one of
the best teams. True to his new-found faith, Bennett had decided
to give up soccer in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
The day following
his baptism, Bennett met with Central Club team president Napoléon
Spitz to withdraw from competitive soccer. Spitz, who was also the
league president, advised Bennett to wait a few days until after
the league meeting, which was to be held later in the week.
At the league
meeting, each team was informed that Central Club, Bennett’s team,
would no longer play its games on Sunday. Spitz said the reason
for this decision was because Sunday games were preventing his players
from being with their families and that it was an unacceptable practice.
He didn’t know what the other teams would do, but the Central Club
team would no longer play on Sunday.
A vote was called
and a unanimous decision was reached that day that all teams in
the Honors Division would play their games on weekday nights.
The courage
and faith of one athlete had an effect on an entire nation. Bennett’s
son, Naea, is now one of the best players in Tahiti and,
thanks to his father’s desire to honor the Sabbath, has never had
to deal with the decision to play on Sundays.
Granted, Tahiti
(population 253,506) is small. True also is the fact that Tahiti
is not technically a nation. However, the parallel is applicable.
Instead of one Erroll Bennett, the rest of the world will need many
more like him
Where is
our Bennett?
Will it take a tremendous event like the one that took place
in Tahiti a quarter of a century ago to change the dilemma of the
LDS athlete that isn’t playing soccer in Tahiti? Will there be a
Michael Jordan caliber athlete LDS or not that will make the
valiant stand that Bennett did? What if a group of proven athletes
banded together and made Sabbath observance a priority in their
lives and refused to play on Sunday? Would the powers-that-be have
any other option than to react proactively?
Why do LDS athletes,
many of whom have served full-time missions and have been educated
in fields of expertise that will provide them with ample opportunities,
feel compelled to enter professions and situations that the Sabbath
day is treated with no respect? Is football, basketball, baseball,
rodeo or whatever the only profession they are able to provide for
a family in? Is such-and-such college the only college that will
offer a scholarship?
What are
we to do?
If you haven’t already thrown whatever you’re holding at my
column already, I assume you’ve found what I’ve written so far of
some worth.
Why aren’t the
LDS athletes of today refusing to play on the Sabbath? I don’t know
the answer, but the commandment seems to clear and precise to me:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
I will refrain
from condemning anyone’s choices until I am able to get a handle
on the weaknesses and bad choices that I make.
Confessions
My view on the Sabbath day matter has changed over the years.
I have been well aware of the commandment, but I have been able
to find some level of justification for not keeping in complete
compliance with the proper observance of the Sabbath. Be it television,
video games, excessive napping, or choice of reading material, I
accept my share of the responsibility for the violation of the Lord’s
Day. For this very reason, I will never condemn the LDS athlete
and the choice they make to play on the Sabbath.
I will also
admit that when I first heard of Eli Herring and his decision
to forego certain riches in the NFL in favor of his conviction to
honor the Sabbath, I wondered. I admired his decision, but wondered
how he could make such a choice. I wondered what I would have chosen
were I in his place. I now think I am beginning to understand what
Brother Herring obviously had figured out a long time ago. I admire
him.
Much publicity
has been afforded another LDS athlete recently. Aleisha Cramer
is another athlete that has made a great sacrifice so that she
can properly observe the Sabbath. Unlike my colleague Mike Morrow,
soccer is not my cup of herbal tea, but I admire Cramer’s conviction
as well.
In the meantime
I expect I’ll get an e-mail or two in response to this column.
Take it easy on me, folks, I bruise easily.
Until then,
I guess I’ll start packing my bag for our stake’s Fathers and Sons
Outing this weekend. Thankfully, my three boys don’t give a hoot
about how unpopular their dad is about to become in the sporting
world.
I wonder if
they would miss me at work if I stayed in the hills for good.
Editor’s
note: The complete story of Erroll Bennett’s conversion can be found
by entering ‘Erroll Bennett’ in the Search field of the Gospel Library
page of the Church’s website, which is accessible from the home
page at www.lds.org
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© 2002Meridian
Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
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