THE FIRST BOOK OF SHI-TUGO

Ammonites observe the Sabbath at home rather than in synagogues. Worship includes prayers, singing, and family-led discussions on sacred teachings.

1Now, the Ammonites do not build synagogues after the manner of the Nephites, but every family worships together in their homes on the Sabbath Day. And this is the sacred manner in which they observe to worship on the Sabbath.

2In the morning of the Sabbath, the family arises and each person washes themselves and they dress themselves in the sacred clothing placed upon them by the Peli, and if they are too young to have received the sacred clothing, they dress in their best attire. And they gather themselves, sometimes in small family groups and sometimes in large groups of many families, and they sing a song of thanksgiving together. Then the husband of the home in which the family is gathered stands and speaks the peaceable things of the kingdom of God. And sometimes this is done by the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and sometimes this is done by reading from the sacred records.

3When he is finished speaking in a sacred manner, his wife stands and also speaks in a sacred manner by the gifts of the Spirit within her. And every member of the family from father and mother to little children, when the Spirit is upon them, do stand and speak in a sacred manner. And all who hear do clap their hands together and express their agreement.

4When all are finished speaking, the father stands again and takes sacred herbs in a bowl and strikes fire to it, and the incense rises up to cover all the people. Then he raises the bowl in the sacred directions and offers praise and thanks in a most sacred manner and all the people shout praises unto God in a great shout and a tumultuous unison.

5Now, this is a difficult thing for the Nephites. For their Sabbath worship is more sober and they do it in the synagogues, where all is done in strict obedience to the form and manner of their worship. And all is done in a spirit of quiet reverence. Wherefore, the Ammonites seem boisterous in their worship and this does offend many Nephites. But behold, the Ammonites come not away from their Sabbath meetings with a downtrodden spirit, but with a face lifted up unto praising God with all their hearts, with all their might, with all their strength and with all their souls. Yea, every fiber of their being doth rejoice in their God.