Don't forget churches! (People drive there too, you know)

Perhaps a better way to implement this would be for each business to figure out an extra day they could be closed, whichever day that turns out to be for them. The energy savings overall would be the same. Several of the enterprises you mentioned basically exist at all because they are open when most people have time off. For them, closing on Sunday would take away most of their revenue.

Please recognize there are those businesses for which shutting down costs more than staying open due to the way their equipment uses energy and/or the skill involved in getting precision equipment back online. A degree or two less cooling/heating, more energy efficient lighting, could also be good ways for all of us to reduce energy usage. Making different landscaping choices than grass that take less water to maintain is a choice that would make a big impact in our desert environment.

Sorry Tanna, your thinly veiled attempt to impose your desire to keep the Sabbath holy wouldn't be fair to many people. There are actually people who only have Sundays off and under your plan, they wouldn't be able to get anything done on their only day off. Not everyone works 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. In addition there are many people, and I am one of them, who consider Sunday as just another day.

I agree with uncannygunman, let the churches show us the way, by closing on Sunday.
Have you even paid attention? Car dealerships and libraries (at least those in Utah & Davis Counties) are closed on Sunday.
While we're at it, why don't we shut down the Deseret News on Sunday, how about Chanel 5 and KSL radio? Let's shut down all the church's profit centers on Sunday......oh wait, that's not going to happen. The allmighty (dollar) says it's okay to make a profit on the Sabbath.

I would prefer that they close on the Sabbath (Saturday). Some might like to close on Monday and be open on both days of the weekend so that they are able to serve all customers on their day off.
DleeD makes some good points, as does uncannygunman. If we all simply stayed home on Sunday, instead of going to church or anywhere else, wouldn't that best serve the environment and therefore God?

Another thought. How about we all donate 10% of our income to research on energy conserving technologies and projects rather than to churches.

What this author doesn't understand is that like carpooling, the more people you can gather into one place, the more energy that can be saved. 500 people walking around a shopping mall or gathered in a movie theater requires much less energy than those 500 dispersed in their houses across town. I'm really confused about the National Park thing though. How would preventing me from camping and hiking, save energy?

Monday or another day of the week would probably give a better payoff for being closed. Most people are at work on those days anyway, so income is less likely during the week than on weekends. If you are going to close, you want to close when you are serving the fewest number of people.

Maybe we could close all these places on Monday nights so there is no place to go for FHE. Then we could stop using electricity and read by candle light and REALLY teach the kids about pioneer life by taking away the computers and video games, they use a lot of electricity too.

Nice try, but the free market AND Free Agency should prevail. Even in Utah. All is well, all is well.

Just another holy moly trying to push their beliefs on to the rest of us

re: Ernest T. Bass | 8:36 a.m. July 3, 2008

While we're at it, why don't we shut down the Deseret News on Sunday, how about Chanel 5 and KSL radio? Let's shut down all the church's profit centers on Sunday......oh wait, that's not going to happen. The allmighty (dollar) says it's okay to make a profit on the Sabbath.

I guess its okay to have money changers in the temple so to speak. I'm shocked. ROFL!

Golly yeah, that's a great idea, then everyone can keep the sabbath holy whether they like it or not, great idea.

The Bible's pretty clear on the subject. No working on the Sabbath, and breaking that rule requires the immediate death of the transgressor.

That settles it! Everything shuts down on SATURDAYS, just like the Bible says to.

grocery stores would not benefit much, their coolers and freezers have to remain on,and yes even when the store is closed, thats where most of their energy bill comes from, But i do think non essental things should not be done on sunday, it keep some employees from being able to practice their religion. and it was not just a mormon thing. my family lived out side of utah when my parents where growing up most stores where closed on sunday and outside utah no less! The 10 commandments says keep the sabbath holy. I will continue to support businesses closed on sunday, well thats why Macey's Grocery has my business!

Private business needs to earn a profit. If private business had no customers on Sunday, they would not be open on Sunday. If the citizens of Utah believed that Sunday should be respected - and if those citizens lived those beliefs - most private businesses would close on Sunday.

As always, the customer determines how the process will work.

I don't think that we need to worry about public "businesses", just remember what you had to do the last time that you re-newed your car's registration. Did you take a long lunch hour? Did you leave work early? That department of government certainly wasn't worried about the wishes of its 'customer'.

As long as people choose to not worship God, other people will find ways to profit from that non-worship.

As with most things, it's up to the individual to determine how his Sundays are spend. As an extension, how each person decides to spend Sunday determines what businesses or services are required to support those decisions. ]

As goes the individual, so goes the community.

I think it would be a much better idea to close on Mondays because that's the slowest day and most people are hung over from getting loaded on Sunday.

I guess the boo birds are out in force today. The writer has a good point but since most of you are anti-religion, especially anti-Mormon, you just enjoy shooting the messenger instead of dealing with the thought behind the message.

I thought liberals wanted us to conserve, but when it comes down to it, it looks like it's just a bunch of hot air and sound bites.

Gopherus, you should stick to the Trib. Your commentary is much more revered over there....

Mormon's can breath a sigh of relief: here's a letter offensive to Seventh-day Adventist's and those of the Jewish faith.

RE CHARLES... you are putting a lot of people in the same groups that don't belong. Because I don't worship YOUR god doesn't make me a liberal, or a ANTI-Mormon, nor any combination of the above.
Liberals do want to conserve. Anti-Mormons don't' want Mormons to dictate their lives with state mandated laws. Mormons want to make a Theocracy in Utah. So we all vote and compromise, what don't' you get about that?

Chris Plummer,

I believe that you've mis-stated the proposition before us. You believe that you are the highest life-form in the universe; therefore, you believe that you have the right to decide for all humanity what they should or should not do on any day of the week - whether that day be Sunday or Monday or any other day. Your opinion, at least in your mind, is the only opinion with merit.

Many of us look to God for help and for answers, but few of us look to Chris Plummer.

God has already told us how to conduct our lives.

The choice is simple: Do we believe in God or do we believe in Chris Plummer?

Chris,

We all know your politics, you espouse them everyday. You are a liberal through and through. Everything conservative is an abomination in your eyes.

Mormons don't want to make a theocracy in Utah. How do you know the writer is Mormon? Are you so naive that you don't know there are many Christians throughout the nation who have the same belief, keep the sabbath day holy?

Your arguments are simplistic and usually incorrect. Liberals enjoy the fallacy that they are superior intellectually than any other creature.

One day you will bow down before Christ and realize that man is nothing. Liberals don't know God; and they abhor those who believe in God.

Up until the "enlightenment" of the 60's, most places throughout the country were closed on Sundays.

Chris, why don't you pick a church, any church, and attend it this Sunday? Sounds like a great idea...

In reading some replies, I guess Free Agency is a great concept, but...

re: Keeping the Sabbath Holy | 10:15 a.m. July 3, 2008

The Bible also says to stone "working girls".

I wonder what those employed to keep businesses open 24/7 would say about cutting out a day of shifts? There is no easy solution. Again, conserve what you can in your sphere of influence and encourage others to do the same. Check that box to participate in shares of Blue Sky renewable energy, get rid of your grass as was suggested...lots of things we can individually do.

500 people attending a church service is probably as efficient as 500 at a movie - I'd go to the movie. But I have always wondered why with church buildings seemingly convenient to every neighborhood there are parking lots and why do they get used? That would be a fuel savings right there. Walk. It would also be a great calorie expenditure. Walk.

My dad said he used to walk five miles to church. On a dusty/muddy/snow-packed road. Uphill. Both ways.

A Catholic pope changed the day of rest/sabbth to be observed on Sunday to prove he had the power to do so. A Saturday observance would accommodate the sabbath preference of believers of every persuasion, as far as I know. So first, acknowledge that those who choose to believe all deserve their day and don't mandate a specific one unless you choose to change and default to the original.

Those who choose to enrich their spiritual lives with outdoor activities or simply want to go throw back a few in the wild, let 'em. People want to cater to them with retail? Let 'em. Who cares?

If you're observing your week in the manner you choose, why does it matter what anyone else is doing? I've yet to hear of anyone being dragged out the door, tied to a waverunner and forced to circle on Jordanelle all day long.

Whatever day it is, The Sabbath or Sunday, i hope the fireworks and beer stores are open in Evanston.

Larry Miller already took care of the car dealerships for you. Free market? Less government? Great principles until it means you have to close your own business or risk looking like a hypocrite.

RE: CHARLES and MIKE

Tell you what... when we all die and if we are in heaven together, and I'm bowing before Christ, I give you full rights to give me a big "I TOLD YOU SO." Until then it ain't happening.
And Mike I could write the same thing back at you that you addressed to me changing out my name for yours and it would make more sense.
Fact is this letter sent to the editor is silly. So get over yourself. We are on the Deseret News comments site for crying out loud.

RE: CHARLES
By the way I assume the witter is Mormon because this is an Mormon owned newspaper with a MORMON TIMES section and UTAH IS 60%+ MORMON. It is pretty safe to assume they are Mormon. Plus she said close on SUNDAY. Why not any other day. Really now. Nit pickers.

Chris Plummer,

Normally I don't address anyone by name on any forum, but you made a statement in your 11:39 post that you may personally believe, but you have stated no facts to support that statement:

"Mormons want to make a Theocracy in Utah."

That is a very broad statement that is interesting, but invalid, unless you have facts to support it. There may be some "Mormons" that want that, but they are easily offset by those who are not "Mormon" who don't want a Theocracy.

Contrary to your personal belief, the official doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is summed up in the 12th Article of Faith:

"We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

Until Jesus Christ reigns on this earth as its highest authority, the 12th Article of Faith tells us to submit ourselves to the current ruling authority.

The Government has not dictated "Sunday Closing" laws, so we honor the law; however. Most churches, not just the "Mormon" church, advise their members to not participate in commercial activities on Sunday (or whichever day they hold sacred).

You advised differently.

Chris, I don't want you to wait for heaven for anything. It would be great if you realized the hand of God in everything around you and came to know Him in this life....

Life's too short to squander it away and then come to realize what you really missed out on....

You came around on the Fairness Doctrine, you can come around on this one as well....

Shew!!!!

Wow, there sure are alot of anti-religion folks on here. Pretty weird. When I was a little kid, everything was closed on Sunday. Many more people went to church. It was slower and nicer. Families were closer because they were bonded by a love of God and an closer to the scriptures.

I think this country is in a great deal of trouble and if people want to bless themselves, their family and this great country, we might want to start by obeying the commandments. YES, KEEPING THE SABBATH DAY HOLY IS A COMMANDMENT!!!! The original writer has a great point. And the point is correct!

I am not too worried about this board though, I believe there are actually very few consistent posters. Most of these are I believe the same persona. a few people who post over and over with different names. For instance ETBass sounds a great deal like the bitter anonymous.

Oh, about that kneeling and bowing to Christ... better to humble yourself than to have it done for you. You have a rough road my friend. Good luck with that attitude, it will not serve you well.

Thanks Indy!
Nope, I'm not The Bitter Anonymous.
I just call it the way I see it.
There is a huge profit center on Sundays from the same organization who wants to shut everything else down to honor the Sabbath.
If that's not irony, I don't know what is.

So keeping the sabbath holy is a commandment, but so is loving your neighbor. Lots of people on this site miss that one by a mile too.

And as to the ealier comment about Larry Miller closing his car dealerships on Sunday to not look like a hypocrite, HE HAS HIS MOVIE THEATRES AND RESTARAUNTS OPEN ON SUNDAY!! The VERY things mentioned in this letter. That STILL makes him a hypoctrite in my book.

Everyone thinks we have to follow their God's commandments, my God didn't command anything like that.

I have to break it to you, NO car dealerships in Utah are open on Sundays. By Law. The State Legislature passed a law forbidding the sale of automobiles in the state of Utah on Sunday many, many years ago.

Chris,

I am happy to report that there is only one God, just because you don't accept him does NOT make him exist less. He made commandments for all, but not all choose to love Him enough to obey Him.

Prove it.

To 5:04,

Proving that God exists is so very simple. Just hold your breath until you see him.

We'll all sing softly at your funeral so that we don't disturb your first conversation with Him.

to RE Indiana: ditto Mike Richards...

thats not proof... you guys must have read this months Ensign didn't you.

Mike Richards,
Well, I think you are a witch. How about we try to burn you at the stake. If you don't escape, but are instead burned to death, I'll take your word that you weren't one.

And think of all of the energy we would save if we shut down churches on Sunday, or everyday for that matter. Think of all of the gas that would be saved by people not driving to church or Church activities. Or maybe this letter writer only wants to think about the things that back her Religious World View.
Indiana, let me see some proof of your God. Just because you say he/she is real gives NO ONE any proof. I'm not above believing in a God if there is any GOOD reason to do so. And by the way, MORE people claim to be religious than ever. Just because things seemed better back in the good ol' days doesn't mean they were. So if MORE people claim to be religious, why would things seem to be getting worse? ( I don't think they're getting worse, but ,most religious folk do.)

Gopherus,

If burning me at the stake will make you happy then go for it; but, you will have to get all the necessary permits to gather wood (owl problems), light an open fire (air quality problems) and toxic waste removal (I'm closer to 300 pounds than I am to 200, so there will be a lot of toxic waste).

Right now I'm walking around the Camp Floyd Military Cemetary to remember the many young men who came here to finally settle the 'Mormon' problem. What each of these soldiers found instead was the end of the world. One second they were wondering whether God existed and the next second they were looking into His eyes.

Since I already know that God exists, I'm looking forward to that moment when I can again look into His eyes and call Him Father.

All things prove His existance, just look around and see for yourself.

FaithNoMo...can you please describe the taste of salt for me? don't tell what it isn't, please tell me what it is.

It tastes like sweat with the gritty texture of sand which yet then dissolves. The perfect seasoning for an abundant harvest of nature's bounty especially if you participated in nurturing it with the sweat of your brow.

Delicious. :o)

~ Marinda

PS - sorry to have intentionally misconstrued your intention in asking

Nobody hates people who believe in God... except when the believers try to restrict the freedom of others to live their lives according to the dictates of their own consciences. Only then, when you believers have become a threat to our lives, liberties, and our pursuit of happiness, do we hate you.

So it is simple. You believers believe in love. Increase the amount of love in the world by refraining from restricting OUR lives, liberties and happiness. Then we won't HATE you so much and all will be well!

Get it?

uncannygunman is right on. We cannot just shut down activities across the board on a specific day. That is too simple-minded. We should shut down those activities that use energy but provide the smallest value to society.

Ding Ding Ding! Churches on Sunday use proportionally more energy but provide absolutely NO value to society! [unless, of course, you think arrogance, inter-sect contention, hatred and bigotry are actually GOOD for society!]

Shut the Churches down!

NO thank you ENERGYSAVER, if churches were shut down, then there would be no hope for mankind and everyone would be meanspirited and nasty just like you. No, we need church to help us deal with the likes of you.