If you look at a calendar, it’ll show Sunday is the first day of the week. In the ancient times, Sunday was used to start a week, not finish it.
Nowadays, Sunday is the dreaded last day of your weekend before the week officially starts.
What else is Sunday useful for?
With all the media attention from the NRL this past week, Sunday has also emerged as a hot topic of discussion for league fans.
Bulldogs star Will Hopoate has declared he will not participate in games and training sessions held on Sundays due to religious reasons.
This has been a huge topic of discussion in regards to his loyalty to the club, his teammates, and what exactly it achieves.
Personally, I have seen the scrutiny, and feel like a voice of reason is due. Let’s discuss the decision, through the eyes of a Mormon.
A Mormon is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is a Christian-based religion which was started in Salt Lake City, Utah.
While some churches celebrate their day of religion on various days, as Mormons, we worship on Sundays. In our words, and many other religions also, it is considered the Sabbath Day.
The Sabbath Day is set aside to rest from all activities and daily regimes to spend time worshipping at a local church service and resting before the week starts the next day.
It is used to symbolise the creation of the Earth, which is why Sunday is recognised as a rest day.
We believe that activities which may be pursued any other day of the week are not suitable for a Sunday.
Exactly what activities you may ask?
It can vary from shopping, eating out, media activities and sport.
It is highly documented that, at the age of 18, a young man is asked to serve a 2-year full-time proselyting mission, in which they will go to preach the word of God.
The nature of the NRL would be a very scrutinising ordeal. Mormons do not partake in alcohol, drugs or smoking, nor do we even drink tea or coffee – Milo is a big seller for us.
With all of the temptation and money in the NRL, it takes a strong man to stay faithful to a spouse or religion, and or to keep a level head. Imagine having the rules of the Mormon church as an added addition to that already tireless ordeal?
With that in mind, maybe you will have a new found understanding for Hopoate’s decision.
To risk your position while you are the in-form player of the team sitting comfortably at the top end of the table speaks volumes of Hopoates’s character.
Many critics have slammed this as selfish, irresponsible and have even questioned if he should even be paid for games missed.
To any Mormon who has to withstand the ordeal and nature of our religion, this is what we brand as firm, undaunted and exactly obedient.
The example that Hopoate has set for so many other young Mormons coming through the ranks is outstanding. As a youth leader within my ward (boundary based group of Mormons), I have seen so many young Mormons emerge as footballers and make their way into an Under-20s or NSW Cup squad.
Notable Mormon players include the likes of Sam Perrett, Ben Hannant and the Penrith whiz Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
While all of these players have not as yet said they are going to follow Hopoate’s lead, it has been rumoured that if DWZ was allowed the freedom Will has, he would happily stop playing on Sundays.
These type of decisions should be commended in this day and age.
In a league filled with so much alcohol, drugs and other misdemeanours, do the NRL-loving public really want to take aim at a man declaring that his religion is more important than a sport?
That a player who admitted to using illicit drugs can be immortalised, but someone who puts his faith first is criticised, speaks volumes with all that’s wrong with the NRL’s fan base.
It has been rare for any of the current Mormon players to be caught in any misdemeanours. They’re always held to their professional best, and will obviously not have any alcohol-related problems.
If the public were given an insight (something I hope I have provided), maybe some sense and respect would emerge for Hopoate’s decision.
To the public, he may be the hottest topic of the week for all the wrong reasons.
But to us Mormons, the decision has not only portrayed our religion as a firm foundation, but also assisted all our young men, reminding them that maybe they will be better for it as well.
This article may not sit well with many readers, but it is a chance for outsiders to understand just how hard being a Mormon NRL player may be in comparison to a ‘normal’ one.
It is the courage to stand alone, rather than with the crowd, which is the ultimate type of courage.
Awatea
Guest
Personally, we believe in observing the sabbath like biblical times. Our faith constantly defends and boosts other faiths in how they want to exercise their beliefs, In fact thats apart of our doctrine (Article of faith 11).
Awatea
Guest
I am a 19 year old female member of the church who is going on a mission. "Magic underwear" are religious garments we wear. Many other faiths have religious clothing. We aren't arguing that Jarryd Hayne is not religious. It's just a strict part of our faith that we observe the Sabbath like biblical times.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Yes, Joseph Smith was convicted. First for his 'treasure divining' trick in 1826 - which seems strangely similar to his subsequent and more profitable 'God showed me magic things that only I can see' trick. Then he was convicted for bank fraud in 1837. The other charges he wasn't convicted of were mostly because he fled the relevant states or counties before trial. So, not exactly a great legal record, but appropriate for someone who pulled off one of history's most persistent con-jobs.
Aussie Ragdoll
Guest
He has already indicated he will not play in the Grand Final should the Bulldogs make it.
Aussie Ragdoll
Guest
Wow! For a supposed 'ex-mormon', you don't remember your doctrine very well. If you did, you would remember that the names of those for whom baptism for the dead has been performed are NOT included in the membership statistics. The is a simple reason for this. It is called the doctrine of Free Agency. The right to choose for ypurself. LDS believe that not only does this apply to the living, it still applies to those who are dead. The ordinance of baptism by total immersion must be performed with a physical body, but whether the ordinance has any effect or not will depend on of the person for whom it is performed accepts the work or not. If they accept, then it has effect. If they do not accecpt, then is means nothing. Because we cannot be certain if the dead have accepted or not, these baptisms are not included in the membership statistics.
Aussie Ragdoll
Guest
Wow! So many incorrect statements in just one post. Where to begin? Joseph Smith was never convicted of a crime by any court of law - not that certain jurisdictions didn't try. 'Men of colour' were NOT 'considered to be evil'. In fact, unlike many christian denominations, even in the Southern US states, the LDS never had separate churches for white or coloured congregations. Because of this fact, LDS Missionaries were often attacked by the KKK in the South. One of the reasons LDS were disliked so much in some states was because LDS did not, as a whole, support slavery & it was feared that the large influx of LDS converts to an area would change the laws on slavery in those states.
Aussie Ragdoll
Guest
Women can serve a mission fron age 19, in answer to your question. Also women serve for 18 months, rather than 2 years. Otherwise, they do the same service as smen. In both genders, serbice is encouraged - but is voluntary. Missionaries, as with our church leaders, are not paid by the church for their service.
Christov
Guest
I agree, more tea and coffee for islander kids
Christov
Guest
Fair play
Bearfax
Guest
That's fine Lol if you believe in that. But lets not impose it on those who dont believe that and lets be sure that such action only affects those who choose that action.
Lol...
Guest
Last year there was an emphasis in keeping the Sabbath day holy as a church world wide.. and what we could each do in our own lives personally to draw closer to God... it seems to me he is just following what he believes is right... now obviously not everyone is going to like it but his choice his career and the club have respected it...
Bearfax
Guest
I have to make a caveat here regarding the issue of religion and young Hopoate's decision. We can be critical of religions but when an estimated 84% of the Worlds population apparently have a faith, those of us who are atheists or agnostics are very much in the minority. We have to accept it exists and live with it. I therefore have no problems with Will's commitment to his belief, but as I said it should be personal and not affect others in his life. I am rather critical of the limp wristed authorities that are too often prepared to make increased allowances for these beliefs in the general life of our community. In my district restaurants and take away shops, despite being of various cultures are seemingly being coerced into serving their meals with halal clearance. There are increasing pressures by some cultures to have their own legal system. When it comes to religion, there is this fear of offending allowing elements into the general public's lives of things likely to alter our way of life. At present its minor issues but the pressure is there. Sometimes change is fine but it should be change the majority of the population agree to, not the result of a small pressure group influencing a politician and using a distorted version of political correctness to force things through. Our leaders should be making it clear that we live in an egalitarian society and what is good for one must be good for the rest. I am therefore critical of the Canterbury Club for bowing to what is an inequitable arrangement. Will is just doing what his beliefs require him to do, and that is his business. But it shouldnt mean we all have to accept such situations which make exceptions that deny the rest of us an equal arrangement.
Cugel
Roar Rookie
As Richard Dawkins has said, even the wackiest religious ideas get a "free pass", and not complying with that brands you as intolerant or arrogant, and hence can be ignored. Except our replace-the-communist boogeymen Muslims, who get all kinds of stick.
John Millar
Guest
Maybe the public should watch a movie called "Chariots of Fire" where another Christian (not a Mormon) who took the same stance at an Olympic games and was placed under extreme pressure to change for the sake of country. Others recognized his dilemma and stepped in and as a result this young man won participated in another event and won the gold medal for his country (England in this case) because he made a similar stance.]He said "I will not run on the Sabbath". It's a great movie and should be shown in prime time to highlight how Hopoate feels and to get a person's religious convictions in perspective. Maybe A Current Affair should run this kind of story rather then all the "muck-raking" it seems to cover so often. A "good news" story has as much, and maybe even more, impact than does a bad news story.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's not those days so your point is...?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It's a nothing decision. It's become something only because it seems to clash with that other great religion, sport.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
One religion versus another?
James Dean ( seriously )
Guest
And put an end to the hundreds of millions of dollars they flush in grants to bogus Islamic organisations , such as open mosque days for mosques that don't actually exist .
Casper
Guest
Politics, religion, what's next? Between him and the dogs and don't care as long as him & a mate don't knock on my door pushing their beliefs. Guess Des will work out whether he can live with a part timer in the squad, clubs get that with injury prone players anyway. Was Hannant a Mormon when he won $200k on a scratchy in his first year in Sydney, how does that sit with the religion which frowns on gambling.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
Yep, and Milo is laden with Sugar which is contributing to the obesity epidemic - one that is particularly prevalent among many Islanders. Maybe the Mormons ought to stop worrying about caffeine (it's actually shown to have health benefits) and start telling their congregation they can't have sugar. It'd do a tonne more for their health than their odd ban on caffeine.