Thursday, April 18, 2024

Larry Barkdull on Zion People and the Importance of Keeping Sunday Holy

  

ZION PEOPLE ARE DISTINGUISHED BY OBSERVING THE SABBATH DAY

 

As mentioned above, the Sabbath day is a sign that distinguishes and identifies us as people of the Covenant. By keeping the law of the Sabbath day, we signify among other things that we have abandoned Babylon in favor of Zion and that we intend to remain separate and distinct from the world. We have no desire to be “spotted” or contaminated by associating with the world. (D&C 59:9) Moreover, we live Zion’s law of consecration in part by consecrating this day—the Lord’s day (D&C 59:12)—to him to do his work and no other. This is a concept completely foreign to Babylon, whose philosophy is to make profit, seek pleasure, and indulge in self-serving activities twenty-four hours a day, every day, including the Sabbath day. On the Sabbath, Zion people worship their God, while Babylon people worship the idols of moneymaking ventures and pleasure.

 

On the Sabbath day, Zion people go to the house of God to express gratitude to him, to offer him the sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to confess to him their sins, to fast and bear testimony of God, and thereby to enter into his rest.

 

Conversely, Babylon people serve a different god on the Sabbath day. Babylon people cheer for the home team, indulge, play, ship, camp, and barbeque; they worship their boats, go rock climbing, escape into nature, watch television, go to the movies, and do anything to gratify themselves. On the Sabbath day, Babylon people lounge or sleep, whereas Zion people rest.

 

For the obedience of the people of Zion, the Lord blesses them with rain in due season and with protection from their enemies and from adversity; he blesses them with peace and with abundance in family and in the good things of the earth; he will grant their posterity the right to the blessings of the Covenant; he will bless them with his presence and call them his chosen. The earth will yield up its bounty to Zion people who live the law of the Sabbath day.

 

On the other hand, by mocking the Sabbath day Babylon receives the Lord’s curse and spiritual death. (Larry Barkdull, The Three Pillars of Zion [Orem, Utah: Pillars of Zion Publishing, 2009], 131)