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)