The sabbath was to be a perpetual covenant between the Lord and the children of Israel. "Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant;" _verse_ 16. In _verse_ 17 they are commanded to observe it as a sign that they remember that the Lord made heaven and earth, and rested on the seventh day. In these quotations from _Exo_. 31, and in the Decalogue the most positive and weighty reasons are given by the Lord to the fathers of the house of Israel, for keeping the sabbath day. The obligation is evidently as binding upon the Latter-day Saints as it was upon their fathers, and they in like manner will reap the reward of obedience. Israel was also required to give the land rest. "Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard;" _Lev_. 25. 3, 4. After seven sabbaths of years had been numbered, making forty-nine years, then the fiftieth year was to be a year of Jubilee. This was a year of general release from all bondage. "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family;" _verse_ 10. Both the forty-ninth and fiftieth were years of rest for the land. This chapter should be well studied for information with regard to the sabbatic year. The Lord, in his revelations through his prophet Joseph, has commanded the saints to keep the sabbath day holy. "For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. * * * And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full;" _Doc. & Cov_., 59. 10, 13. In _verse_ 15-17, great blessings are promised as the result of keeping this commandment. To keep the sabbath holy is again positively enjoined upon the saints "And the inhabitants of Zion shall, also, observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy;" _Sec_. 68. 29. Bible. _Lev_. 19. 3 shall fear every man his father and mother, and keep my sabbaths. 30. 26. 34 then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths as long as it is desolate. _Num_. 15. 32-36 a young man stoned for breaking the sabbath. _Neh_. 10. 31 the people covenanted not to buy victuals on the sabbath. 13. 15-22 Nehemiah sharply reproved the people for laboring on the sabbath. _Isa_. 56. 2 blessed is the man that keepeth the sabbath. 3-7 the eunuch and the stranger that keep the sabbath shall be blessed. 58. 13, 14 great blessings promised to those who keep the sabbath. _Jer_. 17. 21-27.