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Zion: Seeking the City of Enoch
This story follows the life of Rabunel as he and his family struggle to accept Enoch and his teachings, and helps him set the foundations of the most successful society in history.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1999
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About the author
Larry Barkdull
53 books6 followersI am a longtime publisher and writer of books, music, art and magazines. My most recent books are Priesthood Power–Blessing the Sick and the Afflicted and Rescuing Wayward Children. I have just completed a major 5-book doctrinal series called The Three Pillars of Zion, which was announced August 2009. I have created two Facebook groups called, “Rescuing Wayward Children” and “Three Pillars of Zion–Becoming a Zion Person.”
For nine years, I owned Sonos Music Resources and published the Tabernacle Choir Performance Library, and I was also the owner and publisher of Keepsake Books. Combined, I have published about 600 products for numerous authors, composers and artists. I founded two non-profit organizations: The Latter-day Foundation for the Arts, Education and Humanity (to promote LDS arts), and Gospel Ideals International (to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ on the Internet). My wife, Elizabeth (Buffie), and I have been married for 38 years we have ten children and 15 grandchildren. We live in Orem, Utah. Visit me on Facebook: “Larry Barkdull”
from http://www.larrybarkdull.com/about-me
For nine years, I owned Sonos Music Resources and published the Tabernacle Choir Performance Library, and I was also the owner and publisher of Keepsake Books. Combined, I have published about 600 products for numerous authors, composers and artists. I founded two non-profit organizations: The Latter-day Foundation for the Arts, Education and Humanity (to promote LDS arts), and Gospel Ideals International (to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ on the Internet). My wife, Elizabeth (Buffie), and I have been married for 38 years we have ten children and 15 grandchildren. We live in Orem, Utah. Visit me on Facebook: “Larry Barkdull”
from http://www.larrybarkdull.com/about-me
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 2, 2011
Larry Barkdull is an awesome writer. This book and the idea of portraying this time period in stimulating detail kept me riveted to my seat. This helped me understand this time period in the scriptures much better.
May 31, 2025
Good historical fiction embeds a fictional narrative within a context that is as historically accurate and factual as historians and researchers can make it. This holds for religious as well as secular histories. For example, when author Gerald N. Lund was commissioned to write the nine-volume The Work and the Glory, a history of Joseph Smith, Jr. and the early days of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he chose to do so by chronicling the saga of the completely fictitious Steed family. In the preface to Pillar of Light, the first novel in the series, Lund explains, “Pillar of Light is a fictional work. The medium of fiction was chosen so that the personal dimension—the individual impact of the Restoration on people—could be explored. But in another sense, it is not fictional. It tells, as accurately as possible, the story of Joseph Smith and the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” In similar fashion, among other works, Lund wrote The Kingdom and the Crown, a trilogy relating the story of the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, again using fictional characters to create a more visceral experience for the reader. But again, the fictional inventions of the author are limited to the people he invented for the story—every act and utterance of Jesus is based strictly on what is known through canonical scripture.
I preface my review of ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch with this discussion of historical fiction—especially religious historical fiction—because religious historical fiction will have readers who may doubt not only the accuracy of historical events portrayed, but the veracity of the religious context of the narrative. That is, if one is not a Christian, then the accuracy of events in a story of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ is a moot point.
ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch is set in the antediluvian days of the Old Testament, when Adam and Eve were still alive in the mortal flesh, and tells the story of the fictional Rabunel, a precious gem merchant who struggles to understand who he is and what his relationship to God is, in a world where humankind is becoming increasingly wicked. He was taught in his youth by his father to believe in the One True God, but he has strayed from his devotion, deflected and distracted by worldly political and economic influences. His faith, which had been banked when the story begins, is rekindled when he hears firsthand the teachings of the prophet Enoch. The main action of the novel is sparked when Rabunel has to protect his family—and many others from his home city—from the corrupt, venal rulers of his homeland (who also desire to kill Enoch), and seek out the city of Zion, where they will be welcome and safe.
In our modern society, many who may profess to be Christian may nevertheless discount scripture (Old and New Testaments, and other documents such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) as mere stories, not to be taken seriously. This is especially true of early Old Testament times. Be that as it may, ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch is notable for the copious research that went into its writing. Larry Barkdull is listed as the main author, but Lance Richardson and Ron McMillan are also listed as co-authors. The book doesn’t explicitly say what the contributions were of each of the three creators, but I assume Richardson and McMillan mainly helped with the research. (This is a work of fiction, but a work of fiction that includes an appendix with a list of references.) I appreciate the difficulty of writing historical fiction set in a time period about which we know so little, and I am impressed by how richly textured Rabunel’s world is.
A final note: ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch, first published in 1998, was originally planned to be the first in a four-book series about Zion, or the City of Enoch. But in looking online, I can only find what appears to be the second book in the series, ZION—The Long Road to Sanctification, published in 2000. As Mr. Barkdull passed away unexpectedly in 2016 at the relatively young age of 65, I lament I will not be able to read his projected tetralogy, and can only dream about what gems of historical research would have been contained in those two unwritten volumes.
I preface my review of ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch with this discussion of historical fiction—especially religious historical fiction—because religious historical fiction will have readers who may doubt not only the accuracy of historical events portrayed, but the veracity of the religious context of the narrative. That is, if one is not a Christian, then the accuracy of events in a story of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ is a moot point.
ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch is set in the antediluvian days of the Old Testament, when Adam and Eve were still alive in the mortal flesh, and tells the story of the fictional Rabunel, a precious gem merchant who struggles to understand who he is and what his relationship to God is, in a world where humankind is becoming increasingly wicked. He was taught in his youth by his father to believe in the One True God, but he has strayed from his devotion, deflected and distracted by worldly political and economic influences. His faith, which had been banked when the story begins, is rekindled when he hears firsthand the teachings of the prophet Enoch. The main action of the novel is sparked when Rabunel has to protect his family—and many others from his home city—from the corrupt, venal rulers of his homeland (who also desire to kill Enoch), and seek out the city of Zion, where they will be welcome and safe.
In our modern society, many who may profess to be Christian may nevertheless discount scripture (Old and New Testaments, and other documents such as the Dead Sea Scrolls) as mere stories, not to be taken seriously. This is especially true of early Old Testament times. Be that as it may, ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch is notable for the copious research that went into its writing. Larry Barkdull is listed as the main author, but Lance Richardson and Ron McMillan are also listed as co-authors. The book doesn’t explicitly say what the contributions were of each of the three creators, but I assume Richardson and McMillan mainly helped with the research. (This is a work of fiction, but a work of fiction that includes an appendix with a list of references.) I appreciate the difficulty of writing historical fiction set in a time period about which we know so little, and I am impressed by how richly textured Rabunel’s world is.
A final note: ZION—Seeking the City of Enoch, first published in 1998, was originally planned to be the first in a four-book series about Zion, or the City of Enoch. But in looking online, I can only find what appears to be the second book in the series, ZION—The Long Road to Sanctification, published in 2000. As Mr. Barkdull passed away unexpectedly in 2016 at the relatively young age of 65, I lament I will not be able to read his projected tetralogy, and can only dream about what gems of historical research would have been contained in those two unwritten volumes.
February 12, 2008
I liked this one. I enjoyed seeing the conflict between good and evil in the society and I also enjoyed how one of the characters learned to feel the spirit/guidance of God in nature.
I'd like to read this one again soon.
LDS author.
PG-13: if I remember right there might have been an theatrically intense (but not graphic) rape scene
I'd like to read this one again soon.
LDS author.
PG-13: if I remember right there might have been an theatrically intense (but not graphic) rape scene
January 26, 2013
This was sitting on my bookshelf for 6 years and I finally decided to read it. I loved it. What a different time period to try to understand. It takes place about 650 years after Adam and Eve left the garden on Eden. It even talks about them still bring alive. Very intriguing.
February 7, 2008
I love books that are fact based with a fictional touch for adventure
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February 10, 2008I have this- I know the author personally and I need to read it.
February 20, 2008
This book taught me how truly simple the act of prayer can be. I loved it.
March 11, 2008
I liked this book because of the time period it place. I generally like books that provoke spiritual thought. This one deals with the City of Enoch and becoming Zion people.
April 13, 2008
I read this book many years ago and I really enjoyed it. I have forgotten much of the story, so it's on my list of re-reads.
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May 9, 2008I was told by someone this was a good book... I read it before my mission and bought the sequel.
May 11, 2009
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!!!
June 20, 2009
Fictional account of what it was like to live in the time of Enoch. Loved the way it took you through the process of coming to know yourself and finding God. Enjoyed it, made me re-evaluate me.
March 9, 2010
This was fun to read and a great story.
May 26, 2010
An interesting read. One of the co-authors was the late Lance Richardson.
March 2, 2011
Fictional account of what it was like to live in the time of Enoch. It's been a while since I've read it, but I really enjoyed this book... it was hard for me to put down.
August 1, 2009
Fantastic book that really makes you think.
April 7, 2010
Loved it!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews