Latter Day Saints early interest in Socialism

[clonebot]

Now before I begin, let me just state that I am LDS so if you are looking for some sort of anti-mormon thread this isn't it. I also fancy socialism in one form or another so I'm posting this for like minded individual who are interested in a bit of history.

Basically, I am referring to the "United orders" , programs developed by then LDS president, Brigaham Young. His influence came from a revelation that church founder, Joseph Smith, received regarding self sufficency of the mormon followers, ending of poverty, and relative equal income. This was to be the ideal society - where everything was given to the church and then divided equally among everyone in the stake (sort of like a dicocese, in the catholic church, a group of churches)

loss of political and social power and repression of mormons in the late 19th century, not to mention the greed that capitalism fostered forced Brigaham Young to act on these plans and he did set up several "United order" communities - a couple hundred actually - some were almost completely self sufficent, sort of like large communes in a sense.

it didn't last too long. it was a bold step but ultimated unattainable at the turn of the 20th century america. america was getting smaller and there really wasn't a place for socialist towns operating in giant capitalist system. basically the mormons agreed that america wasn't ready for the united order...... yet.

[daveskilt]

1. here's some classic mormon socialism

http://www.gomakecontact.com/mesj/library/proc-on-econ.html

dave

[gonefishing]

2. I wonder if Joseph Smith's revelation included this...

http://helpthechildbrides.com/

[clonebot]

3. stfu...

you just couldn't resist could you? thanks for picking the most unrelated anti-mormon topic possible in a mormon-socialism thread. besides, what connection does the modern lds church have to some fundamentalist assholes in colorado? none.

[markus]

4. I was interested Utah was 1st state to give women the vote

I really don't know what to make of the LDS. It would be inresting to find an history/analysis that's written by someone who is reasonably objective. Is there such a book?

My own views on LDS are formed from the popular culture, and they are not terribly sympathetic, but you probably know that already (popular culture's views; not mine).