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A HOUSE IN ORDER, Part 1 of Chapter 17 of United Order 

 

Pages 252 to 263

 

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The Almighty is a lover of order and good government. (TPJS, p. 187)

The house of Jacob (Israel) became out of order when the eleven sons of Jacob refused to acknowledge Joseph as the rightful heir to rule as their leader. The descendants of Joseph have had a difficult time to regain their rightful place as rulers ever since. Jesus came through the lineage of Jacob and was told to “reign over the house of Jacob forever”. (Luke 1:33) Jesus understood the problems and conflicts in Jacob’s house and said, If a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand”. (Mark 3:25)

 

Also there was the influence of filthy lucre which He denounced by saying, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Mark 11:17), indicating that the house of Jacob was still out of order during His ministry. This was certainly evident when the Jews rejected Christ and His right to rule. But the prophecies of apostasy were not without the promise of a setting in order.

LATTER-DAY SINNERS, Chapter 16 of United Order 

 

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Pages 233 to 251

 

The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. (Isa. 24:5-6)

Two principal sins are related to wealth–the love of money (1 Tim.6:10) and the inequality of riches (D. & C. 49:20). For the past 150 years the Saints have been guilty of both evils. The question now arises what happened to cause this failure. Orson Pratt contended that the Saints were guilty of these sins over a century ago:

Anything short of a perfect equality in temporal things is a sin; hence, the Lord says, “It is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore, the world lieth in sin.” Is this law now enforced upon the Saints? Do they have all things in common? Do they all possess the same? No; they have not become righteous enough to obey this law. Covetousness has taken such deep root in their hearts, through the wicked tradition of their Gentile fathers, that this law remains unheeded. (The Seer, O. Pratt, p. 291)

THE PHILOSOPHY OF CONSECRATION, Chapter 15 of United Order 

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Pages 213 to 232

And let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive alike, that ye may be one, even as I commanded you. (D. & C. 51:9)

The Lord never gave instructions or commandments that would result in harm or misery for His children. Every commandment has been designed to eventually bring its own reward and compensation. The Prophet Joseph Smith said:

He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed, and which will not end in the greatest amount of good and glory to those who become the recipients of his law and ordinances. (TPJS, p. 257)

Every revelation from God to man has a purpose, although it may not be understood at the time it is given. The principle of the United Order has not been understood or appreciated, nor do people understand the blessings that can be obtained by obedience to that law. Men in general have a tendency to cling tightly to their possessions, and the mere mention of consecration is disturbing to them. They immediately think they will lose their wealth and freedom. [214] Nothing could be further from the truth. When the United Order is properly functioning, it will offer more opportunities and greater advantages than any other social program that has ever been attempted. The benefits apply not only to our present mortal life, but also in the life to come.

OUR CONTEMPORARY (OR CONTEMPTIBLE)SOCIETY, Ch 14 of United Order 

 

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Pages 196 to 212 

 

But I know that there is no man on this earth who can call around him property, be he a merchant, tradesman, or farmer, with his mind continually occupied with: “How shall I get this or that; how rich can I get; or, how much can I get out of this brother or from that brother?” and dicker and work, and take advantage here and there–no such man ever can magnify the priesthood nor enter the celestial kingdom. (Brigham Young, J.D. 11:297)

The Savior made a parallel between our generation and that of Noah’s–not because of heavy rainfall or large ships–but because of the necessity for the whole world to be cleansed. The time has long passed for the Latter-day Saints to decide which course they wish to pursue–following the worldly to their inevitable collapse and destruction, or seeking to obey the laws and principles of heaven which God has already given them.

THE HONORABLE LAWS OF THE LAND, Chapter 13 of United Order 

 

Pages 185 to 195

 

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We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. (12th Article of Faith)

In Thompson, near Kirtland, Ohio, some of the Latter-day Saints; attempted to organize themselves into a United Order. But, before a full organization could be completed, according to the principles of consecration, some of the wealthy members backed out. They turned to the gentile civil courts and sued the Church. This was a serious blow to the establishment of the United Order in its earliest attempt, because they won the case, causing the collapse of the order. The Saints learned from this early lesson that it was necessary to organize, purchase land, and deed properties according to the laws of the land; otherwise, the gentiles and the apostates would have power to destroy and rob them of their property.

This rule of obeying the law of the land in temporal affairs was also confirmed by the Lord who said, “Organize yourselves according to the laws of man; that your enemies may not have power over you”. (D. & C. 44:4-5)

THE INHERITANCES OF THE SAINTS, Chapter 12 of United Order 

 

Pages 170 to 184

 

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I, The Lord God, will send one mighty and strong,… to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints…. (D.&C.85:7)

The above quotation is a portion of a revelation contained in a letter from the Prophet Joseph Smith to W.W. Phelps at Independence, Missouri. After quoting the revelation, the Prophet continued by writing, “… if what I have said is true, how careful men ought to be what they do in the last days, lest they are cut short of their expectations, and they that think they stand should fall, because they keep not the Lord’s commandments….” (D.H.C. 1:299)

In an article dealing with this particular letter, and the revelation it contains, the First Presidency of the Church issued their views in 1907 so the members of the Church could understand their position on the matter. They agreed that the subject of this whole letter to Phelps, and the part “accepted as a revelation, relates to the affairs of the Church in Missouri, the gathering of the Saints to that land and obtaining their inheritances under the law of consecration and stewardship”. (Improvement Era, 10:931)

 

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BUILDING A ZION, Chapter 11 of United Order

 

Pages 158 to 169

 

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I also beheld the redemption of Zion, and many things which the tongue of man cannot describe in full. * * * My scribe also . . . saw, in vision, the armies of heaven protecting the Saints in their return to Zion, and many things which I saw. (Joseph Smith, D.H.C. 2:381)

Zion and Babylon have always been competing with each other. They are as opposite in principle as good and evil; but they can exist only in proportion to the will and works of people. Good people cannot participate or assist in building up Babylon; nor will the wicked people seek to build up Zion. They cannot long exist together.

Babylon is just as pure in its way as is Zion; it is pure evil–for even good, when it becomes contaminated and perverted, becomes an evil. The main thing is that Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree; a Zion that makes concessions is no longer Zion. (What is Zion? A Distant View, Hugh Nibley, pp. 3-4)

THE TITHE IS THE LORD’S, Chapter 10 of United Order 

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Pages 143 to 157 

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. (Lev. 27:30)

Tithing was not a new law introduced by Moses, for it existed in, the days of the patriarchs–even from the beginning of time. These tithes came from the annual “increase” of crops, herds, etc. (See Deut.14:22) Some of this 10% was for the assistance of the poor, the fatherless and widows–also to sustain the Levites, whose full time was devoted to administering the ordinances of the Lord. (See Deut. 14:29)

There is an important scripture indicating the close relationship between tithing and the law of consecration, and showing that they were both being practiced in the time of Abraham. From the Inspired Translation of the Bible we read:

Wherefore, Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him more than that which he had need . And it came to pass, that God blessed Abram, and gave unto him riches, and honor, and lands for an everlasting possession : according to the covenant which he [144] had made, and according to the blessing wherewith Melchizedek had blessed him . (Gen. 14:39-40)

Pages 115 to 142

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Will the time ever come that we can commence and organize this people as a family? It will. Do we know how? Yes, what was lacking in these revelations from Joseph to enable us to do so was revealed to me. (Brigham Young, J.D. 11:326) Some of the members of the Church were given revelations and manifestations to convince them of importance of the law of United Order. For them this principle was of divine origin and they had a religious conviction that it was true. Others were touched by the spirit of it when they heard it and received a testimony that it was to be obeyed. For example, Charles Walker described his convictions when he heard of its announcement: Sunday, Feb. 15, 1874: Went to meeting all day. Bro. Brigham spoke in a powerful manner with a spirit that went to the hearts of the people, saying that the time had come for this people to enter into the order of Enoch. He said the Lord said come, the spirit said come, and said (meaning the first presidency) we say come, and let us enter into the united order and devote our labor, time, talent, means, strength and abilities to the building up of the Zion of our God. Said if we would enter into it, we should have wealth and union and the blessings of the Most High would attend us. If we would not receive it, we should bring curses upon ourselves and the sin would lie at our own doors. He said that now was the time, not tomorrow, next year, but right now, today. He then called for a show of hands of those who were willing to enter the order to be controlled temporally in all things to the building up of Zion. The vote of hands was unanimous with very few exceptions, at least I saw no contrary vote and after meeting I authorized H. Erving, the Clerk, to put my name down as willing to join the order. (Charles Walker Journal, p. 382)

ORDER AND DISORDER, Chapter 8 of United Order 

 

Pages 95 to 114

 

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Thus saith the Lord unto my servant Brigham, Call ye, call ye, upon the inhabitants of Zion, to organize themselves in the Order of Enoch, in the New and Everlasting Covenant, according to the Order of Heaven, for the furtherance of my kingdom upon the earth, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the salvation of the living and the dead.

You can accommodate yourselves by calling this a new revelation, if you choose; it is no new revelation, but it is the express word and will of God to this people. (Brigham Young, 1874, J.D. 17:154)

In 1872 Brigham Young delivered a sermon in which he said:

If Babylon should happen to tip over so that we could not reach out and the necessaries of life, we should be in a bad condition. I want to put you in mind these things, and it is my duty to say to the Latter-day Saints that they should take measures to sustain themselves–they should lay a foundation for feeding and clothing themselves. (J.D. 15:158)