Zion ≠ Socialism

[Arenera]

Zion cannot be socialist and be good.

Zion is in the heart. They share with each other.

2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

[Ezra]

David O McKay may 76

I cannot help but think that there is a direct relationship between the present evil trends which I have above indicated, and the very marked tendency of the people of our country to pass on to the state the responsibility for their moral and economic welfare. This trend to a welfare state in which people look to and worship government more than their God, is certain to sap the individual ambitions and moral fiber of our youth unless they are warned and rewarned of the consequences. History, of course, is replete with the downfall of nations who, instead of assuming their own responsibility for their religious and economic welfare, mistakenly attempted to shift their individual responsibility to the government.I am aware that a university has the responsibility of acquainting its students with the theories and doctrines which are prevalent in various disciplines, but I hope that no one on the faculty of Brigham Young University will advocate positions which cannot be harmonized with the views of every prophet of the Church, from the Prophet Joseph Smith on down, concerning our belief that we should be strong and self-reliant individuals, not dependent upon the largess or benefactions of government. None of the doctrines of our Church gives any sanction to the concept of a socialistic state.


None. Not a single one.

[Ezra]

Zion cannot be socialist and be good.

Zion is in the heart. They share with each other.

2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

But socialism is government force not heart.

No force is necessary when people have it in their hearts to be equal. They choose it themselves without being told to or forced by some government body.

[TheSnail]

Socialism just means being social.

Haha just kidding.

The actual practice of socialism, throughout history, has meant coercion. Usually through murder to start with, but later through terror with some murder mixed in.

The practice of all things in common in Zion is voluntary. Completely voluntary.

The scriptures quoted are fascinating, because they clearly indicate a market economy, incentives for work, etc. Those who won't work will be taken care of, but they won't enjoy it very much. Those who can't work will be given special consideration.

You can see how the law of tithing prepares us. Instead of paying 10%, we make a budget and figure out what we need, then we pay everything else. Everyone begins to do better and better as a community, and eventually this becomes easy.

Tithing prepares us as a community. Some are already prepared to live this law, but some aren't full tithe payers and need to work on that. Also, we learn to work and to care about our community.

I think if the whole church paid their tithes and offerings, we'd be close to no poor already due to the blessings we'd receive, and we'd also be ready or very close to ready to practice consecration.

We don't even do our home teaching, and that costs next to nothing. But on the positive side, I truly believe that we want to be good and are making great progress. The only problem is that it takes us so long That we get old and die before we are ready for these higher laws.

I hope and believe they are doing a lot better on the other side.

[Serragon]

Zion is not a place where there is so much charity that the poor cease being poor through handouts.

Zion is a community of those who have like mind and heart. All things are in common, including work. Those who are idle or who seek to take advantage have no place there else it would cease to be Zion.

Socialism exists precisely because people are not of like mind and heart and cannot be equated to Zion in any way.