Glenn Beck vs. Joseph Smith (on sharing wealth)

[Sheepshank]

Just how many times do we have to hear Beck rail against all that he considers socialistic even communistic? Beck is nothing if not vigilant in reminding his listeners all about the Obama programs that are insidiously lying to the public and duping them into accepting programs that are against god's law and order. I recall Beck's call for people to abandon their churches that would teach social justice. Clearly he forgets his own church setting up a United Order...the brain child of joesph Smith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Order

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order (also called the United Order of Enoch) was one of several 19th century church collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831 attempted to implement the Law of Consecration, a form of Christian communism, modeled after the New Testament church which had "all things in common". These early versions ended after a few years. Later versions within Mormonism, primarily in the Utah Territory, implemented less-ambitious cooperative programs, many of which were very successful. The Order's full name invoked the city of Enoch, described in Latter Day Saint scripture as having such civic goodness that God had taken it to heaven.<1> The United Order established egalitarian communities designed to achieve income equality, eliminate poverty, and increase group self-sufficiency.
<snip>
Church leaders, including David O. McKay, Harold B. Lee, Ezra Taft Benson, Marion G. Romney, and J. Rueben Clark, Jr, often spoke of the stark differences between the United Order and communism. An official Church statement on this subject stated:

"Communism and all other similar isms bear no relationship whatever to the United Order. They are merely the clumsy counterfeits which Satan always devises of the Gospel plan .... The United Order leaves every man free to choose his own religion as his conscience directs. Communism destroys man's God-given free agency; the United Order glorifies it. Latter-day Saints cannot be true to their faith and lend aid, encouragement, or sympathy to any of these false philosophies ...." ("Message of the First Presidency," 112th Annual Conference, April 6, 1942.)

So the difference between Communism and United order is religion? That's it? We are back to fighting for or against religion? Bah!!!!

[Deep13]

1. Glenn Beck: a bad Mormon!

:shrug:

[arbusto_baboso]

2. In fairness, Smith was all about using the United Order to line his own pockets.

It had nothing to do with equity in his mind, or in his practice.

In that light, Beck actually makes a very GOOD mormon, in the same mold as ol' Joe Smith.

[Sheepshank]

3. But having the general membership

combine all assets....would be/was a requirement.

Yeah, as far as the general membership it's requiring a communism and communistic lifestule (both reprehensible in the eyes of Reps). But, you have a point in that just as in politics, the leadership would be living a pretty elitist lifestyle.

[KonaKane]

4. I was raised Mormon, and you are correct.

The United Order of Enoch was the most socialistic entity ever to appear in the United States. You could cut the irony with an axe, seeing how the church that launched it today is one of the most anti-communist institutions in existence.

[arbusto_baboso]

6. The mormon church also likes to point out that the US welfare system was based on church welfare

programs.

At least they were still making this claim around 2000 or so.

Sounds to me like Beck wants to whitewash his church's history (a very mormon thing to do, actually). Does anyone know when Beck actually converted?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. The Book Of Acts

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things in common; 4 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (King James Version)