Post by LDS Anarchist on May 9, 2004 16:27:35 GMT -5
In all of my personal posts in this forum, I've elected to use the term United Effort, instead of using the more common term United Order, which all Latter-day Saints are familiar with. United Efforts, in my view, although based upon the revelatory pattern of a United Order, are not United Orders.
The term United Order is mentioned and explained in two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, specifically section 92 and section 104. Other sections make mention of united orders, though not specifically by this very term.
The principle differences, in my mind, between a united effort and a united order are that:
A united effort can be based upon the pattern of united orders set forth in the scriptures, but they don't have to be. United efforts are based solely upon the principle of free agency, that we are all free agents and can organize ourselves according to any pattern we desire, to benefit ourselves and help to establish the cause of Zion. They may be entered into by covenant, they may be lead by priesthood leadership, they may be fully based upon, or solely based upon, those principles found in the Doctrine and Covenants, but each individual United Effort will decide how it operates. The principle is that we seek to organize ourselves according to the pattern revealed by the Lord. To neglect this organizational effort is to wait to be commanded in all things and this results in damnation and in being slothful and unwise servants.
In this thread, I will post the scriptures found in the Doctrine and Covenants that speak of the United Orders that the Lord caused to be established during the time of Joseph Smith. By reviewing the revelations, we can see the pattern and more easily organize ourselves into united efforts that resemble the pattern shown by the Lord.
Anyone on this forum can use the term united order or united effort, or any other term, as they choose, but in all of my personal posts, I will refer to the organization of individual Latter-day Saints into mutual beneficial societies for the furtherment of the establishment of Zion and reduction of the influences of Babylon, performed via their own free agency and not by way of commandment through the proper priesthood channels as united efforts.
It should be understood that this is no new undertaking, or new experiment. Brigham Young, after the death of Joseph Smith, also attempted to establish united orders and these united orders were not organized exactly the same way as those found in the revelations. He, and other prophets, have understood that unless we make the effort to establish Zion, Zion will not be established.
It should also be understood that when speaking of establishing Zion, I am not only referring to the land of Zion, but in establishing Zion among the stakes of Zion. There is no need to move to Missouri. We can organize ourselves among the stake, district, ward or branch in which we live and begin to remove the Babylonian influences and make ourselves independent from her. By doing so, the Lord will bless our efforts, and, if we sanctify ourselves before Him, He will bestow His power upon us and by that same power He will redeem the land of Zion and her stakes, in fulfillment of prophecy. To a very large extent, the Lord's timetable depends upon us.
The scriptures follow...
The term United Order is mentioned and explained in two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, specifically section 92 and section 104. Other sections make mention of united orders, though not specifically by this very term.
The principle differences, in my mind, between a united effort and a united order are that:
- united orders were commanded to be established by the Lord, through revelation
- united orders were guided by the Melchizedek Priesthood
- united orders were organized and entered into by a covenantal bond
A united effort can be based upon the pattern of united orders set forth in the scriptures, but they don't have to be. United efforts are based solely upon the principle of free agency, that we are all free agents and can organize ourselves according to any pattern we desire, to benefit ourselves and help to establish the cause of Zion. They may be entered into by covenant, they may be lead by priesthood leadership, they may be fully based upon, or solely based upon, those principles found in the Doctrine and Covenants, but each individual United Effort will decide how it operates. The principle is that we seek to organize ourselves according to the pattern revealed by the Lord. To neglect this organizational effort is to wait to be commanded in all things and this results in damnation and in being slothful and unwise servants.
In this thread, I will post the scriptures found in the Doctrine and Covenants that speak of the United Orders that the Lord caused to be established during the time of Joseph Smith. By reviewing the revelations, we can see the pattern and more easily organize ourselves into united efforts that resemble the pattern shown by the Lord.
Anyone on this forum can use the term united order or united effort, or any other term, as they choose, but in all of my personal posts, I will refer to the organization of individual Latter-day Saints into mutual beneficial societies for the furtherment of the establishment of Zion and reduction of the influences of Babylon, performed via their own free agency and not by way of commandment through the proper priesthood channels as united efforts.
It should be understood that this is no new undertaking, or new experiment. Brigham Young, after the death of Joseph Smith, also attempted to establish united orders and these united orders were not organized exactly the same way as those found in the revelations. He, and other prophets, have understood that unless we make the effort to establish Zion, Zion will not be established.
It should also be understood that when speaking of establishing Zion, I am not only referring to the land of Zion, but in establishing Zion among the stakes of Zion. There is no need to move to Missouri. We can organize ourselves among the stake, district, ward or branch in which we live and begin to remove the Babylonian influences and make ourselves independent from her. By doing so, the Lord will bless our efforts, and, if we sanctify ourselves before Him, He will bestow His power upon us and by that same power He will redeem the land of Zion and her stakes, in fulfillment of prophecy. To a very large extent, the Lord's timetable depends upon us.
The scriptures follow...