A FAILED UNITED ORDER IN MENDON, UTAH (CACHE VALLEY)

Wow - I knew about Orderville, Kingston and a few other small towns where the "Order" was set up in Utah, but I had no idea that it had been tried in Cache Valley.

A few  posts back, I featured the "cache of all Cache Valley" histories and this gem was contained in it.  I just read this morning in 4 Nephi about how the Nephites were only able to keep it together (having all things in common) for two hundred years.  I think the best way for that system to organically come about is to have everyone lose everything.  It eliminates the "me" and "mine" effect, especially when the recovery from a cleansing event takes several decades, or more.  The cleansing must be total - and the people so disconnected from ground, that they have to struggle mightily for an extended period of time in order to normalize to ground.  The old is forgotten, the new way of thinking is firmly established.  I surmise that the cleansing that the Nephites went thru did not entirely root out all evil persons - and, being in the minority, pockets just played along because the majority was truly of one heart and one mind.  Once they saw their opportunity to bolt from the pack, they went for it and set up opposition to the Lord's way.  The telestial system slowly gained a foot hold and then became general among the people after just 200 years of peace and prosperity.

The only time it did not fail was in the attempt made by Enoch and his people.  Was it all about leadership?  What made his experiment succeed - and not that of the Nephites?  I ask that question frequently.  Why waste brain power on that?  Because very shortly, the survivors will be plunged into a situation where they must exercise the principles of consecration both in resources and in marriage (for both males and material goods will be in short supply).  The most shocking aspect of life for most will be having nothing - and then begging just to survive.  Once proud and high-minded people of all walks of life will be asked to do the superhuman with nothing - and in their extremity, they will come to know their Maker.    And those people who are fully purged of all impurities in the furnace of affliction, will be able to take the millennial paradigm for about 1000 years.  The longest run yet - other than Enoch's scenario.

Initially, there were at least 12 powerful leaders amongst the Nephites - but it was not enough.  In Joseph Smith's day, there were attempts made - but it never took.  Joseph was one of the most charismatic and dynamic leaders to have lived on this planet.  If he could not get it done, how do we expect to get it done during this next attempt - to bring about Zion?  There is something that must be different this time around - and I have wracked my brain to try and figure it out.  I think that key of knowledge will be essential in order to relieve our burden during the transition.

I also think a close study of the Mennonite communities would provide clues.  How embarrassing it would be if we Saints, after the cleansing, had to go make a hasty study of what they have been doing for hundreds of years.  There is almost always a group of them traveling on the train with me - and I am just waiting for the right opportunity to strike up the right conversation to begin gleaning their secrets.  Mostly they are women who travel - and are a closed society - so my chances of having any success are limited.  The other groups of people that are making it happen are those who run the kibbutz in Israel.  I know people who have temporarily been a part of it - but they are never willing to talk of their experiences - and generally turn their noses up when thinking back on their time there.  Which makes me all the more intrigued.....

So, I study any material I can get my hands on - which is scant little - so that I can extract the keys of knowledge.  I am CONVINCED that the best shot at figuring it out, other than some apocryphal writings from Enoch's day, is the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon which contains more of the day-to-day basics of how the Nephites got along during those successful 200 years.  I believe the translation of the Sealed Portion is occurring as I write this.  I am not sure how that would be, but I think its true.  As soon as I get any corroborating evidence other than a comment to the blog, I will publish it if I am allowed.

Here is the history of Mendon, UT:

A rather interesting economic and social order was established among the settlers of Mendon in 1874. Apostle Erastus Snow of the L.D.S. Church was sent to Cache Valley to introduce the Order of Enoch, or United Order, where all were to have things in common, so to speak. At a special meeting at Logan, the county seat, of all the settlements of the Valley, Apostle Snow presented the plan and workings of the Order. Acting Bishop (Ralph) Forester of Mendon reported that Mendon could not go into the Order until their bishop, Henry Hughes, returned from his mission. Apostle Snow very quickly and effectively asked the question— If the Kingdom of God had to stop in Mendon because Bishop Hughes was on a mission? This settled the question and an organization of the Order was at once effected in Mendon.
A president, two vice–presidents, a secretary and assistant, a treasurer and eleven directors were elected. All the real property of a member belonging to the Order was consecrated to the Order. This was done in good faith and the members never expected to own their property individually again. About one–third of the settlers joined the Order, while the other two–thirds remained out to see how well it would operate.
The members of the Order were organized into companies of ten with a superintendent over all. The men went to work together in the fields and just as soon as one piece of land was dry enough, it was plowed and sowed by the different companies. It was a rather novel sight to see the groups of men with their teams going to and coming from their work. Each member attended to the irrigating of the land he had turned over to the Order and he also kept and took care of his cows, horses, sheep and other livestock, for his family use. Each day’s work was credited and when the harvest was over and the threshing done, the net proceeds was determined and the amount allowed for each day’s labor was paid. The man with twenty-five acres of land fared no better than the one with five acres, or the one with none, unless he worked more days. They were paid according to the days they worked.
After a year or more, it was evident that the people were not ready for such a social and economic change, where selfishness had to be abolished and each have a desire to do his share and not impose on another. This was a real opportunity to cultivate the spirit of unity, loving one’s neighbors and having an interest in the welfare of the group along with one’s own. During the winter of 1875, most of the men in the Order worked in Providence Canyon, cut logs and hauled lumber to Ogden. The next fall the Order was discontinued and the lumber and cash on hand, as well as the net proceeds of the crops were divided among the members. Mendon gave this innovation a fair trial and was perhaps as successful with it as any of the other settlements.
A severe winter was experienced by the people in 1873-1874. It commenced in November and did not break up until the middle of April. Feed for livestock became so scarce that all the old straw on the sheds that had been there for several years was taken of and used for feed. As soon as there were bare places on the sunny side of the hills, the stock were driven to these to get what little dry and green grass they could. Much of the grain in the bins had to be fed to save as many of the stock as possible. Most every family had a few sheep and these became diseased and scabby. Much of the stock was on the lift and took some time for it to recuperate. The horses were so poor they could scarcely work at all and it was difficult to prepare the land and get the crops planted. If the dirt roof houses and dugouts had been in existence, many would have been tempted to rob them of the long grasses and straw under the dirt coverings.
A similar winter occurred in 1879 when the stock became so poor and weak that special groups of men had to go around and help lift the horses and cows to their feet so they could get around to help themselves. This was a hard winter on the grain bins and the cows produced very little milk. All the sheds were robbed of their straw for feed. Despite these hard winters every few years, the people were slow to accept the suggestions of President Brigham Young that in times of plenty they should save and conserve for times of scarcity. He advised the farmers to pile their straw around the chaff(–piler) from year to year and save it, but many when they had plenty would burn it to get it out of the way, whereas the practice of a little conservation would have saved much starvation and worry. To read of these severe winters reminds the present generation of the winter of 1917 when feed for livestock was so scarce that it sold for ^$40.00 to ^$50.00 per ton and much of the livestock was on the lift.
None of the smaller settlements of the Valley, such as Mendon, were incorporated at such an early date. This occurred in 1870 and was brought about principally because the settlers feared that with the coming of the railroad into the town, saloons and other public undesirable places might be established. With the settlement incorporated they could regulate such places to better advantage. Ordinances were at once passed which prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors. No saloons were ever started in Mendon. Mr. George Baker was elected as the first Mayor.
Most all the early settlements had experiences with the wild game, some of which were unfortunate for the people. In the late fall of 1862, Mendon was shocked over the death of Father Graham, one of it’s settlers, by a large female grizzly bear and her cubs. Father (Thomas B.) Graham and Andrew P. Shumway were cutting willows on Muddy Creek, (Little Bear River) east of Mendon. They met the bear and her cubs suddenly and she attacked Father Graham, Mr. Shumway returned to Mendon at once and gave the alarm. Practically all the men armed themselves with guns and other weapons and went to Muddy Creek with all possible speed. Father Graham was already dead and his body mangled in a terrible condition. The men had quite an adventure before the bear was killed by a shot from the gun of James Hill. In one of the charges of the bear, Daniel Hill, in order to protect himself, rammed his gun down the bear’s throat. The two cubs were also captured.