Building the City of God: Community and Cooperation among the Mormons

Building the City of God examines Mormon economic and communal experiments in 19th century Utah. The authors draw on primary sources and archival records to document the United Order movement and other cooperative ventures undertaken by early Mormon settlements. The book traces the evolution of Mormon communitarian practices from the 1830s through the 1890s across multiple Utah communities. It details the organizational structures, leadership approaches, and day-to-day operations of various United Order implementations. Through case studies of specific settlements, the work illuminates how Mormon leaders and followers adapted their economic systems to changing conditions on the frontier. The authors analyze both the successes and limitations of these religious-economic experiments. The study provides insights into the intersection of religious ideals with practical economics, and explores tensions between individual autonomy and communal obligation. This research remains relevant to modern discussions of faith-based communities and alternative economic systems.

Readers note this is a detailed economic history of Mormon cooperative movements and United Order experiments from 1830-1900. Many appreciate the thorough research and data about how early Mormon communities attempted to create alternative economic systems. Liked: - Comprehensive coverage of different cooperative models attempted - Inclusion of previously unpublished primary sources - Clear explanations of complex economic concepts - Balanced treatment of both successes and failures Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Heavy focus on economic minutiae over human stories - Limited coverage of theological motivations - Some readers found it too technical for general audience Ratings: Goodreads: 4.19/5 (37 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Excellent research but reads like an economics textbook." Another commented: "Important historical information but could use more narrative elements to engage general readers." Several reviewers recommended it for serious students of Mormon history rather than casual readers.

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🏛️ The book examines the United Order, a fascinating Mormon economic experiment from the 1870s where members shared property and resources communally - a practice that shaped several Utah communities. 📜 Author Leonard J. Arrington served as the first professional historian appointed as Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1972-1982), breaking a 130-year tradition of church leaders holding this role. 🌾 The cooperative movement described in the book included over 200 Mormon settlements, with some communities achieving remarkable self-sufficiency through shared farming, manufacturing, and merchandising. 🤝 The book details how Mormon settlers managed to maintain their communal economic system while simultaneously integrating into the larger American capitalist economy during the late 19th century. 📚 Originally published in 1976, this work draws heavily from previously unused primary sources and documents from the LDS Church Archives, providing unprecedented insight into early Mormon economic practices.