Communism and the United Order

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Criticism

Critics claim that the United Order was simply "communism."

Source(s) of the criticism

• Template:CriticalSource:Denton:American Massacre
• Jerald and Sandra Tanner, The Changing World of Mormonism (Moody Press, 1979), 59.( Index of claims )

Response

The claim is absurd, and intended to be inflammatory.

Marx and Engel's Communist Manifesto was not written until 1848, so it would be impossible for Joseph Smith to draw on their ideas.

There are many differences between the United Order and Marxist Communism, including:

• • voluntary versus involuntary.
  • focused on God and Christ versus atheistic.
  • private ownership versus no private ownership.

Endnotes

None