THE UNITED ORDER.
The true relation among men, the doctrine of the brotherhood of man,
is nowhere better exemplified than in the principle of the united
order. This system of living represents, no doubt, the acme of
brotherly love and human efficiency.
**Purpose.** The united order recognizes that men have different
talents and therefore different aspirations which should be allowed
full and free unfolding. That is, the individual should be allowed to
exercise his inborn gifts. The united order further provides that the
members of a community share equally in the material returns of the
activities of the whole community. Since the wants of a community are
satisfied only by a variety of necessary labor, some yielding large,
others small, material gains, the united order provides that, if a man
work to the full of his ability, all the working days of his life, he
should have an equal share in the material gains of the community,
whatever his labor may be. Under this system there could be no
poverty; all would be amply supplied with the material necessities of
life. Those who, because of their greater talents or training, do the
greater work, will receive whatever is needed for the maintenance of
life; and they will attain, moreover, a greater growth and
satisfaction because of the greater work that they have performed.
Since the material wants of all will be amply supplied, there can be
no real reason why all should not share in the total results of the
labor of the community. The united order implies a closely organized
body of men and women working together for individual and for mutual
advancement. In theory, at least, it appears to be the best answer to
many of the great questions that trouble mankind.
**Historical.** The united order is not a new conception. It has been
known from the beginning of time. In the days of Enoch, the seventh
patriarch, the united order was practiced successfully. When the
Church was organized by Christ, the united order was practiced very
fully for some time, by many of the people. It is quite possible that
the order has been established and practiced successfully at other
times, but no record has come down to this age. Finally, in this
dispensation, the united order was revealed to the Prophet Joseph
Smith. The people, on several occasions, tried to practice it, and
wherever practiced correctly, it appeared to result in good; but
individual selfishness usually resulted in the abandonment of the
practice. It is a system of life requiring the fullest understanding
of the Gospel truth, and the greatest conception of man's place in the
universe. In its practice, men must overcome their selfishness, and
accept at their true values, the various rewards of life. Enoch and
his people acquired such high control over themselves that they were
able to practice the united order unselfishly, and at last were
translated from the earth without tasting death. It seems that the
united order is above the reach of the kind of men and women we now
are. Nevertheless, it is the system we approach, as we approach
perfection.
**Co-operation.** The united order has been suspended as a required
form of life in the Church, but its spirit still remains. Those who
are indeed worthy members of the Church must accept the spirit of the
united order. It finds present expression in the system of
co-operation, under which many unite in one enterprise, in such a way
that no one person dominates it, but that all concerned have a voice
in it, and so that the profits resulting from the enterprise are
divided more or less uniformly among those connected with it.
Co-operative enterprises have been fostered constantly and
consistently by the Church in the latter days, and in the majority of
instances have been extremely successful. In fact, when the Church
settled in Utah, it would have been impossible to accomplish the great
work before the pioneers, had they not practiced co-operation. To give
every man a full and proper chance is the spirit of the true Church.
**Tithing.** Every organized Church must have some means of material
support. Houses of worship must be constructed; temples must be built;
education must be fostered; the poor must be provided for; and many
other material needs form a part of the great spiritual mission of the
Church. For the general support, therefore, of the Church and of the
poor who are unable to provide for themselves, a fund has been
provided by the tithing of the people. This is a preparation for the
united order, and some day will be replaced by the more complete
system. This fund is maintained by the payment, by each member of the
Church, of one-tenth of his earnings, as they are delivered to him.
The money thus obtained is placed in the hands of the bishops, and is
disbursed under the direction of the First Presidency associated with
the presiding bishopric and other officials named in the revelations.
Tithing is an ancient system, frequently mentioned in the history of
the past. It is fair to all the people, for it is necessarily a system
whereby each man pays in proportion to his earnings. Great blessings
follow obedience either to the law of united order or the law of
tithing.
**Voluntary Offerings.** In addition to tithing, voluntary offerings
may be made to the Church for specific or general purposes, as for the
support of the poor or distressed living near us, or for the building
of churches.
**The Common Good.** All these devices for gathering material funds
for the sustenance of the Church, simply show the underlying and
overwhelming desire of those who understand the Gospel, to assist for
mutual benefit. Not the good of one, but the common good, is uppermost
in the minds of those who understand and love the Gospel.