Was Joseph Smith a Communist? The Truth Behind The Law of Consecration

Was the Law of Consecration a plan to have the Mormon church own all their member’s property? Did Joseph Smith believe that Christians had to practice some kind of communism in order to be truly righteous? Does having “all things common” mean there is no private property? Join me as I dive into the history and try to find the truth.

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Notes:
- Gospel Topics essay on the Law of Consecration: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/consecration?lang=eng
- Apostle Bruce McConkie’s talk on consecration: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/04/obedience-consecration-and-sacrifice?lang=eng#p7
- John Whitmer’s record of the Kirtland attempt at communism: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/john-whitmer-history-1831-circa-1847/15#10530922454646891126
- Ludwig von Mises on the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism: https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/mises-on-the-impossibility-of-economic-calculation-under-socialism
- February 1831 revelation: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-book-1/48 and https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-9-february-1831-dc-421-72/3
- May 1831 revelation: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-20-may-1831-dc-51/1
- November 1831 revelation: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-12-november-1831-dc-70/1
- Joseph’s 1833 letter to Edward Partridge: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-edward-partridge-2-may-1833/1
- Joseph’s 1833 letter to Partridge and others: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-church-leaders-in-jackson-county-missouri-25-june-1833/2
- June 1831 revelation: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-15-june-1831-dc-56/2
- Joseph on equality in 1841 Nauvoo: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/account-of-meeting-circa-30march-1841/1

Bonus!
- Additional sources for original “all thy properties” text: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-9-february-1831-as-recorded-in-gilbert-notebook-dc-421-72/5, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-9-february-1831-as-recorded-in-coltrin-diary-dc-4211-69/3, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelations-printed-in-the-evening-and-the-morning-star-june-1832-june-1833/3, and https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-commandments-1833/96
- Sources for first appearances of “of thy properties” text: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/john-whitmer-history-1831-circa-1847/18, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelations-printed-in-evening-and-morning-star-january-1835-june-1836/10, and https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835/130