Volunteered communal living
A different type of settlement appeared in the settlement of Bunkerville, Nevada. It wasn’t requested by the Church for this settlement to come about, however, permission was granted by President Brigham Young that this settlement could attempt to live what was called “The United Order”. By definition, this type of settlement was based on a communal system of living where ownership of property was controlled by the group as a whole. Some compare it with communism, but the difference was that in the United Order the plan was of God. In communism, the plan was of man and his attempt to control his fellow man. The failure of the United Order was not due to the plan, but due to man’s inability to live the Celestial Law in a world ruled by mortal laws and concepts.
establishment of bunkerville
On Monday, January 8, 1877, the settlers of Bunkerville began to construct a canal to bring water onto the land. In ten days, they had 1.5 miles of canal four feet wide. Next, they turned to grubbing away brush from their fields. Their tools were primitive, their strength limited, the work endless, their passion boundless.
By February 27, they had planted and irrigated grain and had turned their attention to grubbing a field for hay–then corn, cotton, and grapes. By April, they had planted melons, carrots, and a variety of garden vegetables.
In July and August, the mosquitos, heat, exhaustion, and sickness came. Every person became ill with chills and fever at one time or another. Their meager shelters were of adobe or branches and offered little comfort from the suffering.
Hardships
Hardships began to erode resolve. The bylaws allowed for people to withdraw and a few exercised that option. Small incidents of dissatisfaction turned into disputes until finally, Bishop Bunker was forced to restructure the Order into stewardships, which while well-intentioned to bring cooperation, fostered competition instead. Discussions were held and meetings were called where more discussions ensued.
Dissolution of the united order
On November 8, 1880, a meeting was called to address the question, “Should the Bunkerville United Order be dissolved?” The vote was unanimous except for Orson Leavitt’s vote against.
Over the next few months of winter, appraisals were made, and everyone came to agreement with the settlement of the lands, equipment, livestock, harvested crops, produce, and other valuables. There is no record in the Company journal to suggest any hard feelings.
“…While the living of the Order was more than mortal man could sustain, the fruits of success in living just a portion of the United Order, for even a small amount of time are manifest for all to see. The communities of Bunkerville and Mesquite succeeded because of the strength the United Order developed in those who lived it. Indeed, the people who lived the United Order seemed stronger and better people than they were before the attempt. The strength and experiences gained by these people were examples to all oftheir children. It can be said that the United Order created more good than any other experience in the lives of those who lived it.” (Vincent L Leavitt, Mesquite Flats A History of Virgin Valley, p 45.)