I wished to add my testimony to the things you have listened to. May the blessings of God rest upon us, and give unto us wisdom and ability to contribute our aid to make the people of Zion self-sustaining. – George A. Smith, 2/6/1862
Economic Independence
My guess is that you have never heard the idea that “building Zion” included achieving local economic independence “from Babylon”. Yet these quotes make it clear that that goal was central to the Zion-building efforts of Utah’s pre-statehood church leaders.