The first Mormons—largely of New England Puritan stock—brought with them a commitment to work, not only as a way of getting ahead in the world, but also as a way of serving God. When the Mormon pioneers settled the Intermountain West, they chose as their symbol the beehive, representing organization, industry, and unity. Their hard work made the desert “blossom as the rose” (Isaiah 35:1).
Work, for Mormons, has spiritual as well as temporal importance, just as necessary for emotional health as prayer (see Prayer). In the Mormon view, heaven isn’t a place where people sit and relax—it’s a condition of joyful, fruitful work.
You can still see the beehive on highway signs and other places in Utah today.
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
—Pearl of Great Price, Moses 39:1
The best antidote I know for worry is work.
—Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008)
Forget yourself and go to work.
—Bryant S. Hinckley (1867–1961)
Work is a spiritual necessity as well as an economic necessity.
—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)
Our primary purpose [in establishing the Church’s welfare program] was to set up, in so far as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift and self respect be once more established amongst our people. The aim of the Church is to help the people to help themselves. Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.
—Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)
Work brings happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity. It is the means of all accomplishment; it is the opposite of idleness. . . . Attempts to obtain our temporal, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being by means of a dole violate the divine mandate that we should work for what we receive.
—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)
Of the time that is allotted to man here on the earth there is none to lose or to run to waste. After suitable rest and relaxation there is not a day, hour or minute that we should spend in idleness, but every minute of every day of our lives we should strive to improve our minds and to increase the faith of the holy Gospel.
—Brigham Young (1801–1877)
The privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, the love of work is success.
—David O. McKay (1873–1970)
Daydreams without work do not amount to anything; it is the actual work that counts.
—Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)
There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements.
—Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008)
There is a heavy emphasis in Mormonism on initiative, on responsibility, on a work ethic, and on education. If you take those elements together with a free-enterprise system, you’ve got the chemistry for a lot of industry.
—Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012)
If we are to be saved in an ark, as Noah and his family were, it will be because we build it. . . . My faith does not lead me to think the Lord will provide us with roast pigs, bread already buttered, etc.; he will give us the ability to raise the grain, to obtain the fruits of the earth, to make habitations, to procure a few boards to make a box, and when harvest comes, giving us the grain, it is for us to preserve it—to save the wheat until we have one, two, five or seven years’ provisions on hand, until there is enough of the staff of life saved by the people to bread themselves and those who will come here seeking for safety.
— Brigham Young (1801–1877)
If you have ambitions, dream of what you wish to accomplish, and then put your shoulder to the wheel and work.
—Heber J. Grant (1856–1945)
It is not so much what we know that is important, as what we are and what we do.
—Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)
The most important work you’ll ever do is ahead of you, never behind you.
—Stephen R. Covey (1932–2012)