Deseret (Book of Mormon) facts for kids
Deseret is a special word that comes from the Book of Mormon. This book is a scripture for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the LDS Church) and other similar groups. In the Book of Mormon, "deseret" means "honeybee". It was used by an ancient group called the Jaredites. They were said to have traveled to the Americas long ago.
Some scholars think the word "Deseret" might be linked to an old Egyptian word. This Egyptian word, dsrt, was used for the "bee crown" of ancient Egypt. This crown was a symbol for the Lower Kingdom of Egypt.
The Proposed State of Deseret
"Deseret" was once suggested as the name for the U.S. state we now call Utah. Brigham Young was an important leader. He was the governor of Utah Territory from 1850 to 1858. He was also the president of the LDS Church.
Young liked the name "Deseret" because it meant "honeybee". He saw the honeybee as a symbol of hard work and being able to take care of yourself. He taught that members of the Church should be productive. They should also be self-sufficient, just like busy honeybees.
In 1849–50, the Mormons asked the U.S. Congress to make Deseret a state. But Congress said no. The proposed state was very large and had few people. Also, the LDS Church controlled much of this area.
Instead of the State of Deseret, the government created the Utah Territory. Many people thought the name "Utah" came from the Ute Native Americans. They believed it meant "People of the Mountains."
However, some Ute tribe members say this is not true. Larry Cesspooch, a Ute public relations director, says the Utes do not have such a word. He explains that "Utah" comes from "Yuta," which is what the Spanish called the Utes. His research suggests "Yuta" meant "meat eaters."
In 1896, Utah Territory finally became the state of Utah.
Deseret's Legacy Today
Even though "Deseret" is not the state name, its meaning lives on. The state symbol of Utah is a beehive. You can see this beehive on the state seal and the state flag. It is also on signs for state highways.
Utah's nickname is the "Beehive State." The honeybee is even Utah's official "state insect."
The Salt Lake Bees are a minor league baseball team in Utah. They are named after the original Salt Lake Bees team from 1915–26. The word "Deseret" also appears twice on the Utah stone. This stone is located on the Washington Monument in Washington D.C.
Other Uses of "Deseret"
Many businesses and groups use "Deseret" in their names. This is especially true for those connected to the LDS Church. Here are some examples:
- Deseret alphabet—This was a special phonetic alphabet. It was created in the mid-1800s. Brigham Young asked for it to be developed.
- Deseret Book—This is the largest chain of LDS bookstores in the world.
- Deseret First Credit Union—This used to be called the LDS Church Employees Credit Union.
- Deseret Industries—This is a thrift store chain based in Utah.
- Deseret News—This is Utah's second-largest daily newspaper.
- Deseret Ranch in Florida—This is a very large cattle ranch in the United States.
- Deseret, Utah—This is the name of a small village in Utah.
