Karl Marx (1818-1883) and Brigham Young (1801-1877)  lived during the same period. A person could be forgiven for mistaking these two iconic men — especially because of their iconic beards, but you really ought to know the difference between their ideals, and their individual legacies.

Marx's doctrines promised utopia but authoritarians turned his ideals into barren soil and global strife. Young's vision by contrast, transformed a mountain desert into a blossoming capitol that became the cultural epicenter for the Church of Jesus Christ's expansion into the world.

Test your knowledge of Karl Marx versus Brigham Young with these quotes.

 

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“The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces.”

— Karl Marx

vs

"Work is a blessing, not a curse.”

— Brigham Young

 

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“The worker is nothing, the product is everything.”

— Karl Marx

vs

“Toil is the law of life.”

— Brigham Young

Marx wanted the working class to view themselves as helpless; a permanent victim class. Brigham knew that work shapes a man.

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“ From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.”

— Karl Marx 

vs

“Honest hearts produce honest actions.”

— Brigham Young

Marx would take from one group and give to another group. Brigham would promote honest work, honest hearts, and honest actions.

 

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“The worker is related to the product of his labor as to an alien object.”

— Karl Marx

vs

“A person who does not work has no need to eat.”

— Brigham Young

Karl wanted to obscure the relationship between workers and their output. Brigham knew that the motivation of men who don't work is suspect.

 

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“In proportion therefore, as the repulsiveness of the work increases, the wage decreases.”

— Karl Marx

vs

“Let us preach righteousness, and practice it. I believe in work.”

— Brigham Young

 

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“Religion is the opium of the people.”

— Karl Marx

vs

“True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what’s right.”

— Brigham Young

Karl believed religion was bunk and compared it to a drug. Brigham Young knew drugs, even tobacco that he gave up as a younger man, would lead to spiritual bondage. 

 

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Put your hands down, Karl Marx. Brigham Young won this in the first round, but we let him bury you for 5 rounds straight. Brigham Young was the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 to 1877, guiding its members through a period of immense growth and establishing a legacy that continues to inspire the faith and dedication of Latter-day Saints worldwide.