By KEVIN ELZE
A BYU professor has co-written a book that addresses some of the socio-economic issues related to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
'Working Toward Zion,' written by Warner P. Woodworth and James W. Lucas, discusses some of the issues facing the LDS Church as it becomes increasingly global.
'It is an effort to examine the moral dimension of economic behavior from an LDS point of view,' Lucas said.
Woodworth, a professor of Organizational Behavior at the BYU Marriott School of Management, focuses his research on industrial democracy and Third World economic development.
Lucas, an attorney in New York City, focuses on international and domestic business transactions.
The authors point to a way for members of the church to apply the economic principles taught by the church to meet the economic challenges posed by the world of today.
In the book, Woodworth and Lucas document the rise of the modern economy as it parallels the growth of the church over the 19th and 20th centuries.
Lucas said, 'We try to focus on trying to provide real life examples.'
In addition, the book critiques modern Utah corporate practices as seen from the managerial and economic views of prominent LDS leaders including Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, as well as other early and more recent notables.
'Most Utahns today might think of its leaders a century ago as players in a romantic version of Orderville, or 'The Saints Meet the Little House on the Prairie.' But our research shows early Mormon officials to be astute businessmen, espousing leading-edge ideas about technology, finance and productivity,' Woodworth said.
Hugh Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scripture at BYU, said, ''Working Toward Zion' conveys a vision of how to apply (the church's) teachings here and now in the modern world economy.'
'Working Toward Zion' was released last week but recalled because of a printing error. It will be in bookstores by the end of this week