Deseret

Deseret is a term used in several overlapping contexts tied to the Latter-day Saint movement and Utah history. The most prominent uses are: a proposed U.S. state, a phonetic alphabet, and a newspaper.

The State of Deseret: In 1849, Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley organized a provisional government and drafted a constitution, seeking admission to the Union as the State of Deseret. The proposed state would have covered large parts of the West. Congress did not accept the application; in 1850, it created the Utah Territory, and the Deseret state project was superseded.

Deseret alphabet and language: In the 1850s, leaders of the LDS Church sponsored the Deseret alphabet as a phonetic script for English, widely intended to improve literacy. The alphabet was introduced in 1854 and used in church publications and early printings, including Deseret News, but it never achieved lasting use and fell out of favor by the late 19th century.

Deseret News: Established in Salt Lake City in 1850, the Deseret News is one of Utah’s oldest newspapers and remains a long-running publication affiliated with the church, contributing to the dissemination of church and regional news.

Origin of the name: The term Deseret comes from a word in the Book of Mormon meaning “honeybee,” symbolizing industry and communal effort. The name was adopted by the early settlers for the proposed state, the alphabet, and related institutions.

Other uses and legacy: The word Deseret continues to appear in historical references and in various church-affiliated organizations and places in Utah.