ON MORMONISM AND SOCIALISM

In Given's book, I came across a reference to a few papers that claimed the early Mormons/Mormonism were socialist theocrats and I recalled that in the Acts of the Apostles (here and here), the primitive Christian church was socialist so I decided to look at the major documents of Mormonism to see if there was any truth to the socialist claim and it turns out there is evidence for the claim.

In the 3rd Book of Nephi, chapter 26, verse 19, we have an echo of the socialist statements in Acts:

17 And it came to pass that the °disciples whom Jesus had chosen began from that time forth to 'baptize and to teach as many as did come unto them; and as many as were baptized in the name of Jesus were filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things, which are snot lawful to be written.
19 And they taught, and did °minister one to another; and they had ball things 'common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another.
20 And it came to pass that they did do all things even as Jesus had commanded them.
21 And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the °church of Christ.

A similar statement is found in the 4th Book of Nephi, chapter 1, verse 3:

1 AND it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ
in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy ghost.
2 And it came to pass in the thirty Ind sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Larnanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly with another.
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.

In Mormonism, these texts were written over 1,500 years ago but we do have a socialist statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith himself on April 26, 1832 in Doctrine & Covenants, Section 82, verse 17:

17 And you are to be "equal, or in other words, you are to have equal 'claims on the 'properties, for the benefit of "managing the concerns of your stewardships, every man according to his wants and his needs, inasmuch as his wants are just-
18 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may "improve upon his talent, that every man may "gain other "talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord's "storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church-
19 "Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

But what about the poor who seemingly don't deserve an charity? The Book of Mosiah, chapter 4, verses 17-18:

17 Perhaps thou shalt say : The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just-
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.