Existing comment:
The Beehive in Utah:
Early Mormon pioneer settlers wanted to name their new state Deseret, the word meaning "honeybee" in the church's Book of Mormon. Instead, Congress created a territory in 1850 and named it Utah after one [of] the region's Native American tribes. Beehives remained important to the citizens of the state. Utahns relate the beehive symbol to industry and the pioneer values of perseverance and thrift. The beehive was chosen as the emblem for a State of Deseret three times; each proposed constitution was rejected in Washington. The beehive was retained as part of the official seal of the new state when Utah entered the Union in 1896 as the 45th state. The beehive became the official state emblem on March 4, 1959. |