Utah State Motto: Industry
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Industry"
Industry
About This Motto
The Utah state motto is one simple word. Industry became official on March 4, 1959, when Governor George Dewey Clyde signed House Bill No. 35 into law. This motto connects directly to Utah's pioneer heritage and the beehive emblem. Mormon settlers chose the beehive in 1848 to honor their commitment to hard work and community cooperation in building a new home in the desert.
What the Motto Means
Industry means hard work. Simple concept. The word captures what Mormon pioneers needed to survive in Utah's harsh desert conditions. They arrived in 1847 with limited supplies and no infrastructure waiting for them. Building homes, planting crops, and creating communities required constant labor.
The motto also means working together. Pioneers relied on each other to accomplish big tasks like irrigation projects and construction. Each person contributed skills and effort for the common good. This spirit of cooperative industry helped early Utah settlements not just survive but thrive in an unforgiving landscape.
Historical Background
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1847-1848 - Pioneer Arrival and Deseret
Mormon pioneers led by Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. They found a desert basin with no other settlers. The group needed a symbol that captured their goals for the new community. In 1848, they chose the beehive as the emblem for their provisional State of Deseret. The Book of Mormon mentions deseret as meaning honeybee. This choice honored both scripture and the necessity of constant work.
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1849-1896 - Territory Years
In 1849, Mormon leaders petitioned Congress to create the State of Deseret. Congress rejected the name and boundaries. Instead, President Fillmore signed the act creating Utah Territory in 1850. The territorial seal featured a beehive with the word Industry beneath it. This design appeared on official documents for decades. When Utah finally achieved statehood on January 4, 1896, the first state legislature kept the beehive and Industry on the Great Seal.
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1959 - Official Adoption
The word Industry appeared on Utah's seal for 63 years before becoming the official state motto. In 1959, the Utah Legislature introduced House Bill No. 35 to make Industry the formal motto. Representative members wanted to recognize what had been unofficial for decades. Governor George Dewey Clyde signed the bill on March 4, 1959. The same day, he signed House Bill No. 34, which made the beehive the official state emblem.
Where You See It Today
You'll find Industry prominently displayed on the Great Seal of Utah. The seal shows an American eagle above a shield. Six arrows pierce the top of the shield. Just below those arrows sits the word Industry. A beehive occupies the center of the shield with sego lily flowers on each side. The date 1847 marks the pioneer arrival.
The state flag features the same design. Utah highway markers also display a beehive to identify state routes. Buildings across Utah incorporate beehive imagery in their architecture. The Beehive House in Salt Lake City served as Brigham Young's residence and shows multiple beehive decorations. The state capitol building includes large beehive sculptures on the grand staircase. These visual reminders keep the motto's message of cooperative work visible throughout Utah.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Industry appeared on Utah's seal since 1896 but wasn't the official motto until 1959.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Official documentation of Utah state motto history and adoption. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Information about Utah's Great Seal, beehive emblem, and state symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Comprehensive resource for Utah state history and symbols. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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