The Power of Perseverance

            The Zoarites had a lot to endure throughout their time in Germany. They were ridiculed by their neighbors and punished by the Germany government for having different belief systems. They were fined, flogged, imprisoned, and robbed of their property for not believing in violence and for feeling that the German schools were a detriment to their children. Despite the harsh ramifications, however, the Zoarites refused to relinquish their religion. They were determined to move to America in order to evade further persecution and attain the freedom to practice their religion.
            Upon arriving in Ohio, the Zoarites immediately encountered another obstacle: a lack of money. They struggled to feed themselves and had a massive land debt to deal with. In order to jump this next hurdle as a team, they adopted communism. They shared their food, tools, and clothes, worked together on farms, and built a lucrative canal that allowed them to pay their dues.
            Rather than shying away in the face of their problems, the Zoarites intrepidly embraced each and every challenge that stepped in their way. They never lost hope, and consequently, they are still remembered today. By fighting relentlessly to sustain their community and preserve their belief systems, they were able to spread the equality and perseverance that acted as the core to their society. Not only are we able to look to the Zoar community as a model for how to live in harmony and promote a family-like culture within a community, but we can also strive to emulate the persistence that allowed the Zoarites to prolong their existence. By studying the Zoarites, we learn the importance of never giving up and always putting forth full effort regardless of any odds or obstacles that may exist.