-- Monday-Wednesday, 27-Aug 29, 1900
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Salt Lake City. Clear and cool. I spent these three days in Salt Lake, mostly at the President's office, working on various matters. I got up a comparative statement for Pres. Snow, showing the cash tithing paid during the first 6 months in 1899 and in 1900. ... From this showing Pres. Snow assumed that the tithing for 1900 would be fully as much as paid in 1899, which I feel is a just conclusion. (1)
-- Thursday, Sep 20, 1900
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Apostle Taylor moved that a committee be appointed to consider the advisability of dividing some of the larger stakes, namely, Cache, Utah, San Pete, and Weber. The matter was discussed. Pres. Snow, H. J. Grant, J. W. Taylor, M. F. Cowley, and myself speaking to the subject. Some of the reasons given why a division would result in good were: more of the brethren and sisters of the church would be brought into active service; the interests of the saints would receive more careful attention; increase of tithing. Pres. Snow said he was heartily in favor of it, but suggested that the matter be deferred until the return of Presidents Cannon and Smith. Benediction by Apostle A. H. Lund. (1)
-- Wednesday, Oct 3, 1900
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Apostle H. J. Grant was the next speaker. Felt, he said, that those who fail to observe the word of wisdom and pay their tithing ought not to be sustained in presiding positions. ... Apostle M. F. Cowley reported his labors in the stakes appointed to him regarding the matter of tithing and non-tithe-payers. Said he had met with pretty good results. (1)
-- Thursday, Oct 4, 1900
[Apostle John Henry Smith] Prest. L. Snow spoke on the success that had come to the Church in the matter of tithing. He said when he came into power the Church owed about four million's dollars. (2)
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] ... [President Snow:] The question now arose as to how we were going to pay off the church indebtedness. During my trip to St. George last year, the Lord manifested to me that it was to be done through the tithing of the people. This message was carried to the saints by the First Presidency and Twelve, and with splendid results. The tithing paid in 1898 amounted to about $800,000, and in 1899, $1,138,000. We have paid off many obligations; we are paying $3000 less per month in interest than we were in 1898. We are not borrowing money and do not need to. The brethren of the Twelve have assisted us in bringing about this condition. Through the blessing of the Lord, the guaranteed indebtedness of $1,500,000 has been removed from the church, which is miracu-lous in our eyes. What Pres. Cannon has said in relation to carrying the gospel to the nations is true, and I know of nothing to stand in the way of it. "I am with you, brethren, heart and soul." Chri
st will come before long, ... Apostle Brigham Young made brief remarks and said that the brethren of the Twelve were in perfect accord with one another and in harmony with the First Presidency, and were ready and willing at a moment's notice to go anywhere on earth. They held themselves subject to the direction of the Presidency. President Cannon said that he thought the Twelve had accomplished a great and glorious work in stirring up the people on the question of tithing. (1)
Footnotes:
1 - Stan Larson (editor), A Ministry of Meetings: The Apostolic diaries of Rudger Clawson, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1993
2 - Jean Bickmore White (editor), Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990
Mormon Tithing Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
