-- Thursday, Jun 15, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Pres. Snow said that he had been impressed to call the presidents of stakes and bishops of wards throughout Zion to meet in the temple, fast day, July 2nd, 1899, and there present to them the law of tithing. He wished to know, he said, how the brethren felt in relation to the matter. Apostles J. H. Smith, Geo. Teasdale, A. H. Lund, M. F. Cowley, and myself made remarks favoring the idea. It was moved by myself that the meeting be held, July 2nd, in accordance with Pres. Snow's suggestion, and that the following authorities be invited to attend: First Presidency, Twelve, First Seven Presidents, Patriarch, presidents of stakes and counselors, and bishops of wards. Carried. (1)
-- Sunday, Jun 18, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] 2 p.m. Moroni Ward, bishop of Washakie Indian Ward, reported the condition of the Indians under his charge. There are some of the Indians, he said, who are faithful in the performance of every duty, others there are who are careless and indifferent. They have a Relief Society and a Sunday School, and a number have received the priesthood of an elder. The Indian, he said, is naturally very suspicious, but when he is treated right by his white brother, is strong in his friendships. Apostle A. O. Woodruff followed and dwelt at length upon the law of tithing. (1)
-- Thursday, Jun 29, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Pres. Snow said that the meeting called for next Sunday at the temple would be a very important one, if not the most important we have had for years. It is to be called a Solemn Assembly and surely will be one. We calculate to partake of the sacrament at one o'clock, and about 4 p.m. break our fast in the assembly room of the temple. The meetings will be held in the Celestial and Terrestrial Rooms. The object to be accomplished is twofold, namely, to get those who attend the meeting to pay a full tithing, and through them, to get those over whom they preside to do the same. I know the brethren feel impressed with the importance of this meeting, and I want you to pray for the Spirit to rest upon all who attend. There will be no time for long sermons, but we want to hear from the Presidency, the Twelve, the Seven Presidents, and very briefly from the presidents of stakes. I will keep the time. (1)
-- Sunday, Jul 2, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson] Pres. Snow said, it may seem strange, your being called together, but when you understand the object of the meeting you will understand the importance of it. Read Section 104 and a portion of Section 85, D.&C. Said that if the brethren present lived 10, 15, or 20 years, or perhaps less, they would go back to Jackson County. The time for returning to Jackson County is much nearer than many suppose and it is the faithful that would be selected to go and they will be required to accept the United Order. Read of the troubles and curses that are visited upon apostates. Said he would tell us what the Lord requires of us today. Read Section 119, D.[&]C. Talked upon the subject of tithing. If the people, he said, had paid an honest tithing for the past year, we would have received $1,000,000.00 more than we did receive, and if a full tithing had been paid for the past 12 years, we would have received $10,000,000.00 more than we did receive. Bp. Preston says,
and the books prove it, ... that only about a 50% tithing is paid. A half tithing or a third tithing is no tithing at all, but simply an offering. If we do not observe this law, we have no promise that we shall remain in this land an hour. Said that while visiting in St. George on his recent trip, the Lord revealed to him what counsel he should impart to the people, and the word of the Lord was that the Saints should pay their tithing. Trouble has come upon the people. In the south stock is dying off and crops are drying up, and in the north crops were partially destroyed by frost. An effort is being made to influence the Government to disfranchise the Latter-day Saints by a constitutional amendment. How far this is due to the disobedience of our people in observing the law of tithing, I do not know, but the saints are certainly under condemnation. ... Bp. Preston followed. So far as he could ascertain, he said, there is about one-fourth of the saints that pay no tithing
at all, while the average tithing paid by those that do pay is not more than 50%, and many fall below that percentage. ... The following brethren spoke briefly but strongly upon the subject of tithing: Apostles A. O. Woodruff, F. D. Richards, B. Young, Jr., R. Clawson, M. W. Merrill, A. H. Lund, and H. J. Grant. ... President Snow read Sec. 86, Book of D.&C. Said, we are the sons and daughters of God, and descendants of the prophets and apostles. Said, the Lord has forgiven us for our carelessness in paying our tithing in the past, but he will forgive us no longerâ€"and if we do not obey this law, we will be scattered as were the saints in Jackson County, and this by reason of the knowledge we have attained to. What I say is as true as God lives. We must teach the people this law of tithingâ€"first by paying tithing ourselves. Just as sure as we live, if we do not honor the law of tithing, we will never possess the land of Jackson County, except it be by the shedding of bl
ood, but it will not be by the shedding of blood because you will listen to my voice and the voice of my brethren. We are the sons of the prophets and the sons of God. The Lord will not send hornets to drive the people out of Jackson County, as he promised to drive the people out of the land of promise before the ... Apostle M. F. Cowley made brief remarks upon the law of tithing. ... At about 5 o'clock meeting was resumed in the Celestial and Terrestrial Rooms. Instructive remarks were made by the following brethren upon the law of tithing: LeRoi Snow, Apostle Geo. Teasdale and Pres. Jos. F. Smith. The latter, in speaking of tithing, said, the books should record not only what we do, but what we ought to have done and did not do. A man is in a poor business as president or bishop of a ward who says to the people, do as you ought to do, not as I do. The poor of a wardâ€"widows and orphansâ€"all should pay their tithing. Pres. Smith was followed by Apostles Smith and Lyman
, who also dwelt upon the law of tithing. ... Pres. Geo. Q. Cannon also spoke upon the law of tithing. Among other things [he] said, "there are those in this audience who are descendants of the old 12 Apostles and, shall I say it, yes, descendants of the Savior himself. His seed is represented in this body of men." ... Pres. Snow made closing remarks. Said he hoped the brethren would take the spirit of these meetings home with them and impart the same to the people. A resolution to the effect that the brethren present would accept the law of tithing, obey it themselves, and teach it to the people was adopted by a rising vote with uplifted hands. Pres. Snow then led in the Sacred Shout, and the meeting came to a close. (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
Mormon Tithing Timeline /Chronology
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
