-- Jul 2, 1899; Sunday
President Lorenzo Snow requested all the presidents of stakes an counselors, and bishops of wards to meet in the Salt Lake Temple on July 2, 1899. Accordingly on June 28, Pres[ident]. Jesse N. Smith, Lorenzo H. Hatch, Jos. H. Richards, and Bishops John Hunt, L. M. Savage, John Bushman, Hans Hansen, Z. B. Decker and David Brinkerhoof all got on the cars at Holbrook [Arizona], for Salt Lake to attend the Solemn Assembly on July 2, in the Temple.
On the way the leading brethren from St. Joseph and St. John's stakes [Arizona] joined them, arriving at Salt Lake on July 1. On the 2nd all were present at nine o'clock a.m. and the meeting was called to order by Pres[ident]. Lorenzo Snow. After singing Apostle Francis M. Lyman offered prayer, then singing.
President Snow made some opening remarks, and explained the object of this meeting. He explained the Law of Consecration, then read Sec[tion]. 104 of the D[octrine]. & C[ovenants]. He showed that the law was not obeyed, and the curse of God came upon the people in Missouri and Illinois, and their enemies drove them out. He also read the 119 Sec[tion]. of the Doc[trine]. & Cov[enants]. and asked how well it is being lived. He said we have no claim on the Lord for his protection for one year--unless the law is complied with.
Presiding Bishop, W[illia]m. B. Preston, said it was just as much the duty of the Sisters to pay tithing as the brethren. Apostle A[braham]. Owen Woodruff bore a strong testimony to the Law of Tithing, also Apostle [Franklin D.] Richards. Then the Temple Choir sang, "Nearer My God to Thee." Apostle Brigham Young [Jr.] greatly rejoiced in the blessings of this day, said the Law of Tithing means everything to him.
Apostles [Rudger] Clawson and [John W.] Taylor spoke, then Apostle M[arriner]. W[ood]. Merrill said he had belonged to the Church forty-seven years, and had never had such a day as this before. Apostle [Anthon H.] Lund spoke upon the benefits of paying tithing. The choir sang, "Glorious Things are Sung of Zion." Apostle Heber J. Grant said there was two dollars paid in breaking
the Word of Wisdom to one for tithing.
The Sacrament was administered by the Presiding Bishopric. The choir sang, "Arise, My Soul, Arise." President Snow then read from the 86th Sec[tion]. of the Doc[trine]. & Cov[enants]., 8th verse, and then said the Lord would forgive the people for their past neglect but would not do so in the future, which he said in the name of the Lord. Then Apostle [Matthias F.] Cowley spoke.
At 2:30 p.m. all were invited to the assembly room to lunch. President [George Q.] Cannon asked the blessing upon the food, after which, cheese sandwiches and a variety of cakes were passed until all were satisfied. All then returned to the Celestial room at four p.m. The choir and congregation sang, "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning." Apostle [George] Teasdale rejoiced in the privileges of this day.
Pres[ident]. Joseph F. Smith made a strong appeal to the sick and poor to observe the law of Tithing. Apostles John Henry Smith and F[rancis]. M. Lyman bore very strong testimony to the benefits of paying Tithing. President Cannon spoke at some length and said there was the seed of Christ among us in this house. President Snow wished to know how all felt about the Law of Tithing. He called for a rising vote, saying, "I," after which three hosannas as loud as they could holler. It was led by President Snow. The congregation and choir sang the Doxology, and Pres[ident]. Seymour B. Young pronounced the benediction, after over nine hours of great interest, all went to their places of abode. (1)
-- Jul 2, 1899
At nine-and-one-half-hour solemn assembly in Salt Lake temple attended by "about six hundred of the presiding officers of the Church [including] "The First Presidency and all the Twelve Apostles . . . Nearly all the Presidents of the Stakes with their Counselors, and nearly all the Bishops of the Church . . . about 700 in all," President Lorenzo Snow says "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 blood, 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 children of Israel, but he will send cyclones, earthquakes, and pestilences." Snow says "Within ten, fifteen or twenty years perhaps sooner, we are going to Jackson County." First counselor George Q. Cannon tells men, "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." (2)
Endnotes:
1 - John Bushman, "The Life and Labors of John Bushman," LDS Archives
2 - On This Day in Mormon History, http://onthisdayinmormonhistory.blogspot.com
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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