-- Sunday, Jul 16, 1899
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Richfield. Clear and warm. 9 a.m. Sunday School session at the tabernacle. The First Presidency and other authorities present. A large number of beautiful children were assembled. School called to order by Asst. Stake Supt., Chariton Seegmiller.
Pres. Snow said that he was over 85 years of age and that the little children before him, if they would do right, could live to be 85, 95, 100 years and longer. Advised them to pay tithing on all money they received.
Pres. Cannon made brief remarks on the word of wisdom, prayer, and obedience. The children were given the opportunity to shake hands with Pres. Snow and 717 enjoyed the privilege.
10:30 a.m. Regular service of [Sevier Stake] Conference continued. Meeting called to order by Pres. [William H.] Seegmiller. Prayer by Pres. Lorenzo Snow, which was the dedicatory prayer.
Pres. Snow was the first speaker and dwelt at some length upon the principle of tithing. Also spoke of the law of consecration and said that sooner or later—not today or tomorrow—we would have to observe that law. If it had been observed by the people of Jackson County from that day to this, we would now have power over the nations and would be the richest community on earth. There would not be a poor man or woman in the Church. The Church will never get out of debt, the Lord will not allow us to get out of debt, unless we pay a proper tithing. I say to you in the name of the Lord God of Israel that He will not let us pass along in relation to that law as we have done without bringing trouble upon us. If I were going to my death within an hour, I would leave with you as my dying testimony that which I have said to you. Pres. Snow spoke 53 minutes. I took dinner with Jos. Thurber, who was incarcerated in the penitentiary at the time I was serving my sentence there.
2 p.m. Meeting called to order by Pres. Seegmiller. Pres. J. F. Smith followed and spoke in complimentary terms of the new tabernacle. Spoke of the great change and improvement that had taken place in the Sevier Stake in the last 30 years. In speaking of the righteous and the wicked, showed how the former would be blessed and the latter, destroyed. Exhorted the saints to pay their tithing and be blessed. Read from Sec. 82, D.&C., and spoke powerfully. Endorsed the statement of Pres. Snow, wherein he said that the Lord will forgive us for our past neglect of tithing in the past, if we will pay our tithing in the future.
Apostle F. M. Lyman spoke powerfully upon the subject of tithing. Pres. Cannon spoke and said he hoped the people would receive the word of the Lord as delivered to us through Pres. Snow. Dwelt upon the principle of tithing and bore testimony that it was from God. (1)
-- Jul 20, 1899; Thursday
Salt Lake Temple 11 a.m. The First Presidency met with the Apostles in regular council. Present: Lorenzo Snow, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, Franklin D. Richards, Francis M. Lyman, John Henry Smith, George Teasdale, Anthon H. Lund, Rudger Clawson.
Absent: Brigham Young [Jr.], on his way to Mexico; Heber J. Grant, at Soda Springs [Idaho]; John W. Taylor, on his way to Canada; Marriner W[ood]. Merrill, Matthias F. Cowley and Abraham O[wen]. Woodruff, the last-named in Woodruff [Wyoming/Utah] Stake.
A letter was read from Bishop George Mumford, of Beaver [Utah], asking the mind of the First Presidency on a remark made by Bishop [William B.] Preston at the late Solemn Assembly, while speaking on the subject of tithing. Bishop Preston was understood to have stated that after a man pays his hay tithing, if he has occasion to sell the balance and realizes a higher price for it than hay was worth when he paid his tithing, in the season thereof, he would be still owing a tenth on the increase in value.
The subject was talked over, and it appeared that other letters had been written to the Presidency concerning it. It was the mind of the Council that if a tenth of the hay was paid at the time it was due, it answered the law; and that it was unwise to raise such technicalities.
A letter was read from Elder George C. Parkinson, President of Oneida [Idaho] Stake, stating that since the Solemn Assembly he had called meetings of the Priesthood at which resolutions were
taken by those present to practice the law of tithing themselves, and teach it to their families and the people over whom they preside. ...
Brother Lyman asked the question whether a man who had done a janitor's work in a meetinghouse should receive credit for his services on labor tithing account. The mind of the Council was that there could be no objection to this if the work done was legitimate labor tithing. But experience had shown that the tendency as to get credit for labor tithing when other tithing was due. A motion was made by President Cannon against making a precedent of this case, and the motion was unanimously sustained. ... (2)
Endnotes:
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, http://bit.ly/rudgerclawson
2 - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve minutes
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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