-- Saturday, Apr 7, 1999
[Apostle John Henry Smith Diary] Salt Lake City [general conference]
7 p.m. Priesthood meeting.
Prest. Lorenzo Snow spoke on non-tithe payers. He exhibited a book in which he said ten thousand names were recorded who claimed standing in the church but paid no tithes. (1)
[Apostle Rudger Clawson Diary] Salt Lake City. Cloudy and cool, threatening rain. 7 p.m. General priesthood meeting in the tabernacle, Pres. Lorenzo Snow presiding.
The speakers were Pres L. Snow, Bp. [William B.] Preston, and Pres. G. Q. Cannon. Topics treated. Pres. Snow. Dwelt upon the law of tithing. Referred to a large book which he exhibited to view containing the names of the non-tithe-payers of the church, amounting to 10,000 in number. Spoke very pointedly and forcibly in relation to the book and thought it showed a very serious and lamentable condition, notwithstanding the great improvement made during the past year. It was estimated, he said, that there were 30,000 non-tithe-payers in 1898. Felt that, if the authorities in the stakes had done their duty in bringing the matter to the attention of the people more fully, the showing would have been very different--perhaps there would have been not more than half the non-tithe-payers here exhibited. Said the matter of paying tithing was very important, as among other things the redemption of Zion (namely, Jackson County) would be brought about by purchase with the tithes of the people.
In order to improve and correct conditions as they exist at present, had concluded to divide up the 42 stakes of Zion among the Twelve and make them responsible to look into the matter of tithe-paying. Spoke of the greatness and importance of the calling of a bishop.
Bp. Preston made brief remarks and spoke of the neglect of teachers and priests in carrying this law to the people. Elders in Israel who fail to pay tithing are not worthy to hold the priesthood.
Pres. G. Q. Cannon thought the showing made a dreadful one. He felt that the paying of tithes as essential as the laying on of hands or in fact as any other principle of the gospel. Men who have no means should have the privilege of paying their tithing in labor--namely, by giving one day in ten. (2)
Endnotes:
1 - 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, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
2 - 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
LDS History Chronology: Lorenzo Snow
Mormon History Timeline: the life of Lorenzo Snow
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
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