History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

MORMONISM AND THE BIBLE. 349
pretation, elimination, or repudiation. And as the
book of Mormon is held to be a continuation of the
historical portion of the bible, and equally with it the
word of God; and as the ideas and instructions contained
in the book of Doctrine and Covenants have
been derived, for the most part, from a study and literal
interpretation of the bible—though with something
added—it is safe to say that in the main the
Mormons believe what the bible teaches, and that
Mormonism is the acceptation of the bible, the whole
of it, literally, and following it to its logical conclu-
sions.
Tithing, though enjoined by divine command,
is a free-will offering. 15 The law of tithing in its
15 Upon the matter of tithing, Joseph Smith in 1831 had three several revelations,
each containing a clause requiring money and other property to be
set apart tor general use in the church. The first was received in Feb., the
second in May, and the last in Aug. See 'Times and Seasons, iv. 369; v. 416,
466. But it was not until several years later that an organized system was
established, by revelation dated Far West, July 8, 1838. See Doctrine and
Covenants, 382-3. During the progress of settlements at Far West, the question
of taxation was brought up and referred to the prophet, who inquired of
the Lord, and received answer that all surplus property must be turned over
to the bishop as the first step, after which one tenth of each annual interest
was also to be paid. These payments were to be devoted to the building of
a place of worship, and for the debts of the presidency. In the Millennial
Star, xxv. 474, it is denied that the priesthood receive any support from the
tithing fund, and asserted that it is expended for general purposes solely,
such as public buildings, roads, assisting immigration. The twelve apostles,
in an epistle dated Nauvoo, Dec. 13, 1841, declare that the tithing required
is 'one tenth of all any one possessed at the commencement of the building
of the temple, and one tenth part of all his increase from that time till the
completion of the same, whether it be money, or whatever he be blessed with.
Many in this place are laboring every tenth day for the house, and this is the
tithing of their income, for they have nothing else.' Times and Seasons, iii.
626. Says William Hall: ' When I came to Illinois, I gave, as was required,
one tenth of the amount of my whole estate to be appropriated to the building
of the temple. After this, annually, I gave one teDth of the products of my
farm; even the chickens, cabbages, and other vegetables in kind were turned
over, with a like share of the grain. ' Mormonism Exposed, 6. Mrs Stenhouse,
during her first winter in Salt Lake City, made bonnets for Brigham Young's
wives, for which a bill of $250 was presented to Young, when the latter gave
orders that the amount should be credited to the Stenhouses for tithing.
Englishwoman in Utah, 187-8. There are two colonies of Mormons in Arizona
that are free from territorial and county taxes. They are so isolated that the
cost of collecting amounts to more than the taxes. They do not escape tithes,
however. Elko (Nev. ) Daily Independent, Jan. 28, 1S82. During the construction
of the railroad through Utah, Mormon agents collected tithings from the
railroad laborers. Salt Lake Reporter, Feb. 9, 1869, in S. F. Times, Feb. 19,
1869. Should a laborer be idle thirty days, the tithing office claims three