Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-29
4 is THIS PLAIN ENOUGH


Some time during last year the Des-
eret News answered a few technical
questions in reference to the law OF
tithing under the heading Of "Tlthlng
Corundrums" We have been requested
TO reproduce the article, but after look
ing over the files OF the News we
have failed to find IT, However, the
principle therein elucldated remains the
same. and applies to the tthing ques-
ton always and everywhere, A proper
understanding Of It VIII enable every
member Of the Church who has ordin-
airy intellect to find out what his or her
tthing amounts to. 1t is a matter Of
simple arithmetic In one sense and Of
individual conscience in another,
Every person ought to be able to de-
termlne what ls the tenth OF his net in
come without having to consult anyone
else. But for the benefit Of people who
raise simple and needless questions on
this matter, the Bishop OF the ward
where they reside should be able TO set
tie such queries 1t Is stated, however,
that even Bishops sometimes DO not see
eye to eye In reference to disputed
points, and therefore little general
information Is desirable.
The only safe basis on which to pro-
coed Is the word Of the Lord by revela-
ton, This Is clear and definite In re-
ply to the question, "Oh Lord, show un-
to thy servants how much thou reQulr-
est Of the properties Of the people for a
tthlng." the answer was given at Far
West, Missouri July s. 1888 II was,
FIRST that all their surplus property
should be put into the hands OF the
Bishop OF the Church IN Zion, which
was TO be the beginning Of the tIth-
Ing Then followed the second require
ment In these words;
and after that, those who have been
thus tlthed, shall pay onc-tenth Of all
their interest annually. and this shall
be a standing law unto them forever"
It Is this section Of the law that we
have quoted which occasions so many
Inquiries, But all can be solved by the
application Of the rule that oue-tenth
~ persons interest, annually, shall be
paid, II that II adhered to there will be
no disputes 10 be settled concerning the
amount Of the 1.-THE, The word inter
est should be kept In mind In ell dis
cussions Of this question. Not under
standing It's bearing, some people insist
that the gross income OF an individual
Is to be tithed, on this point division
OF opinion takes place and needless con-
troyersy Is the result,
When people receive wages for their
work II Is very easy to understand what
Is their tlthing 1t Is one.tenth OF the
money or other receipts for their labor
II Il persons wages amount to 800 In
a year he owes to the Lord $40 for tith-
Ing That is clear and simple. II he
receives cash Tor his labor he pays
cash FOR his tithing II he takes II In
wheat or other produce he pays It in
wheat or in the kind that he receives.
The tenth IS easily computed
But suppose he IL a farmer who em-
ploys other labor than his own, his
yearly uthlug will be the tenth Of his
interest" What is that interest? II is
that which Is the actual increment
deducting. Of course, his outlay from
the gross returns. The seed put into
the ground, the actual payments for
other labor than his own, the cost Of
threshing. etc, are deducted from the
crop, and the net returns from his farm
are his interest and he pays the tenth OF
that into the Lords storehouse,
Suppose ne is a stock-raiser. The
same principle applies In his case. But
the question has been raised. II he has
an increase OF ten calves and pays one
calf as tlthing, then feeds the nine that
are left for year and sells
them at profit, does he not
owe the tenth OF that profit
as tithlng? He owes simply the tenth
OF the interest on these animals What