Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-03
TITIiING.

AS tho year is drawing TO close it
may not be untinely to remind the
Latter G::t:.tAa Of their duty. and
privilege. to pas tnoir titf,as into the
treasury of the Lord. Few laws have
hccn moro thoroughly tested as to the
blessings resulting from obedience
than the law of tithlng and the Lat
friday Saints generally known for
themselves that If they neglect to COM
ply with It, they are the losers; but
there arc some whose faith is not
equal to the apparent sacrifice the Law
demands, and they, need to be reminded
OF the fact that it was Instituted BY
the Lord for the benefit Of His chill
dren.
Some have considered that law as
belonging to the Mosaic dispensation
only and that It was abrogated n, tho
end OF that age. But Jacob. long be-
fore Moses, an exile on his way to a
foreign land, having had that wonder
3iul manifestation of tho divine pres
cnce at Bethel, made this covenant with
God: III God Will be with me and keep
me IN this way that | 80, and will
give me bread to cat, and raimcnt to
put on, SO that ! come again to my
fathers house in peace; then shall The
Lord be my God; and this stone, which
have set for a pillar, shall be Gods
house; and OF all that thou shalt givo
nc, | Will surely give the tenth unto
thec." Gen 2S: 2o-2e.l Jacob made
this covenant, ana kept it, and was
blessed accordingly, both spiritually.
and temporarily.
Perhaps the reading of this Incident
Of the life OF the Patriarch inspired the
Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdcry TO
make ~ similar covenant. At any ratio
1T is recorded that they, on an occasion
of great rejoicing, agreed to enter into
+ the following covenant: THAT If the
Lord will prosper us in our business,
and opon the way before us, that we
may obtain means to pay our debts.
that, we be not troubled, nor brought
into disreputc before the world. nor
Ills people; after that, of all that He
shall give ls. we will give tenth, to
be bestowed upon the poor In His
Church, or as lilo shall command; and
that we will be faithful over that
which He has entrusted to our care.
that we. may obtain much; and that
our children after us, shall remember
to observe this sacred and holy coven-
ant; and that our children, and our
childrens children, may know Of the
same, we have subscribed our names
with our own hands"
This was signed Nov. 90, 1884. Four
years later the revelation was given
recurring the Saints to give of their
means for the building of the Temple
and the expenses Of the Church. In
this revelation wc read: III my people
observe not this law, to keep 1t holy.
and by this law sanctify the land OF
Zion unto me, that my statutes and
my judgments may De kept thereon.
that 1t may be most holy, behold,
verllyI say unto you, 1t shall not be
d land of Zion unto YOU" QDoc. and
Coy, Sec. 1l9)
The law Of tithing Is an eminently
Just law 1t requires 10 more sacrifice
Of the poor than the rich Many min
( listers of other churches admit tho
justice Of 1t and are preaching 1t as
the law of God II is. moreover n
law the results OF which can be put
to the test by anyone who desires to
l;now know for himself whether 1t Is
ot4God or not. II can be tested by
compliance with it. Thousands upon
1t true to tho letter. Obedience to It
brings temporal blessings to those who
obey and to their children after them,
a AS the Psalmst expressed IT. II have
been young, and now ] am old: yet
have not seen the righteous forsakcn,
nor his seed begging bread. He is ever
mcrciful and lendcth; and his seed Is
blessed" psalm 81: 25-2i) 1t brings
spiritual blessings. too, Those who arc
faithful in tho observance Of their
: covenants and pay their tIthes and
offerings arc those who retain the ties
4timony OF the truth and walk in the
light.
There is nothing new in these sug-
rcstions. The Lattcr-day Saints arr
familiar with the law and doctrine re-
ferred to. But the time for settling
tithing FOR the year s drawing near
and II reminder. OF the opportunity OF
serving God and Ills cause by faith
full observance of the law of tthing
may not be amiss.