Show TITHING the rhe nature of and necessity for this blaw X aw january 1888 editor deseret news most people understand teat at taxation as adopted by the various kingdoms and governments of f we toe earth is toe source of revenue for the support of governa go vernm pt nt in all Us its various branches brau chea and aad departments for constructing str acting ting its public buildings and carrying on all its public works lor for the support of its Inal indigene genc and insane I 1 in n short for all its public purposes host gost people also understand the necessity of a tax in some form the kinds differ that of tax on the annual income being probably the most equitable but of some kind or form a tax must be levied tor for the progress aad needs of the state most people understand or ought to that the man who is able and does not pay his tax does not do his d duty a ty to the government ment does not contribute his proportion tor for the support thereof does not extend his hand in a proper manner to assi the power that protects him in his person and property most people know that EVERY CITIZEN of the community cedes or surrenders a portion of his bis individual or natural rights forthie for the benefit of the community hence laws are framed and administered for the protection of the weak and powerless against the aggressions gres of the strong and oppressive it follows then that such a man tho he ma may enjoy such protection with all ail its ri rights ats and acid privileges is ignot not worthy of IN it alinz contributed nothing to its support no reasonable person could expect to be relieved from from and no right thinking person could object to his portion of tax sor so it is with vie the kingdom and government of god on oa the earth tithing ii ia the source of revenue in his kingdom upon a similar principle arid and for similar purposes as taxation in other governments of the earlb which tae lord seems to ha ye adopted both in ancient and modern modera times tithing is a tax on the income and whenever god has bad a people on the earth who would abide abid the least of his laws lawa this one oae has been bee n in force hence he said speaking to his people through joseph josep smith the prophet prep net of toe last days one oae tenth of all their interest annually this he required and goes on to say that they should observe this law or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you see doctrine and covenants sec sec it Is very evident that whoever professes to be a citizen or subject of the kingdom of god on the earth earlb is in honor bound to observe this law or forfeit its privileges leges and blessings while the giving of ti things and offerings in g Is strictly optional with the peo p le o r donors doners now from my experience an and 0 observation independent of the law I 1 know of no better way to lay up treasures in heaven where moth and rust doth not corrupt non nori thieves break through and steal he who expects to go where the keeping of the law leads to in the eternal f future must keep the law or not go the rebut will find some other place the keeping of the law involves as much care and precision in its way as the strictest principle of taxation or the debt and credit system of merchandising izing manufacturing fac turing or any other well organized business astern the god of heaven has hag said speaking of babylon babylo by the mouth of his servants to his bis people COMIC COMB OUT OF HER my people that ye be not partakers par pir takers of her finsand sins sIn sand and that ye fe receive not of her plagues rev 18 4 he has also said that in ia the last days he would take two of a family and one of acety a city and bozion that they might learn of his ways and walk in his paths this means a higher education in the knowledge of god than can be attained without temples to walk in his paths means to be placed on a higher platform in the scale of intelligence which involves the appurtenances to that end end among other things the gathering of the people is indispensable ignorance does not cot prepare a man to become like the prepare savior alvior nor to become a joint heir with him to the inheritance of the father this has become the life work of the saints we e are informed inform bd in holy hoit Writ that men have bad power to walk alk with god notably enoch why not only walked but talked with him lot or a period of 0 three hundred years and then went home with him and bats not yet returned and probably will not nat until there is a more highly intelligent people than there are now on the earth prepared to meet and associate with aila and his people this higher education can only be attained like other or more primary ones by observing the rules laid down dowa by Y the he L author or teacher and while th the e glory of god is intelligence 11 man must become like him it if at all upon that principle and while men may be ind and have been given it at times under certain circum circumstances atances on a high hill or in ia a low valley god in establishing his latter day kingdom on the earth b and at some other times has ordered that it be given ia temples hence the importance ol of erecting them in sufficient numbers and at convenient distances no doubt it will readily be seen that a corresponding bof of tithes and offerings must be had bad giving the people ample opportunity to carry out the jaw in all its perfection A |