Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive All Theses and Dissertations 2015-12-01 "Wherein Shall We Return?": A Historical and Analytical Examination of Lorenzo Snow's 1899 Reemphasis of Tithing Zachary Ryan Horton Brigham Young University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Mormon Studies Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Horton, Zachary Ryan, ""Wherein Shall We Return?": A Historical and Analytical Examination of Lorenzo Snow's 1899 Reemphasis of Tithing" (2015). All Theses and Dissertations. 6141. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6141 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. “Wherein Shall We Return?”: A Historical and Analytical Examination of Lorenzo Snow’s 1899 Reemphasis of Tithing Zachary Ryan Horton A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Andrew H. Hedges, Chair J. B. Haws Gerrit J. Dirkmaat Religious Education Brigham Young University December 2015 Copyright © 2015 Zachary Ryan Horton All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT “Wherein Shall We Return?”: A Historical and Analytical Examination of Lorenzo Snow’s 1899 Reemphasis of Tithing Zachary Ryan Horton Religious Education, BYU Master of Arts This thesis examines the events and discourses targeted to reemphasize the law tithing and to encourage increased tithe-paying from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints between 1899 and 1907. This examination begins at Church president Lorenzo Snow’s journey to St. George and extends through Joseph F. Smith’s announcement of the Church’s freedom from its long-standing debts. Each chapter analyzes this period from a different perspective provided by contemporary sources. These perspectives include primarily newspaper reports and transcripts from Lorenzo Snow’s journey to St. George, reports from general Church conferences, and articles in Church-sponsored publications. This examination yields a more contoured view of the discussion of tithing in the Church at the turn of the 20th century and shows, importantly, that one of Lorenzo Snow’s main motivations for his reemphasis of tithing was to prepare the Church to return to and reclaim Zion in Jackson County, Missouri. Keywords: Tithing, Lorenzo Snow, Zion, Jackson County, debt, reemphasis of tithing ACKNOWLEDGMENTS If there is a great woman behind every great man, then I must conclude after my experience that there is a greatly patient, encouraging, loving, and intelligent woman behind this exhausted graduate student. I owe and dedicate this thesis to my wife, Krista, who has not only been motivational and supportive but has also mothered a young and growing family, all too often in my absence. I also thank my children—Finnley, Rowan, and Isla—who gave up Daddy on many occasions and who provided instant release from research and writing by playing Legos with me. I did this, as with everything else, for my family. I have enjoyed my graduate program more than should probably be allowed and give my love and gratitude to my cohort of friends who kept me laughing at myself and my incredible professors who constantly enlightened my mind and expanded my abilities. I think and act better because of the people with whom I studied in this program. Lastly, I acknowledge the blessing it was to work with a committee who was, at the same time, demanding and understanding, critical and flexible. Without their guidance I would have been lost in a sea of research and either drowned in something too large or floundered in something too shallow. I owe any utility this thesis may have to their mentoring and leadership. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 Introduction: Historiography and History ............................................................................ 1 Historiography ............................................................................................................................... 2 History ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 2 On the Road: The Journey to St. George ............................................................................. 16 “I know, Lord, now why I am here” .......................................................................................... 20 “Freed from encumbrances” ...................................................................................................... 22 “We are surely going to Zion in Jackson County” ................................................................... 26 “We have got to give all that we have” ....................................................................................... 32 “The most glorious temple” ........................................................................................................ 36 “You have glorious prospects for gaining salvation” ............................................................... 39 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3 From the Pulpit: The Preaching from General Conferences .............................................. 45 “These matters are not very pleasant to dwell upon” ............................................................... 48 “If we would do better now, the Lord would forgive us for the past” .................................... 52 “It is wonderful how the Saints have reformed in this duty” .................................................. 56 “The Law of Revenue” ................................................................................................................ 61 “We thank God that we are in a position to help them” .......................................................... 66 “We have been able, too, to purchase quite a tract of land in Jackson County” ................... 70 iv Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 73 Chapter 4 In the Publications: The Discussion in Church Periodicals ................................................ 74 “A great awakening” ................................................................................................................... 74 “A Question on Tithing” ............................................................................................................. 77 “Who shall pay tithing?” ............................................................................................................. 80 “Pay tithes on the mites” ............................................................................................................. 85 “For the Letter Box” .................................................................................................................... 89 “There are three reasons why we should pay tithing” ............................................................. 95 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 102 Conclusion: The Windows of Heaven ................................................................................................... 104 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 108 Primary ....................................................................................................................................... 108 Secondary ................................................................................................................................... 116 Appendix 1.1: References to Tithing in General Conference ............................................................. 119 v Chapter 1 Introduction: Historiography and History In May 1899 President Lorenzo Snow, fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, embarked on a revelation-inspired trip to St. George, Utah. The president’s son LeRoi recalled walking into his father’s room one morning and seeing the prophet sitting up in his bed: “His face was almost white and his eyes shone as I had never seen them before. All he said was: 'I am going to St. George.’” 1 In St. George, and throughout the cities he visited on his return to Salt Lake, President Snow called for church members to renew their attention and obedience to the law of tithing. Historical analysis, coverage in church manuals, and even church-produced videos have cemented this event as one of, if not the most, memorable moment of President Snow’s administration.2 While other writers have provided sufficient stop-by-stop chronicles of the trip to and home from St. George, this thesis will deepen the study of the reemphasis