After the above covenant the following is recorded: "And now, O Father, as thou didst prosper our father Jacob, and bless him with protection and prosperity wherever he went, from the time he made a like covenant before and with thee; as thou didst, even the same night, open the heavens unto him, and manifest great mercy and power, and give him promises, so wilt thou do with us his sons; and as his blessings prevailed above his progenitors unto the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills, even so may our blessings prevail like his." Notwithstanding this principle began to be taught soon after the organization of the Church, it required some time to reach practical development, for no definite law concerning it was revealed, until July 8, 1838. The custom of paying labor tithing, appears to have been commenced when building the Nauvoo Temple. Of a meeting of some of the leading authorities of the Church, in Lima, Illinois, the following is recorded, in His. of Joseph Smith, under date of October 23, 1841: "It was moved and seconded, That all those who are willing to consecrate one-tenth of their time and property to the building of the Temple at Nauvoo, under the superintendence of President Morley and Counselors, to signify it by uplifted hands; when the motion was carried unanimously." The following is a "_Revelation given through Joseph, the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8th, 1838, in answer to the question, O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of the people for a tithing_? "Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church of Zion, for the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the Priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my church. "And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people; and after that, those who have thus been tithed, shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them for ever, for my holy Priesthood, saith the Lord. "Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass, that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you. "And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you; and this shall be an ensample unto all the Stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen;" _Doc. & Cov. Sec_. 119. The law of tithing, as embodied in the revelations referred to, is an immutable decree of Jehovah to his people, and admits of no evasion by those who would enjoy the blessings of the faithful on the land of Zion, or be classed among the righteous, and avoid the burning at the coming of our Lord. Bible.