The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and ChildrenWaite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
History
The Mormon Prophet and His Harem: Or, An Authentic History of Brigham Young, His Numerous Wives and Children
Waite, C. V. (Catherine Van Valkenburg)
Latter Day Saint churches; Young, Brigham, 1801-1877
Again: a corps of clerks are employed in the tithing-office, and are
paid out of the public tithing-fund salaries ranging from $1000 upwards.
They are supposed to keep a complete system of accounts, showing all the
receipts from this net-work of fiscal veins, and all the disbursements
through the various arteries of the religious body. But beyond the
receipt and deposit of moneys, and the keeping of the tithing account
with individual members of the church, the duties of these clerks are
merely nominal. Each has another part to perform. The reader will smile
to be informed that these clerks are really the principal stock actors
in the Salt Lake Theatre. Having but little office business, their time
is thus turned to a good account, reading novelettes and newspapers, a
plentiful supply of which may be found in their several offices. The
theatre is the private property of Brigham, and the proceeds go into his
own pocket, disconnected with any real or imaginary embarrassment
arising from the relation of Trustee. Hence it will be seen to be good
"financiering" for the tithing-clerks, under pay of "the church," to
perform for the benefit of "Brother Brigham." Should they fail to comply
with his wishes, he has only, as "Trustee in Trust," to dispense with
their services. This may be mentioned as a notable instance of the
"shrewd financiering" of Brigham Young.
These clerks simply keep the accounts with individuals, and receive and
deposit the money and property paid in to the tithing-fund. They also
keep the accounts of laborers on the temple and other public works.
It is needless to say they are entirely under the control of Brigham.
According to the Mormon creed, the temporal affairs of the kingdom
should be entirely directed and controlled by the Aaronic Priesthood.
The presiding Bishops of this priesthood are agents to perform the will
of the head of the order, who is the President himself.
To keep the public mind quiet and satisfied, it is stated from the
pulpit that the accounts of Brigham Young, as an individual, and those
which he keeps as trustee for the church, are entirely separate and
distinct, and that not a dollar of church money goes to the private use
of the President or his family, without being duly charged and accounted
for. But these public declarations are all the assurance the people have
that such is the fact. The system of book-keeping by double entry is
entirely ignored as an invention of the gentiles; and if an
investigation of the accounts should be instituted, it would be
conducted under great disadvantages, and could have no certainty in its
results.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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