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live on a common stock, like their Lamanite brethren, the Shoshones and Utes.
Joe Smith tried the same experiment in Missouri.
Getting some of his early disciples to put their money into joint-stock banks, he raised a Common Fund, of which he acted as trustee in trust, and bought estates with the money, in a common namethat common name being Joseph Smith.
His plans broke down, and personal property was spared, yet Smith reserved his principle by insisting on the payment of tithes.
Each Saint had to pay a tenth of what he owned into the church.
Each year this tithing was repeated on the convert's income, and the theory was taught in every meeting-house that “property belongs to God.”
A private person might be called a steward of the Lord, but his original and abiding steward was the Church.
Brigham Young, living nearer to the “sacred race” than Smith, and having Lamanite examples always in his sight, pushes this pretension of his Master home; insisting that a Saint of perfect faith shall place the whole of his earthly goods in trust; and here and there, some ardent follower listens to counsel, gives up his all on earth, and takes from
1875.
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