98 Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters. 
In the early spring of 1854 Thompson seems to have 
conceived the possibility of a great enlargement of his 
spiritual and temporal organization, and through his 
paper outlined his plans for gathering in the followers; 
and his system of organization for his quorum of travel- 
ling teachers in his schools of faith were as elaborate in 
its detail of organization and names of officers as a large 
army. At the Solemn Assembly in April this year and 
in the subsequent issue of his paper, he explained the 
financial arrangements under the law of tything, gift 
oblations and conducting the colony; as now that the 
work was actually begun, those who joined, wanted to 
know how it was to be carried on, and just what the plan 
was. When a convert joined the colony, the practical 
question arose, what amount of tything he had to pav 
down, and what he should do with his family, and on 
what land he should labor, and what he should get for it. 
A record had been kept of the gift oblations, chiefly 
in small sums, but when they became members of Jeho- 
vah’s Presbytery of Zion at Preparation, an inventory of 
all their worldly possessions was taken, and one-tenth of 
this was paid into the Lord’s treasury, that is, to Chas. B. 
Thompson, generally in kind even to their clothing, and 
in the first year each one who could work was expected 
to labor one day in ten for the Presbytery (Thompson). 
Most of those who joined had very little property 
beyond tools, stock and furniture, only seven, as shown 
by the tything record, had over one thousand dollars 
worth of property each, though it cropped out later that 
some who had money, discreetly gave it to their children, 
and so were enabled to honestly take the oaths and cov- 
enants, and so had a little money for emergencies. 
Thompson’s explanation as to the disposition that 
would be made of the tythings was, “that it ought to 
be sufficient to know that it would be used as directed 
by the Lord. He had appointed as agent (Thompson) 
to receive it and manage it, and this ought to be a 
sufficient guaranty.” That but one person was ever 
appointed by revelation to receive and manage the 
tything.” “If the Word of God is not sufficient as- 
surance to any man that his tything will be prudent- 
ly managed and used where most needed if payed into 
