1946 (Friday) – Cleaned three rooms. At two o’clock, attended a Relief Society Union meeting at which the teachers had been invited. Bishop Wirthlin gave a talk to the teachers, made some suggestions for our visits among the members. I think he said 1/5 of all our membership do not attend Sacrament Meeting. Teach them to pay tithes. If one does not pay tithes, they will begin to do other things. He talked about the power of the priesthood, how a Father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood can exercise this on behalf of his family, administering to sick children and can have revelation for the care of his family. Said it is amazing how many holding the priesthood of God do not have family prayer. If they would have prayer, even once a day, there would be a great uplift among the Latter Day Saints.
They watch out for the temporal condition of the families, but forget the spiritual.
Quoted for section 4 in the Doctrine and Covenant: “All ye who embark upon the work of the Lord, etc.”.
Sometimes people say, “Oh well, I give to the poor all the time” and they think then they do not have to pay tithing, but that is not so, for the only ones who have the authority to handle tithing is the presidency, apostles and bishopric. We cannot give to others in need and call it tithing.
In the evening I went up to the Genealogical Library. A Sister McCann from the 22nd Ward was there and I assisted with her Tidwell line. We were unable to find her people, but did find some interesting material on the surname. I advised her to check with Archive and then have Brother Chase check in the Index Bureau for her Peter Tidwell.
Loony Lunts and Company 