Doctrine and Covenants 119 - change to Introduction note

[telnetd]

I noticed another change in 2025 for the Doctrine and Covenants heading.

Section 119—Deleted “The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of
consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders)
entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part
of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead
the law of tithing to the whole Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of
their property He required for sacred purposes. The answer was this revelation.”
Changed it to the following: “This revelation came after the Saints had suffered
financial challenges in Missouri and Ohio due to the construction of the Kirtland
Temple; persecutions in Jackson County, Missouri; and a nationwide financial crisis.
The Saints were also continuing to build up communities in Missouri.” (This removes
the implication that the law of consecration was replaced by the law of tithing and is
no longer in effect. It also gives more context about the financial challenges the Saints
were experiencing at the time.)

The church maintained the other notes in this section.

1–5, The Saints are to pay their surplus property and then give, as tithing, one-tenth 
of their interest annually; 6–7, Such a course will sanctify the land of Zion.

I observe that all surplus property was the original form of the tithing of the people
(verses 1,3).

"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the 
hands of the bishop of my church in Zion ... And this shall be the beginning of the 
tithing of my people".

It appears that giving a tenth was not a law of the church until 1838 and later stems
out of the consecration of their surplus property first.

"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 forever, for my holy 
priesthood, saith the Lord" (verse 4).

This was required for all who would gather to Zion, which was the land of Missouri.

"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" (verse 5).

The purpose for this type of consecration, referred to as tithing, (which included 
the tenth) was to sanctify the land of Zion, keep it holy, and to make Missouri the 
land of Zion for the saints.

"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" (verse 6).

Are there any revelations given after section 119 which show that a change to only 
giving a tenth would also sanctify the land of Zion?

The original Introduction notes say "The law of tithing, as understood today, had 
not been given to the Church previous to this revelation".

Why did the church not believe in giving a tenth prior to 1838?  Did the church 
believe all the Old Testament references to tithing did not apply to it?

Repeating what the section notes still says: "1–5, The Saints are to pay their surplus 
property and then give, as tithing, one-tenth of their interest annually; 6–7, Such a 
course will sanctify the land of Zion".

But tithing originally meant giving their surplus property. That's what verse 3 is
teaching. "... And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people".

Giving a tenth of the interest only comes after the original tithe (their surplus).  
Verse 4 teaches that.