the new tub i bought has pieces of wood glued to all four corners to keep it off of the ground. Do I take these off and set the tub on a bed of mortar?
Take them off I think it was for protection of tub while shipping, set tub on floor and put 2×4 on studs to carry that side. Maybe check where you bought it it might be something new, but I never seen any like that, they usually had carboard glued to carton, check it out first.