Barter. Gold. Silver. Currency. Cash. Credit Cards.
Money is not a new concept. It is material with “worth” that gives people power to use services and goods.
With such a powerful, man-made concept that controls our lives, God has asked man to sacrifice some of their income, not for the sake of growing man’s empire, but to grow His to further aid his children to come unto him.
It is a principle known as “tithing”
Some out there may find this commandment difficult for a multitude of reasons: they may be struggling financially, not like the idea of just giving away their money, or perhaps there is not enough understanding as to what tithing is.
The aim of this week’s post is to help anyone who may be skeptical of this gospel doctrine.
What’s Tithing?
Tithing means “tenth”.
It is a commandment to pay a tenth of one’s increase to the lord through the church.
-Building Churches and Temples
-Sustaining missionary work
-Church services
Over all, to build the kingdom of God on earth.
For anyone who’s concerned about losing money to someone’s salary, this is doctrine:
Tithing does NOT pay any clergy of any kind. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is strictly a lay ministry and voluntary church; not even the full time bishops, apostles and prophets are paid.
Historically, Tithing was Paid
For anyone familiar with the bible, they would know that tithing is not a new idea.
Take the following*:
Abraham gave tithes of all he possessed to Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18–20 (Heb. 7:1–2, 9; Alma 13:15).All the tithe is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord, Lev. 27:30–34
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase, Deut. 14:22, 28
The tithe of all things brought they in abundantly, 2 Chr. 31:5
Will a man rob God? Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings, Mal. 3:8–11 (3 Ne. 24:8–11).
Tithing was also paid in goods when money was lacking. It is an increase of what we gain [for most of the modern world, increase usually means money].
How do I pay Tithing?
Tithing in the Latter-Day saint church is paid anonymously [unlike the usual pan passing], and filled out in a form like that below: 
Though self explanatory, here are some things to note.
In these forms, there are two main offerings in bold letters: Tithing and Fast Offerings**
The subsequent listed items are what tithing pays for, and gives a good idea where you're money will or can be going toward.
Just in case, here are each of the subheads and brief description of each:
-Ward Missionary: Help fund a local member to pay for his/her mission
-General Missionary: Help fund missionaries around the world
-Book of Mormon: Help fund the production of copies of the Book of Mormon
-Humanitarian Aid: Help fund relief efforts from the church
-Temple Construction: Help fund the construction of a Temple
-Perpetual Education: Help fund educational programs the Church has
-Other(specify): This subhead allows the tithing payer some liberty to pay for a direct objective or another objective not seen on the slip [ex; Genealogy research]
What a Minute, Isn't Money Evil?
Money does has an ugly head. One can argue that the worst sins contribute because of money. There are also some bible readers may question, “why would God want or use something evil? Doesn’t it say in 1 Timothy 6:10 that money is evil?”
Good to note, good to respond.
To have wealth is NOT wrong. In the lines of that very scripture, Paul warns that “…the love of money is the root of all evil….”
The Book of Mormon further clarifies, when Mormon [the second to last prophet in the book] chastises his people, telling them, “…ye do love money, and your substance… more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.”
In this life, money has become a necessary item to service.
The Lord understands this, and has asked us to sacrifice part of our gain
Personal Testimony
The Lord has asked us to give some of our substance, but he will not do it without giving blessings. In Malachi 3:10/3rd Nephi 24:10, God proclaims:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
Everyone I've talked to, who pays their tithing honestly, has never been without the bare necessities of life.
I've seen blessings in my own life, and I know it can bless others.
For when we give the Lord 10%, he gives us 9 fold back....
For when we give the Lord 10%, he gives us 9 fold back....
*Not original Deus Ex Gospel Material, see this link for cited source
**Fast Offerings are separate from tithing, and it will be covered in a future post
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