The Law of Tithing - May 15, 2016

Rebecca J. gave a spiritual lesson on the observance of tithing from the Howard W. Hunter manual.

The payment of tithing strengthens faith, increases spirituality and spiritual capacity, and solidifies testimony. It gives the satisfaction of knowing one is complying with the will of the Lord. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

• Have you noticed blessings in your life specifically from paying tithing?

In 2 Samuel 24:18–25 we read that David would not make an offering unto the Lord of that which cost him nothing. He no doubt reasoned that unless the gift cost the giver something of value, it was not fit or appropriate to be an offering for the Lord. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

“A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It was through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life” (Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, 69).

• How do you feel about paying tithing?  Whether or not you do pay it, do you want to pay it?

If tithing is a gift, we could give whatever we please, when we please, or make no gift at all. It would place our Heavenly Father in the very same category as the street beggar to whom we might toss a coin in passing. The Lord has established the law of tithing, and because it is his law, it becomes our obligation to observe it if we love him and have a desire to keep his commandments and receive his blessings. In this way it becomes a debt. (Howard W. Hunter, The Law of Tithing)

Lesson Summary: March 30, 2014

Our combined meeting with the men was led by Marv. B. from the high council in a discussion of Elder David A. Bednar's talk "The Windows of Heaven" from last October's Conference.

Elder Bednar taught that tithing comes with blessings as outlined in the book of Malachi.

The imagery of the “windows” of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Windows allow natural light to enter into a building. (2013 October General Conference, The Windows of Heaven, By David A. Bednar)

These are not always financial blessings.

• What are the spiritual blessings from tithing?

Sometimes windows can be seen as a means of protection from the hazards outside.

The church handles the tithing it receives much as it has counseled us to maintain our finances. They do not spend more than they have and put some aside in case of need.

• How do you feel about tithing? How has it effected your family?

Challenge for General Conference: listen to all talks and find one that touches you that you can share.

Lesson Summary: June 16, 2013

Katie S. taught a great lesson from Chapter 12 of the Lorenzo Snow manual: Tithing, a Law for our Protection and Advancement.

• How you think your life has been blessed by tithing?

In a time when the Church fell into debt, President Snow addressed a meeting of early Saints in St. George and was impressed to tell them this:

"The word of the Lord to you is not anything new; it is simply this: THE TIME HAS NOW COME FOR EVERY LATTER-DAY SAINT, WHO CALCULATES TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE AND TO HOLD HIS FEET STRONG UPON A PROPER FOUNDATION, TO DO THE WILL OF THE LORD AND TO PAY HIS TITHING IN FULL.... The Lord has blessed us and has had mercy upon us in the past; but there are times coming when the Lord requires us to stand up and do that which He has commanded and not leave it any longer. What I say to you in this Stake of Zion I will say to every Stake of Zion that has been organized. There is no man or woman that now hears what I am saying who will feel satisfied if he or she fails to pay a full tithing.”

He told the Saints that they would be blessed for obeying the law of tithing - both individually and collectively as a church. In the year following President Snow’s revelation, the Saints contributed twice as much in tithing as they had the previous two years. Not only were the Saints in St. George blessed with rain, but within eight years the Church was able to pay all its debts.

Malachi 3:8-10 reads:

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine 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.

• How has paying tithing blessed your life?
• How can we teach this principle to our children?

Robert D. Hales, October 2002 General Conference, “Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings”
Elder Hales taught of missionaries teaching a poor family and said:

"A few moments later, the junior companion, who had grown up in similar circumstances in his own country, voiced his own thoughts aloud: 'I know the principle of tithing isn’t taught for four more discussions, but can we please teach it the next time we visit? They need to know about tithing now because they need the help and the blessing of the Lord so much.' This missionary understood that 'there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.' The Lord wants to bless this family and anxiously awaits their obedience so He can."

Elder Carl C. Pratt, April 2011 General Conference, “The Lord’s Richest Blessings”

"We might conclude that since we pay tithing with money, the Lord will always bless us with money. I tended to think that way as a child. I have since learned it doesn’t necessarily work that way. The Lord promises blessings to those who pay their tithing. He promises to 'open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it' (Malachi 3:10). I testify that He fulfills His promises, and if we faithfully pay our tithing, we will not lack for the necessities of life, but He does not promise wealth. Money and bank accounts are not His richest blessings. He blesses us with wisdom to manage our limited material resources, wisdom that enables us to live better with 90 percent of our income than with 100 percent. Thus, faithful tithe payers understand provident living and tend to be more self-reliant.
I have come to understand that the Lord’s richest blessings are spiritual, and they often have to do with family, friends, and the gospel. He often seems to give the blessing of a special sensitivity to the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit, especially in marriage and family matters like raising children. Such spiritual sensitivity can help us enjoy the blessings of harmony and peace in the home. President James E. Faust suggested that the payment of tithing is 'an excellent insurance against divorce' ('Enriching Your Marriage,' Liahona, Apr. 2007, 5; Ensign, Apr. 2007, 7).

"The payment of tithing helps us develop a submissive and humble heart and a grateful heart that tends to 'confess … his hand in all things' (D&C 59:21). Tithe-paying fosters in us a generous and forgiving heart and a charitable heart full of the pure love of Christ. We become eager to serve and bless others with an obedient heart, submissive to the Lord’s will. Regular tithe payers find their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthened, and they develop a firm, abiding testimony of His gospel and of His Church. None of these blessings are monetary or material in any way, but surely they are the Lord’s richest blessings.
I testify that as we pay our tithing faithfully, the Lord will open the windows of heaven and pour out upon us His richest blessings. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."