Tithing

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things
which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.  -Luke 20:25

So, there's been a lot of hoopla about Mitt Romney and the money he's paid in taxes, and to charity.  People are making a big deal out of the fact that he pays so little in taxes, and that he's finding loopholes with which to pay less taxes.  First off, please stop being hypocrites.  I don't care how much you make, or will, or whatever, you will always look for any and all ways to pay less taxes.  And if you think to say, "oh, I won't, that's irresponsible, you should pay the government the money, they need it!"  Nope.  Why would giving your money to an establishment that is notoriously mis-managed, corrupt and in such dire straits financially be a good thing?  I would say that's irresponsible.  Moving on; Romney has paid his taxes, is not a tax evader (like much of Obama's staff) and is something of a philanthropist.  More so than any other relevant politician at this time (see here).  He's also kept the law of tithing, and has been shown to pay a bit more than required.  So we can safely say that he has kept the commandment given above, by Christ, in the book of Luke.

On to the subject matter: tithing.  What is it?  I believe that tithing is a portion (10%) of your income, given as a voluntary donation to the church.  A 1970 letter from the First Presidency stated that: 

notwithstanding the fact that members should pay one-tenth of their 

income,"every member of the Church is entitled to make his own decision 

as to what he thinks he owes the Lord and to make payment accordingly".

Hence, the exact amount paid is not as important as that each member feels that he or she has paid an honest tenth.  Some want to say it's a requirement to be a member, it is not.  It IS, however, a requirement to be a member in good standing, and to be able to enter the Temple.

TANGENT:  Mormons have different kinds of buildings used for different purposes in the church.  Firstly, there are the church building, then there are the Temples.  The churches are used for regular worship every Sunday, and occasionally for activities and meetings throughout the week.  Temples, on the other hand, are a holier place where we go to be closer to God and to perform more sacred rituals, like marriage for time and all eternity (more on that in a later post).  Think of it like this: a church building is basically like a Jewish Synagogue, and the Temple is like Solomon's Temple.  Did they let just any 'ole person into the Temple in Jerusalem?  Nope.  Only worthy Jewish people could enter.  Back to my point.

To be a member in good standing with the ability to enter the temple, yes, you are required to pay your tithing.  You are also required to keep all of the other commandments too.  Tithing is a commandment, and if it's not kept, you cannot be considered a person doing their utmost to keep the commandments.  If you decide you don't want to pay your tithing, that's fine, that's what free agency is about (more on that in the future too, basically the freedom to choose).  If you don't pay your tithing, you can still attend church, you can attend functions, you can even get counseling from the Bishop and attend General Conference!  Most people won't even know whether you pay your tithing or not, and honestly, nobody cares! (if they do, well, they shouldn't).  No major life changes, no excommunication, no "shunning".  You simple cannot enter the temple.  Tithing, like most commandments, are between you and the Lord.  Only he can (and will) judge you.

The heart is the important thing here, not the money.

The next question is, what does the church DO with all that money?  Tithing funds are always used for the Lord's purposes—such purposes as the building and maintenance of meetinghouses, temples, and other facilities, as well as for the partial support of the missionary, educational, and Welfare programs of the Church, not just in the United States, but all over the world.

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.  -Malachi 3:10

I love this scripture, because the Lord is basically issuing us a challenge; "Prove me wrong" he says, "Pay your tithing, and see if I don't bless you for it!"  I believe very strongly in the law of tithing.  I believe wholeheartedly in the blessings promised when we pay our tithing.  Catherine and I have begun to call it our "48 hour rule".  It seems that, especially when we are having especially difficult times, whether we are struggling financially or otherwise, when we pay our tithing, we are richly blessed in some way, and the blessing comes (usually) within that 48 hour time period.  I will continue to pay my tithing even if the money could have been used to save my life, I will trust in the Lord first, and pay my tithing.  It hasn't failed me yet, and I don't expect it to anytime soon.

So yes, tithing is a requirement in that it is a commandment.  But in the end, as with all of the commandments; it's your prerogative whether to follow the commandment, or not.

 

I LOVE this picture!  Notice those around her, how they scorn her small offering.  And yet, despite the size of the offering, the blessings are the same. (if not more for her greater faith in hardship!)

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Proverbs 3:5-6
The above scripture has become something of a loud noise in my head of late.  Prepare for the wordvomit.

Some time ago, I received a very distinct impression that I should attend Southern Utah University for whatever reason.  At the time, I was working for an up and coming company called Rain Nutrition, and things were looking good.  So Catherine and I went and visited the campus in Cedar City, and even took Marie with us and made a trip of it.  It was loads of fun, and we felt really good about the entire thing.  Also, for some reason I don't have any pictures of this trip, only video...

Anyways, some time later, we decided that it was in our best interest to stick around and not attend SUU.  I had a good job that I enjoyed, and was offered a better position in the company.  Soon, Catherine got a job, which required her to have a car.  We weren't planning on going anywhere, so we bought her a new Toyota Corolla.  Also, the vehicle that we had been using, hardy though it was, had it's own cavalcade of problems, and needed to be replaced.  Unfortunately, nobody would give us a loan for a used vehicle, only a new vehicle, so we looked for a vehicle that would fit us in the lower range for approval.  That's how Navarre ended up with a Kia Soul.  Not long after this, Navarre also ended up being laid off.  Again.

Being in an uncomfortable position, and deciding that we weren't really tied down to Utah for any reason in particular, we decided to venture out and see how we would do on our own.  A few years previous we had worked in Dallas Texas, and had enjoyed the area, so we decided we could move back.  And so we did.


We've lived here now for almost a year and we've learned a number of things.  Cheifly among those, I believe to be the teachings found in the above quoted proverb.  If we had but listened and trusted in the Lord more than in our own understandings, I think things would be a lot different for us.  Texas has been a great boon for us emotionally, spiritually and economically.  I have completed all of my general education and now need to settle on a major.  We've grown and we've strengthened our relationship and our understanding of the love that WE have for our families and for Utah.  Sometimes to understand what great blessings you have, you just have to step out of the box.  Or, in this case, the bubble :)  But now it's time for us to return.  We've asked the Lord again, and we believe we have been answered again.  We are glad he hasn't tired of us "leaning on our own understandings" and continues to answer our prayers in the same manner he always has.  We have already been tempted a number of times to change the course, but we are resolved to not allow the winds and waves to move us. 

As I look back I realize that a great amount of misery and pain could have been avoided if I had but trusted the Lord, and not my own understanding.  I let my fear and desires for perceived security get in the way of true safety and eternal planning.  So we learn and we grow.  And we move forward with new resolve.

We will trust in the Lord, and we will accomplish our goals.