Tithing, a Law for Our Protection and Advancement

Most people who know anything about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints have heard of the principle of tithing. We know that we are not the only religious group that pays tithing as this law is mentioned in the Bible. In Malachi 3:10 says, " Bring ye all the ^atithes into the storehouse, that there may be ^bmeat in mine house, and ^cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not ^dopen you the ^ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a ^fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
Sister Gustafson presented this lesson which many of us had heard before but brought up some thoughts for each of us in attendance. Yes, we know that the above scripture tells us about the blessings of paying tithing. We also have probably heard the story of President Snow going to St. George, UT and how he was inspired, receiving the direction to tell the saints they needed to pay tithing.
“It is the word of the Lord to you, my brethren and sisters, that you should conform to that which is required of you as a people who have these glorious prospects of exaltation and glory before you. What is it? Why, it is something that has been drummed into your ears from time to time until you perhaps have got tired of hearing it. … 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. That is the word of the Lord to you, and it will be the word of the Lord to every settlement throughout the land of Zion. After I leave you and you get to thinking about this, you will see yourselves that the time has come when every man should stand up and 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." I did say that President Snow did call the people to pay tithing; he did not reveal the law but reminded them. He did receive the revelation that told him to instruct the saints to comply with that law. Not only do we, the saints, benefit from blessings, but the church as an organization is not in debt, which was a problem at this time in history. Tithing allows us to care for each other's physical needs as well as contributing to the work of the church.
We can all pay tithing. If we have not paid our tithing in a very long time, we can start today. The Lord will pour out blessings upon us and forgive us for our negligence.
There are many quotes about what happens when we pay tithing as prescribed by the Lord, a full 10 percent of our increase.

"The law of tithing is one of the most important ever revealed to man. … Through obeying this law the blessings of prosperity and success will be given unto the Saints.²⁷

If we will keep that law … the land will be sanctified, and we shall be counted worthy to receive the blessings of the Lord and to be sustained and supported in our financial affairs and in everything we do, temporal as well as spiritual." How could we not want that for ourselves and families?

Some of the blessings we receive when the Lord opens those windows from heaven are:

1. trust in the Lord

2.  we will always have food to eat

3. we will be able to feel creative and satisfied

4.we will learn to manage our money and resources

5. we will know that we are participating in the building up of the kingdom of God

As we pay our "fair" ( as one sister said") share of 10% back to the Lord, our faith will be tested each time, which will give us more strength, and increase our faith.

The Lord loves us and wants us to be able to help each other and tithing is one tangible way we can do so.

If any of you do not currently pay a full tithing, I encourage you to accept the challenge and let the Lord bless you in ways you will not be able to anticipate.

Your loving bloggess,

Janice