The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story about an ongoing debate by churchgoers in general about tithing. The traditional definition of tithing is the practice of giving ten percent of your income to your church. But some folks are questioning this practice.

One of the questions that has come up is whether tithing is actually set in the Bible at ten percent. Some say that it is, and others say that they are misinterpreting the scriptures and that the amount is not actually set.

Another question is what the people are supposed to gain as a result of paying their tithing. Some have seen it as a kind of investment, and expect to see a financial return on their tithe paying. Some wonder if they are being told that they need to pay this money to “buy” their way into heaven – which certainly doesn’t seem right to them. Others simply balk at a church telling them they need to pay a certain amount of money that they see as rightfully theirs.

The policies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the “Mormons“) regarding tithing have been made clear. First, the percentage of tithing is ten percent of one’s increase. This was specifically revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and he recorded it in the Doctrine and Covenants:

3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.

4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. (D&C 119:4)

Now beyond these guidelines, exactly what constitutes ten percent of your income is between you and the Lord.

The LDS Church uses tithing money to build the kingdom of God. Meetinghouses, temples, and Church educational programs are among those that are financed by sacred tithing funds. But the purpose behind tithing is not to fund the activities of the Church.

As President Heber J. Grant, seventh prophet and president of the Church, once said, “The Lord does not need your money or mine. Compliance with the law of tithing and donations for ward meetinghouses, stake houses, academies, temples, missionary work and these various needs, are all for our good. . . The very lessons of a financial nature that are given us are the same as lessons that are given in a school to a boy or a girl; they are for the benefit of the boy; they are for the benefit of the girl, for their advancement, for their joy and happiness in after life; because of all the knowledge and information we acquire, and in the improvement that we make, we ourselves are the ones who are benefited.” (Chapter 13: “Principles of Financial Security,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant, 119)

So we see that it’s not that the Lord wants our money. He wants us to develop the faith, discipline, integrity, obedience, joy, and so many other blessings that come from paying it. And those things that are financed through the funds are actually for our benefits as well.

President Grant continued:

There is a satisfaction that comes into the heart of the man who is absolutely honest with the Lord, in contributing of his means to the building up of the Church of Christ, and into the heart of every true, full tithe payer. Each and every blessing that you and I enjoy comes from God. We are under obligations to Him for the very breath of life, and He gives us everything that we have. He asks us to show our appreciation and acknowledge to Him His goodness, by returning to the Church for its benefit and for the spreading of the gospel at home and abroad, one-tenth of that which we receive, all of which comes from Him.

A Sunday School teacher once told a class I was in, “Think of everything the Lord has given you – our bodies, our families, the beautiful world we live in, the food we eat … All of these things we have because He gave them to us. And He is only asking for ten percent of it back. Couldn’t you do that for Him?”

Now about those blessings. Many of us are familiar with the scripture in Malachi that reads: “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 used to love this scripture as a child, because I was excited at all the material “blessings” I might get someday from paying my tithing. But I love it now as an adult because it represents a promise from the Lord. The Lord is telling us that we can even test Him on this one: “Prove me now herewith.” If you aren’t sure about tithing, give it a try. The Lord Himself has promised that He will open up the windows of heaven for you.

The blessings may not all be monetary or material. But they are what the Lord sees is best for us. I can testify that as my husband and I have paid our tithing, we have always had what we needed. We haven’t always had material wealth, but we’ve always had what we needed. Jobs, extra paychecks, or even just some budgeting guidance have always come through for us when we’ve needed them. And the blessings of faith and knowing that we can rely on the Lord in this thing are priceless.