“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:41-44)

The Paradox

At first glance, this story may be confusing. How could a mere pittance of an offering by a poor widow compare to the riches cast in by those who are far wealthier than she? This is the beauty of the teachings of Jesus Christ. There is far more depth to the message than one may first realize, if we have spiritual eyes to see. This story is not about giving money—it’s about dedicating our hearts to a cause far greater than our own.

How Jesus Taught

Jesus Christ, our Savior and Master, used parables and stories to teach the higher laws of the gospel: obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and love. Parables are short, symbolic stories designed to teach a religious truth. In this case, the tale of the widow’s mite is not a parable, but an actual event taken from the Bible. The widow was a poor woman who had so little left in life that to give any money to the temple treasury was an act of great sacrifice and dedication. In comparison, the scribes and Pharisees were rich beyond measure. For them to give of their riches was not a great sacrifice to them personally. They could give generously because they had wealth beyond measure with plenty in reserve. True, their substantial donation helped build and maintain the temple, which was extremely important. But as far as personal sacrifice, there was no comparison between the two. Herein lies the symbolic teaching of this event—a life dedicated to the Lord is worth more than all the money in the world.

The Comparison to Ourselves

Most people set out to do good things each day, be it through work, acts of kindness, or by accomplishing worthy goals. But we fall short of these goals, often times more than we’d like to admit. We feel our “offering” to God’s kingdom, similar to the offering of the widow’s mite, is cheap in comparison to what others give. For this reason, the story of the widow’s mite can touch our hearts so deeply. We see ourselves more readily in the widow, and we wonder if our offering is good enough.

Willingness to Give All

King Benjamin, a great man in the Book of Mormon, gave an inspirational speech about the willingness to give. He taught the blessings of imparting to the poor according to what a person had. In other words, those who had much should give much; those who had little should give little; and those who had nothing should feel in their heart that if they had something, they would give (Mosiah 4). The emphasis here is not with the amount but with the desire—having the willingness to make the sacrifice and exercising trust that the Lord will bless us when we take the leap of faith.

Promised Blessings of Sacrifice

This widow knew something the other donors did not. She had an understanding of the miraculous love of the Savior. She understood the higher law of consecrating all to the Lord. She had faith that her act of giving would not go unnoticed and without blessings for her in return—both temporal and spiritual. Her action helped her grow closer to Heavenly Father, far more than the rich donors could. For this reason, Christ was able to conclude that the widow cast in more than the others.

To read more of Nanette’s articles, click here.

Often what is overlooked in the story of the widow is “the rest of the story.” What happened to her after she left the temple? How must she have felt having been praised by the Savior Jesus Christ Himself for her simple, yet profound act of sacrifice? I’m sure she was blessed with the assurance that His words were true. She probably held them sacred in her heart, even tucked them away someplace safe in her mind to reflect upon later in times of emotional want. And then she most certainly went on to live another day. It may not have changed her circumstances on earth. She may have felt hungry again the next day and for days to come. But spiritually speaking, the effect of Christ’s confirmation of her worth solidified her role in the eternities.

Our Eternal Blessings Far Outweigh Our Sacrifices

Our Savior loves us with all His heart. He understands our circumstances, whether we are in a season of abundance or whether we feel the heat of the refiner’s fire. He of all people knows the pain of sacrifice. But through His Atonement, He took away the uncertainty of its outcome. Christ rose from spiritual and physical death, and so will we. This is the gift He has given us. Through our little moments of sacrifice here on earth, whether they measure a farthing to some or a fortune to others, feeling the Savior’s love and knowing of His redemptive power makes it all worthwhile. The blessings will come to all of us. Sooner or later, they will all come. We have Christ to thank for this miracle.

Are there times when you think your offering to the Lord is a mere pittance in comparison to what others may give? Don’t feel that way. The Lord doesn’t, so why should you? In His eternal plan, your devotion to Him is not measured by money. It is measured by love—eternal love, from which flows an endless fountain of blessings in this life as well as the next.

This post was originally published in May 2014. Minor changes have been made.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

So again, another day, another dollar, and another article that isn’t quite about marriage. But it might still be relevant to life anyhow.

After a weekend spent in personal reflection, I was left with three main thoughts that have since coalesced into one firm belief.

1. Over the weekend, the high school quarterback at the school my nieces and nephew attend died after being sacked under the Friday night lights. It was a shocking wake up for Warren Hills Regional High school students, and many of them are left asking “why?”
2. After reading a posting on a social media website questioning the need for paying tithing, I did a little reflecting myself.
3. My husband was asked to teach the gospel doctrine class this Sunday and the topic was ‘Jesus Christ: “The Author and Finisher of our faith”’. His preparation led to a better understanding of where I want to focus my life.

ON DEATH

Let’s start with number one.

1. Losing a loved one is hard. It is even more confusing when the one that passes on is young and had a full life to look forward to. Without time to prepare for the devastating outcome of death, friends and family are left to question “Why?”

Often the cry goes out: “Why would God do this? Doesn’t He care? Doesn’t He know?”  

And the expression of these heart felt, pain-filled pleas is warranted. With the mortal eyes with which we all view this life, it is hard to understand why one so good could leave so early.

But that is just it. We do view this life with mortal eyes. From our vantage point, we define life as it applies to us, even though all around us others are defining their own life themselves. Life on Earth is as different as there are people-everyone has their own reality.

That, I believe, is why when we are faced with challenges, it is so hard for us to comprehend them. We cannot see the forest for the trees, as the old saying goes. From a greater vantage point, however, we can determine that not only is there a forest filled with trees, but there is beauty in the life cycle of birth, growth, death, and decay as well.

I know that my nieces and nephew are struggling right now to understand how their friend could be gone. They will feel emotions that they have only toyed with before. It will take time for them to understand and grow from this turning point in their life.

But I have already begun to see the beauty from the ashes.

• In no time at all, my nephew and his friends printed off shirts to sell as a fundraiser to support the young man’s family.
• The community has come together to remember the example their friend has set.
• And many friends have said they are more determined to be like him.

Sometimes the answer to “Why?” is just “Because”. Tragedies strike every day that we are not aware of, but God is. While he cannot take away the pain felt by those closely connected, just knowing that there is Someone out there can give us the courage to climb out of the rubble and move upward.

ON TITHING

2. Tithing, why pay it if the Church doesn’t really need it?

I understand this question. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as it stands today, is by no means lacking in resources. Much of the resources the Church brings in do come from tithing donations.

This would be hard for me to swallow for one reason, and one reason only:

If the Church began asking for tithing in these modern times.

As it stands, and if my scripture studies have not led me astray, tithing has been a part of Christ’s church since the beginning of time. He has always asked for a tenth of one’s increase as a way of expressing obedience and gratitude for all that He giveth.

In Malachi 3:10 we read:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…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.”

A quick search on the history of the Book of Malachi, as found in the Old Testament, suggests that it was written between 500 and 400 B.C. If my calculations are correct, and they quite possible could be wrong as math is not my strong suit, this puts this particular commandment well before our current 21st century.

As with any commandment, it is up to us what we make of it.

“Your attitude is important in paying tithing. Pay it because you love the Lord and have faith in Him. Pay it willingly with a thankful heart. Pay it first, even when you think you do not have enough money to meet your other needs. Doing so will help you develop greater faith, overcome selfishness, and be more receptive to the Spirit.” -LDS.org

As with the passing of a loved one, paying tithing is something that we might not understand at first. But overtime as we look for the beauty in the results, we will begin to determine what the outcome means for ourselves.

You do not have to understand something to believe that good can come of it, even when we question “Why?”

What matters is where you allow your heart to dwell.

ON CHRIST

3. It is possible that there is actually an answer to “Why?”

But understanding that answer requires us to look further than our own front door. If there really is more to life than just this mortal experience, than we must adopt an eternal perspective. We must focus on why we have come to earth, what we are doing here, and where we are going after.

Death and tithing seem incomprehensible when viewed through a worldly lens. Giving up life and money just goes against the grain. Right?

After reading through the Sunday School lesson, entitled Jesus Christ: The Author and Finisher of our Faith, I am convinced otherwise. I believe that there is more to life than just this mortal experience. And I believe that if we do not keep Christ as the focus of our lives, than we are in danger of losing our eternal perspective.

The lesson focuses on Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews during a time when members of Christ’s church were doubting whether Jesus Christ was really the Messiah. They did not believe that the Law of Moses had really been fulfilled. In fact, they wanted to continue on just as they always did.

It is my belief that when we lack in understanding, delving deeper into the “Why?” helps us to understand the “Because.”

Paul explained to the Hebrews that the Law of Moses was symbolic of all that Christ would come to earth to do. Practicing the Law of Moses was supposed to draw their hearts and minds to Jesus Christ and to make them realize that there was no other way to gain salvation and eternal life.

It is only through Christ that we can be saved.

And because Christ came to earth and fulfilled all that He said He would, He gets to determine what comes next. It is by faith and obedience to His name and His commandments that we will gain all that He offers in the next life.

There is no other way. His game, His rules.

Choosing to have an eternal perspective keeps our mind firmly fixed on His game and His rules. It provides an answer to “why?”

AND SO…

There are times that I too forget the answer to “Why?” I wonder about obedience, commandments, tragedies, and life. When I focus on only what I can see before me, I don’t have an answer for “Why?” and “Because” seems way too harsh.

It is only when I remember to look up, and focus on the world around me–the sun, the moon, the stars, and the vast expanse of land and people all around me, that I suddenly remember that it is not just me on this earth.

I know that my trials are just a small portion of the many that way our world down.

I know that the confusions I have are just as important as the conundrums of others.

And I also know that there is a way out of it all. Christ has already overcome our sins, our sadness, and our pain. If we are obedient and rely on His name, we can move onward and upward.

Questions?

To read more articles by Jessica, click here.

Choosing to be obedient should not come from a place of fear or persuasion, but from a place of choice and love.

If you are questioning Christ’s role in your life, ask yourself this question:

Have I been putting on the Whole Armor of God each day?

Honest prayer, scripture study, and reflection on answered prayers will help you to regain your eternal perspective and to remember the role Jesus Christ plays in your own life.

Jessica Clark

Jessica Clark is a wife, mom, writer, runner, knitter, and proud Canadian. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Anthropology, and has been a student of people and cultures ever since. Right now she is busy studying the behavior and cultures of the people of Texas.

Whenever the morning paper arrived, I would stand on the front door-step and gaze for a while across the street.  The Atkins’* had spent many thousands of dollars to have their front yard professionally landscaped.  I critiqued it: it was loaded with plant life, and I imagined that as those plants grew, things could get pretty crowded and overgrown.  That didn’t quell my envy, however (it looked fantastic for now), nor my worry that we were everyone’s breakfast-table topic.  “I wonder when the Harold’s* will get around to landscaping their front yard.  It’s about time.  They’re the only house on the street with dirt out front.”

We were under financial duress to be sure.  When money came in (and it didn’t come in predictably), there was never enough to cover all of our creditors.  We’d have to pick and choose.  And then, there was tithing.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we Mormons, if faithful, pay ten percent of our income for the building up and sustaining of the Church, which we consider God’s kingdom on earth.  There’s no collection box at church, since our donations are made confidentially.  We are certified full-tithe-payers simply by stating that we are, and then if we are observant of other important principles, as well, we can qualify to make even higher covenants in Mormon temples.

Beginning to pay tithing is a leap of faith for most new members of the Church.  In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma calls it “experimenting on the word” (Book of Mormon, Alma 32:27).  The new member tries living the principle for a time, and especially if poor, usually begins doubtfully.  But then he finds that he has more abundance when paying tithes than he did before he paid them.  It’s one of God’s miracles and promises that always works, yet every new member is surprised by the miracle, I think.

We were behind on our tithing.  We sat there at the kitchen table with our bills arrayed in front of us, gazing at the bottom line, wondering whether one chunk of money should go to tithing or a creditor.  The idea is that if you pay your tithing, you’ll have enough to pay your creditors.  We had to remind ourselves that our church leaders constantly counseled members to stay out of debt, and if in debt, to get out as soon as possible. Here we were, in debt, and behind on our tithing.  We decided that’s where our money should go, and we wrote out the check and took it to our bishop the next day, which was the Sabbath.

Monday came and hubby went off to his contracting job.  That was before the advent of cell phones, so he was pretty much out of reach on the job.  I got the kids off to school, bathed the baby, and started cleaning up from the weekend, when there was a knock on the door.  A man stood there dressed in work clothes already soiled from an early morning’s labors.  “Hi, I’m a landscaper.  We’ve just finished a job a few streets away from you, and we have sod left over.  Do you want it?”

We had little money left after paying our tithing just the day before, but the front-yard-problem was dire and always on our minds.  “How much?”  I said it with a little whine.  He’d know from the tone of those two words the price had better be low.

“Well, I also have two Austrian pines…”  Erck.  Austrian pines I knew were pricy (oh, how I loved them), and he was hand-signaling that they were tall and therefore very dear.  What else could add to the cost of this endeavor?  I began to make excuses…

“We have top soil, but it’s not even graded…,” I said.

“We have a grader, so we can do that.”

“The sod could die before I could find someone to help me lay it…”

“We’ll help you,” he said.

Each of his responses added potential costs to the final bid, but  Ohmygosh.  A dream come true.  “How much?”

“Well, can you come up with $250?”

I was trembling by now.  I knew our neighbor’s yard had cost many thousands of dollars, and the two Austrians would probably cost the two-fifty at the nursery.  My husband and I had agreed to discuss any expenditure over $200, but he was unreachable and would be until late into the evening. I said a little mental prayer.  Heavenly Father, what should I do?  I had a profound feeling that we had done something laudable in paying our tithing, and the Lord was over-praising us like new parents when their baby takes a first step  “Good job, Harolds! Here’s a lawn!!”

“OK,” I said, my voice barely audible.  A few minutes later the grader was there, and we soon had a nice raised bed around the house and gentle hills of topsoil out front on both sides of the driveway.  I put the baby in a stroller and lent a hand in laying the sod, pointed out where the trees should go.

When my husband arrived home from work, he drove right past our house.

I have a testimony of paying tithing.  Alma, in describing how we can experiment upon the commandments of God, testing God, seeing if there is indeed a reward after our obedience, used the imagery of a seed.  As we nurture it, it bears good fruit, and then we see it’s a good seed  and a true principle:

Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you (Alma 32:43).

Learn more about Mormons here.

**Names have been changed.

“As someone who has been watching the coverage of politics and faith and more specifically of ‘the Mormon question’ for the last year, I see this as a great step backward. I thought we were past ridiculing sacred images of other faiths, even radical Muslims, let alone our fellow Americans. I doubt the story is as out of whack as the cover, but on its own, the cover crosses way over the line between commentary and bigotry.”

The accompanying article focused on the financial situation of the Church. Much of the article was misleading and did not paint an accurate picture of the story. This is, in part, because it is always difficult to write about another person’s faith because you lack the depth of understanding of various issues. To understand one aspect of a faith, you must understand many more aspects and few journalists on a deadline take the time to do so. You must, in fact, understand faith and how a faith’s finances differ from corporate finances.

How is Mormon Money Used?

Mormon finances have been publicly discussed by church leaders. Twice a year, the Church holds a conference that is broadcast worldwide and also published in the official magazine and on the official website. In 1985, Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then the president of the Church, answered a number of questions members had, including questions of finance. The full answer, as opposed to the brief excerpt used in the article, gives a clearer understanding of church financial issues. While it is too long to quote in this article, you can read it yourself. There are two questions related to church finances.

Questions and Answers

President Hinckley explained that the majority of church assets are in buildings for churches, temples, schools, religious education provided for teens and college students, welfare work, genealogical facilities, and mission buildings. He points out that these do not produce income, but do use resources. They are built not to create wealth, but to support the work of the church and to uplift and help the members. This is one way religious finances differ from secular finances.

Mormons believe in being financially responsible. Members are not taught to become wealthy, but to become responsible, having no debt and maintaining savings and resources for financially difficult times. In a time when many churches are closing due to excessive debt or falling tithes, the Mormons know they must be prepared for times when the members do not tithe sufficiently to meet the needs of the church, particularly as the church increases the number of converts in countries with less wealth. A 2009 PBS story on religion and finance reported that lenders were seeing a steady increase in church bankruptcies. As part of their determination to be financially responsible, the Mormons have taken steps to ensure they will not face similar problems. A church that closes its doors, as many have, cannot carry out God’s work. The Church maintains no debt at all, something nearly unheard of today, particularly in the secular world and it means no tithing money is wasted on interest payments. While many churches build using borrowed money, the Mormons make sure they have the money before beginning a project. The PBS report mentions that other churches have begun operating businesses such as malls to help them through financial trials.

President Hinckley explained that the commercial enterprises could not sustain the church for any significant length of time. They are, however, used to further the work of the church, not to make leaders personally wealthy. Church leaders do not receive a share of “profits” and so have no personal motivation to bring in great wealth. The majority of church leaders work without pay; full-time leaders can receive a modest stipend, not a salary, if needed. The stipend is far less than what most of them earned in their private careers. It is paid from the for-profit arm, not tithes.

Mormon leaders do not choose religion as a career. They have ordinary careers and serve in a variety of unpaid church positions after work. Those who are chosen for the top positions, such as the apostles and the prophet, are chosen among the ordinary church membership, usually at an older age after they are well-established in their secular careers. They are required to leave their paid employment and serve the remainder of their lives. Many were not yet retired from their careers before being called to these positions.

Mormons believe one should not be prevented from accepting a call to serve simply because one is not independently wealthy. President Monson, the current church president, was only in his thirties (an unusually young age) when he became an apostle and was therefore nowhere near retirement age, for example. Very few people could stop working at such a young age and support themselves the rest of their lives.

Humanitarian work

It is important to note that the humanitarian figures mentioned in the article represent a small fraction of the charitable work done in the church. Local congregations provide their own humanitarian work that is not included in the totals. For instance, a food bank in Texas recently received 14,000 pounds of food that was grown on Mormon-owned farms at a time when the agency was very short of supplies. Projects like this happen around the world, but are not part of the humanitarian aid foundation.

In addition, church-wide there are a variety of programs that are not considered part of the official humanitarian program, including job training programs, language instruction for immigrants, literacy programs, parenting classes, and financial training. Each program costs money but they are not part of the humanitarian aid program, which is a distinct initiative carrying out specific programs without regard to religion, nationality, or ethnicity. The humanitarian program is one specific agency carrying out certain initiatives but is only part of the total picture.

While some programs specifically target Mormons, it must be remembered that when they are completely cared for by their faith community, they do not need to utilize services offered by the government or other charities, leaving those funds free for those who belong to churches without those resources or those who do not have a church. Most community food banks must be prepared to serve anyone who comes through the door and so they ration the food. The bag or two provided is not enough and families must go from agency to agency for help. A Mormon going to his food bank, called the bishop’s storehouse, will receive everything he really needs for two weeks, including food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, and baby care supplies. He selects what he needs from a list. This is possible only because they serve a smaller number of people. In addition, the church can then assist with utilities, housing, and medical care as needed. It is impossible to provide so much when you must care for an unlimited number of people and while these organizations do the best they can, their mission makes it hard to do as much as they could do with a more limited group of people to serve. This is why many charitable organizations specialize in one aspect of need or serve only a limited population. For instance, some charities work only with immigrants, and others only with people who have a specific disability. The more specialized the assistance, the more comprehensive it can be within that community.

A religion’s finances cannot be analyzed in the same way a for-profit business’s can, particularly if the writer does not understand how non-profits, and specifically churches, use their money. It costs money to carry out church programs and most churches have learned they cannot rely solely on tithes to carry out their missions. Many churches have turned to other sources of income, including non-religious businesses—and those that don’t often cease to exist. Financial responsibility includes making certain you have the funding to carry out the mission of the faith.

For more information:

Criticism follows Businessweek cover on Mormon Church finances: Looking closely at LDS Church businesses, finances, Compiled by Joseph Walker, Deseret News

LDS Church shares financial history, philosophy By Joseph Walker, Deseret News

The Church and its Financial Independence

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Mormons follow the Biblical command to tithe.

The Bible teaches the law of tithing beginning early in the Old Testament. The word tithing means tenth and so Mormons, as do others who follow the Bible, pay one-tenth of their increase (see Deuteronomy 14:22). Increase refers to income. It is left to individual Mormons to decide what income involves. Various Mormons interpret it in different ways, but we are asked only to take it to God for clarification.

The first mention of tithing is in Genesis, when Abram paid his tithes to Melchizedek. From that time on, if not before, God’s children have been asked to pay tithes. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord (Leviticus 27:30).

Although it can feel challenging to suddenly begin turning over so much of your income to God, it is important to remember that without God, we have nothing at all. When I teach little children, I often tell them I will give them ten pennies. I then ask if they would be willing to give one back—but not to me. I ask them to give it to God. We spread the pennies out and each child sees that he gets to keep a lot more pennies than God does, even though it is because of God they have the pennies. (I wouldn’t be giving them out if I weren’t teaching God’s commandment.) They consider that quite fair.

Then we go for a walk around the church building and I show them all the things in the building tithing paid for. After a few minutes, they realize every small detail was paid for with tithing and they get excited to point them out. It costs money to run a church, just as it costs money to run your own home. Even though a Mormon church building is very simple, it still costs money to build. Furniture must be purchased. Cleaning supplies are bought to keep God’s home nice. Although the Mormons have a lay church and so don’t need money to pay their ministers, organists, or teachers, those people need supplies. So they don’t have to spend their own money on their volunteer service, a budget is provided for each program. Teachers are given detailed lesson manuals with full-color pictures, crayons, paper, scissors, and other teaching materials. The activities of the teens, with the exception of one camp a year, are all funded by the budget.

There are expenses beyond the meetinghouse as well. Although missionaries pay their own way, they need pamphlets, Bibles, copies of the Book of Mormon and other materials to give those they visit. Temples are built for sacred ordinances and these cost money. Humanitarian aid, both for Mormons and non-Mormons, must be funded.

Mormons do not pass a collection plate. If you visit a Mormon church, you will find it very difficult to spend any money on a Sunday. There are no shops, restaurants, hair salons or other shopping opportunities in the chapels. Mormons do not believe in shopping on Sundays. To pay tithing and offerings, Mormons pick up an envelope from a rack near the bishop’s office. (A bishop is a lay minister.) They fill out the form with their name and address and insert their check or cash into the envelope. At some point during the three hours of church meetings, whenever they encounter them, they hand it to the bishop or one of his two counselors. It is done quietly without recognition and so that members of the congregation are not aware of who paid and who did not. There is no public record of donations, although church leaders have records of them, and a large tithing is not treated as better than a small one. The same ten percent applies to everyone, rich or poor and the widow’s mite is valued as much as the millionaire’s  tenth. In fact, the millionaire will get nothing more from God or from the Church for his large donation and in fact, as Jesus pointed out, the widow’s gift took more sacrifice and came with greater rewards.

41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living (Mark 12, King James translation, New Testament.)

Why are Mormons so willing, and even eager, to pay their tithing? They do it to show faith in God and to demonstrate trust in Him.

Robert D. Hales, a Mormon apostle, said,

Tithing develops and tests our faith. By sacrificing to the Lord what we may think we need or want for ourselves, we learn to rely on Him…. the obedient payment of tithing fortifies our faith, and that faith sustains us through the trials, tribulations, and sorrows in our life’s journey.

Robert D. Hales, “Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings,” Ensign, Nov 2002, 26

Malachi promised, in the Old Testament, great blessings to those who choose to pay their tithing and also explained what is really happening when you decide not to tithe:

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.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3).

Malachi shows us the blessings from giving God His share. However, people sometimes misunderstand this verse. They think paying tithing will result in material wealth. Malachi does not mention money. He says we will receive blessings so great we can’t measure them, but there are many types of blessings and the best ones are not financial.

Gordon B. Hinckley, a past Mormon prophet, said,

Now, do not get me wrong. I do not say that if you pay an honest tithing you will realize your dream of a fine house, a Rolls Royce, and a condominium in Hawaii. The Lord will open the windows of heaven according to our need, and not according to our greed. If we are paying tithing to get rich, we are doing it for the wrong reason. The basic purpose for tithing is to provide the Church with the means needed to carry on the Lord’s work. The blessing to the giver is an ancillary return, and that blessing may not be always in the form of financial or material benefit  (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Sacred Law of Tithing,” Ensign, Dec 1989, 2).

Many people have discovered that when they pay their tithing, they have enough to cover all their necessities—not necessarily their luxuries—even if their budget seemed to have no room in it for a ten percent tithing. These tithing miracles are small testimonies of the Biblical commandment to tithe and cause some to say they cannot afford not to pay their tithing. However, it is not the miracles that convert people to tithing. Mormons, like other Christians, pay tithing because God, who gave them everything, has asked for a little bit back and they are happy to give it to Him. If the Savior were to arrive in person and ask a Christian for ten percent of his increase to help with God’s work, most Christians would be thrilled to be asked to help.

Through the Bible and modern day revelation, we know this is exactly what has happened. God and Jesus Christ have asked us for a ten percent donation to help with the work of the Kingdom. Our faith will determine our response.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Tithing funds are used for very specific purposes. Financial costs outside those specified items are paid for from other funds, so Mormons know their money is always well used. Although the Mormons have a lay church, and their leaders are not paid, there are, of course, many expenses involved in running a church with a complex series of programs. Tithing funds pay for the costs of buildings, supplies used during services, meetings, and classes, to further missionary work, to build and operate temples, and to educate church members. They are used for those programs and expenses that further the Lord’s work and are considered sacred funds. Money collected is sent to Church Headquarters, where a committee decides how they are used. Money is allocated to local congregations based on their needs. Each congregation then lives within its budget, ensuring the money is used wisely.

Tithing was instituted in the Old Testament and restored early in the restoration of the gospel. Malachi, an Old Testament prophet, taught this law:

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).

It is important to note that although Malachi promises blessings, he does not say they will be financial blessings. Mormons are not promised they will become rich if they pay their tithing. They are promised they will have what they need. Sometimes this comes through their own resources. Other times, the Church steps in to assist a member who has done all he can do and still doesn’t quite have enough for the essentials of life. The Lord has made provisions for those who need a little help despite efforts to be self-reliant and to demonstrate faith. Gordon B. Hinckley, a previous prophet, taught, “The Lord will open the windows of heaven according to our need, and not according to our greed.” (See Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Sacred Law of Tithing,” Ensign, Dec 1989, 2.)

There are many ways a person can be blessed, however, and the blessings may not be financial in nature. One promised blessing of tithing is that it reduces our need for worldly things. Those who tithe soon learn they can manage without many of the luxuries they once saw as necessities, and focus instead on things of eternal significance.

Tithing is considered a very equitable law. Every person is asked to pay exactly the same percentage of his income. Whether our tithing is one dollar or one thousand dollars, it is counted the same to the Lord. The Savior, Jesus Christ, taught this lesson when he watched wealthy people paying large quantities of tithing. One women, who was very poor, paid only two mites, a very small amount of money. Jesus told those who were with Him that she had paid more than they had, because her small contribution was much more difficult for her to give, since she had so little. The law of tithing does not give value to the millions more than to the contributions of the poor.

Mormons do not engrave pews or give other recognition to those who give the most money. Tithing amounts are never made public and a collection plate is not passed, so others don’t see the contribution the member made, or even if he made one at all. Instead, each person places his or her tithing into an envelope and fills out the donation form, which is added to the envelope. This is given to a congregational leader whenever the member happens to encounter him during church meetings and it is counted by two leaders that day.

Tithing is an act of faith. Even though it was difficult for the widow to pay her tithing when she had so little, she had faith that God would take care of her needs. The times it is hard to pay tithing are often the times that bring the most blessings, as God notes the great faith. Many church members recount miracles that occurred after they paid a tithing they thought they couldn’t afford, and then their financial needs were met in miraculous ways. For a new member, paying tithing may be the greatest act of faith they’re asked to undertake. However, after having paid it for a time, most members wouldn’t dream of not paying it, because they’ve experienced the miracles and blessings that have resulted from their faith.

In addition to basic tithes, members are asked to contribute to other special funds. One is the Fast Offering. Once a month, Mormons are asked to go without food for twenty-four hours, which means to skip two meals. They do not eat or drink anything during this time. The fasting is done for a purpose, with an increased focus on prayer and spiritual development. They then donate at least the amount of money they would otherwise have spent on food and drink to the Church, which uses it to care for those in need in their own congregation. By going hungry for one day to feed another who would otherwise be hungry for many days, they learn compassion and are given a way to care for others. Mormons are noted for the way they care for their own, leaving the limited funds of community groups free for others.

However, Mormons also donate money to care for those of any faith or no faith. The Humanitarian Aid program assists people around the world regardless of religion. Projects include helping people in developing nations to grow food efficiently, to have clean water, to power schools, and to improve their health care. Wheelchairs are provided to those in need, immunizations are given where they couldn’t be afforded otherwise, and skills are taught.

This is only a sampling of the work done by the Mormons to care for the Savior’s children. All of this is possible through tithing and other donations made to God.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.