Mormons: tithing by the book? (read below)?

Question

A Quick Study on the Tithe

A portion of one’s earnings, one tenth, that are given to those who perform the work of the Lord since it belongs to the Lord, Leviticus 27:32 ‘And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.”
Also, the law of Moses required a double tithe (20%) every third year! Deuteronomy 14:28 “At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates.”
*What happened to the law of Moses for Christians when Jesus died on the cross?
“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,” Ephesians 2:15-16.
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross,” Colossians 2:13-14.
*New Testament Giving is NOT of necessity (required)!
2Corinthians 9:7 "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." Did you notice that Christians give from what purposes that God has placed there by the Holy Spirit?

In 1838, Joseph Smith had a difficult time getting money out of his first converts. His church had been going for eight years and he could not get his members to donate enough money to keep his church alive. Smith knew that the previous law of consecration and of property was a failure. The solution was to be come to be known as the revelation of the "Law of Tithing." This new law forced his members into giving 10% of the their income. Smith’s revelation on tithing had warned Mormons, "And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law ...behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you." Everybody must tithe or God will not let Zion be established! Other LDS leaders declared that individual LDS members who do not pay tithe risk their communication with God. Elder John A. Widtsoe stated about paying your LDS tithing: "The tithe-payer establishes communion with God," (Deseret News, 16 May 1936, Church section, 5).

*The early Mormon converts found it hard to give even 10% to Joseph Smith because they did not believe it their hearts and the Holy Ghost was not there!!!

Those Mormon converts were not very spiritual. They had supposedly prayed about the Book of Mormon and the “Holy Ghost” had told them it was true. However, the fact that Joseph Smith needed to force them to 10% by re-instituting tithing shows that these Mormon converts did not have the Holy Ghost to motivate them in giving or in reading the Book or Mormon! How could they know the Book of Mormon was true if they did not have the Holy Ghost!!!

*The law of tithing was a curse, but Jesus redeemed us from that curse!
Galatians 3:10 - For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Galatians 3:13 - Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree..."

*Why do Mormons want to go back under that curse of the law?
Titus 3:4-5 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost."
Generous giving is a very loving thing to do. Paul was inspired by God's Holy Spirit to declare that "God LOVES a cheerful giver" (2Corinthians 9:7). Cheerfully giving from the heart is a virtue.

Answer 1

You need to go back to shorter questions. The longer ones just expose your ignorance even more.

The early church was not instructed to tithe. It was instructed to consecrate everything to the Lord. This would be ownership in common just like the church described in that other book.. the Bible. After it was apparent the Saints didn't yet have the faith to live that system, the law of the tithe was instituted.

Answer 2

Because tithing is a blessing!!! A good story is an early saint, back in the day (in fact Joseph Smith's brother's widow) was asked one day why she was paying tithing, someone told her she shouldn't have to pay because she was a widow. She chastised him, and said "How dare you want to take these blessings from me!"

I have firm belief that tithing has been a blessing in my life, I've seen mini-miracles, where I've been able to pay my tithing, and still afford more than I needed, when I didn't think it was possible. It's done nothing, but increase my faith, and so I say to you as that young widow once said: How dare you want to take that blessing from me!

Surely if the old testament was worthless, all of us Christians should have tossed it from the Bible, but no one has. Why? Because not all of it was the lower law of Moses, that's why. You'll read in Genesis that Abraham paid his tithing, and that was before the law of moses ever existed, so perhaps, it really is one of those principles that goes beyond the law of moses.

Best wishes

Answer 3

The Church originally tried to live the law of Consecration as they did in the Book of Acts where everything is given to the Church, and then the Church gives it out as needed. But hardly any were able to live that law, so we are now required to live the lesser law of tithing. I know that I have been greatly blessed because I have obeyed the law of Tithing. I have been commanded by prophets of God to do so, so I will.

Answer 4

I am a faithful LDS member. I pay 10% of my husband's and my earings, that is what we have been commanded to do, it is also a requirement of temple attendace, you must be afaithful tithing payer. We believe in modern day revelation - you must remember that. If the prophet told us tomorrow the Lord revealed we shouldn't mow our lawn, I would stop doing it. Was that in the bible at some point? I doubt it...but that is OK. God loves us and does not leave us alone. He gives continual revelation for our benefit.

Answer 5

Yes. Here is why, This is what they have taught yo to believe: Relief society: - Degrades (They didnt know it is, because they are enjoying it, but in reality, its "to put women in there place") - Priesthood (Somewhat choice-mandatory) - Membership (families are "forced" by choice to convert all of there family to members, otherwise, not live with God) Tithing - Give 10%, all nice and good, but at the end of the year, those who do not give there 10% are more likely humiliated, and pointed out (In some places, this policy has change). Members are "forced" by choice to do this, otherwise they wont get blessings, and apparently God gave them those 100%, and its fair to return 10%. This is unjustifiable, specially to the military personel members, to tell them "You didnt earn your pay, it was give to you" is just plain rude. -Membership part B: If you leave the church, your family, former ward, and people who witnessed your conversion is alerted, and are told to stay away of you, and is told that you have left the church to sin. Female: Somewhat forced to get married before 30, and are treated nothing more than "tools", for the sole purpose of bearing children. Hench the relief societies main duty is to organize activities Priesthood part B: Talks with one another to point that there manly I know this stuff, because I have been at one point in my life as a mormon. Not anymore. Im an Ex-Christian, my POV towards Atheism started the moment I read the holy books of Hinduism, Christianity (all), Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Norse, and Greek.

Answer 6

All Mormons strive always to keep all the commandments and other covenants that they make with their Heavenly Father. This includes paying an honest tithe and other offerings, and in so doing their lives are blessed and the windows of heaven are poured out upon them - not necessarily in financial ways but in other way that unless there is an understanding of the true gospel and all that living by its principles entails isn't understood.

Answer 7

I see that you are of the opinion that you don’t have to pay tithing, and base it on the Bible. However, the words of Christ on the subject are more convincing to me. He said this about tithing:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone,”

Since Christ told me not to leave tithing undone, I don’t – even of small things like a patch of mint or some other herb – though I freely admit I really don’t grow mint for a living.

We don’t have to rely on ancient texts, however. God still speaks to man, and has declared that we should pay an honest tithe. I’ve done it for years, and the Lord has blessed me and my family – not with material things, but with great spiritual rewards. I highly recommend that all Christians tithe.

Answer 8

The tithing goes to paying for the building and maintnence of temples and church buildings. I don't know any Mormons who mind paying tithing. Our bishops are not paid and have jobs outside of church, since the Bible states that clergy should not receive income for these duties. I can not afford to pay 10% so I pay less, but I still pay every month.

Answer 9

If you believe that god gave us everything we have, why would it be so bad to give him a tenth back to build his church? Also, why would it be a curse to give tithing if your giving money to the lord and his work?

Answer 10

I only made if through the first paragraph sorry, I think I got the jist of it though...you think the Mormons are full of it and don't follow the rules of biblical tax man.