What do Mormons pay besides tithe?

Question

I just wanted to learn about the Church and I had heard that Mormons have to provide considerable financial support for the Church. If it's true, on what occasions to they pay to the church besides tithe? Also, is it true that Mormons are somewhat forced to tie their life to the Mormon community?(Such as hardness of taking long-term trip with families...)
*Don't tell me if you are not sure and haven't experienced or seen Mormon life in depth. NO RUMORS ARE WELCOMED.

Answer 1

Well, besides tithing, the other specific options that a member of the Church can contribute are:

Fast offerings
Ward missionary fund
General missionary fund
Book of Mormon
Humanitarian aid
Temple construction
Perpetual education

Tithing is used for such things as building construction and paying misc. church bills (electricity, etc.). Fast offerings are used to provide assistance to those in the church who are economically disadvantaged (for food, shelter, transportation, etc.). Ward and General missionary funds are for those full-time missionaries who can't pay for their missions entirely themselves. Book of Mormon is for helping defray the cost of publishing said book. Humanitarian aid and Temple construction are (I think) pretty self-explanatory. Perpetual education is to help economically challeneged members pay for recieving higher education (members who receive that assistance are asked to gradually repay the fund once they've obtained better employment).

And no, we're not forced to tie our lives to the Mormon community (while it was once true that many in the church lived in Utah, there is now a much larger Mormon population outside of Utah than there is in Utah; many of those members live in areas where they are vastly outnumbered by people of other faiths). We do have the option of attending various functions that our local congregations (called "wards") do during the week, but it's by no means manditory, and we're not looked down on if we don't attend.

Now, some of what you'll read among other responses here aren't at all accurate (no, it most certainly is NOT against our beliefs for a married woman to work outside the home, I've never once in my entire membership in the church - 3 decades! - hear anyone get up at the podium and tell a sob story about the church needing more money to build more buildings, I still give only 10% in tithing and I and everbody in the church I know have never been asked to inrease that amount, and my whole life most certainly has not been "wrapped up in the church;" I've had plenty of time for other things). Sad to say, if the person acknolwedges they aren't presently a member of the church, ods are what they're saying isn't "all true."

Answer 2

There have been many good and bad answers placed here. I applaud the people who have provided their stories true of heart, both the good and the bad. The truth about tithing is that it is not always easy to pay. But it is always worth it.

There are other things we do besides pay tithing. We can also donate to the Perpetual Education Fund which allows people from poorer countries the chance to start businesses and to get an education. We can also donate fast offerings which are used to help feed the poor in our church, as well as others. There is also the missionary fund, which was set up to help aid those who cannot afford to go on a mission, to be able to do so.

These are all voluntary donations, including our tithing.

If you would like to know more, feel free to email me.

Answer 3

We are not required to pay anything, tithing is suggested though. There are activities planned and anyone can come, but they are optional. The only long trip that has been planned in my ward was a snow trip, it was about a 2 hours car ride, and again it's just advertized and whoever wants to go can, I didn't cause I don't like the snow. I have always liked that there are so many different activities avalable to the children, teenagers, and adults. It gives us somewthing to do, and it's nice hanging out with people with similar beliefs.

As far as what Christine said above, she is wrong. We do not have to have a lot of children. Most that I know have between 2 and 4 children, which is the norm even outside the church. I am a working mother and have never been told I need to stay home, We believe that if it's financially possible it's good for mom to stay at home, but again, that's the therapy outside our religon too. If a family is struggling financially the ward gives them food, and helps with money and finding a job too.

You need to be careful on this site, I have seen so much misinformation and plain old lies being told. Go to www.LDS.org if you hacve any questions, or you can e-mail me if you'd like.

Answer 4

The people who come to collect fast offerings are usually deacons who are 12 and 13 year old boys. I just wanted to clarify it's not the leaders of the church coming around every Sunday to shake people down for money! The fast offerings are what you would have spent on two meals that you fast one Sunday a month and donate. These offerings only go to help needy, not to build anything. Hurricane Katrina, and the tsunami in indonesia...the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints were the first ones in to help, already having an organization in place to render aid. They even help other churches to rebuild their houses of worship. They do regular humanitarian service to third world countries, no membership in the church required. If you can find anything wrong with people who will not eat 2 meals a month, and donate what they would have spent to help starving children in Africa, then I would really like to hear it!

Answer 5

The Lord blesses us for paying our tithe. As you read with other posters we can pay for other things the church needs too. Malachi Said if we stop robbing God and give our tithe, we will bless from on high.

As for the stereotypes of people starving and no clothes for children, you live in a fantasy world. The Lord blesses the members of the church. Yes this isn't a sunday only church.
The Lord doesn't live only on sunday. As for family centered?
We are the most family centered church.

Answer 6

We are required to be 10% in tithing but not FORCED to. We can also make fast offerings and other types of donations. There are NOT sob stories from the Bishop about how we need new church buildings. Most of the church buildings I've attended at have been around for 30-40 years. No one comes to our homes to FORCE us to pay fast offering.

gw

Answer 7

Hey, I'm a "morm" and to answer your question the only payment the church "requires" is that you pay 10 percent of your income in tithing. This then goes back into the church to support the building of temples, buildings, the church welfare/relief system, missions etc. But the church really doesn't force you to pay anything, that is pretty much between you and God if you decide to...much like the donation plate at other churches.
To answer the second part of your question, no, you are not forced to tie your life to the church in any way aside from showing up on sunday. But just like any other church there are many activities that the "ward" hosts to create a feeling of family and community, but you are not forced to attend any of them. If you really have questions about the church go to www.lds.org or mormon.org, they can answer your questions, or better yet ask the missionaries to come over...I promise they won't try to baptize you:) You can just get all of your questions answered in one shot. I've been a member my whole life and have a testimony of my own that what the church teaches is true. I hope you can find the same peace in your life. Good luck!

Answer 8

I know my oarents funded their two missionaries themsleves and paid the tithing...10 %. And the fast offering.
I will say this much tho, I got mormon welfare, but they try to ween you off of it and not keep a person on it. And you can only get it if you have been paying your tithing. The can meat was not the greatest, but the rest of the stuff was OK. They paid a heating bill once so i could have heat.

Answer 9

I would not consider the financial support I provde the Church "considerable". We pay a tithe and we also pay a fast offering...this is on the first Sunday of the month when we fast, we give some money that we would have spent on meals to the Church for the poor. And my family has been the recipient of Fast offerings too. The Church also has accounts available for people who wish to contribute to missionaries, humanitarian service, building of temples and so forth. These are not mandatory, they are completely voluntary and they have been set up at the request of members of the Church...believe it or not!

As to your other question, I am not sure I understand what you are asking. We are a close-knit community. We develop friendships with other Mormons (but certainly not exclusively!) we have parties and socials where we gather as friends "just because". We are commanded to "bear each other's burdens" and try to help each other whenever we can.

Answer 10

All donations are private and voluntary, but one additional opportunity to contribute is through, "fast offerings." One Sunday each month is designated as a fast day. Each person is asked to fast for 2 meals and to donate at least what they would have spent on those meals to care for the poor.

These seems like such an inspired program for a number of reasons:
- even the very poor can fully participate
- it may help some people to more fully empathize with the poor
- it teaches self discipline
- combined with prayer it increases spirituality