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GPC32: Tithes and Offerings, Gospel Principles Comments and Resources Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 32: Tithes and Offerings
Comments and Resources "President Joseph F. Smith counseled: "By this principle (tithing) the loyalty of the people of this Church shall be put to the test. By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it." (Gospel Doctrine, p. 255) The principle of tithing should be more than a mathematical, mechanical compliance with the law... If we pay our tithes because of our love for the Lord, in complete freedom and faith, we narrow our distance from him and our relationship to him becomes intimate. We are released from the bondage of legalism, and we are touched by the Spirit and feel a oneness with God. "The payment of our tithing strengthens faith, increases spirituality and spiritual capacity, and solidifies testimony." (Howard W. Hunter, "The Windows of Heaven," Improvement Era, June 1964, p. 476). During the study of this topic, we will learn what constitutes an honest tithe, what tithing is used for, and the blessings that the Lord promises those who obey this law. Resources:
Gospel Principles: chapter 32
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 26.
Truth Restored, Chapter 6. Scriptures:
Jacob 2:18-19
  "18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
  19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." 3 Nephi 24:6-12
  "6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
  7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts.But ye say: Wherein shall we return?
  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 my 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 fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.
  12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts." D&C 64:23-25; 119
  "23 Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming."
  "24 For after today cometh the burning this is speaking after the manner of the Lord for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.
  25 Wherefore, if ye believe me, ye will labor while it is called today." D&C 119
"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, July 8, 1838, in answer to his supplication: O Lord, show unto thy servants how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people for a tithing. HC 3:44. The law of tithing, as understood today, had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation.The term tithing in the prayer just quoted and in previous revelations (64:23; 85:3; 97:11) had meant not just one-tenth, but all free-will offerings, or contributions, to the Church funds.The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting.Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time, and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of their property he required for sacred purposes.The answer was this revelation."
1-5, "The saints are to pay their surplus property and then give, as tithing, one-tenth of their interest annually; 6-7, Such a course will sanctify the land of Zion." Genesis 28:22   "22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee." Numbers 18:26  'thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe." 2 Chronicles 31:5"And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly." Malachi 3:8-12
  "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.
  12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delight some land, saith the Lord of hosts." Luke 21:1-4
  "1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
  2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
  3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
  4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had."
Topical Guide:
                            Consecrate
                            Consecration
                            Family, Managing Finances in
                            Tenth
                            Tithing Bible Dictionary:
                                Tithe Guide to the Scriptures:
                                             Tithes, Tithing
                                             Money
                                             Offering
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Moroni 10:4-5
  "4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
  5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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