Tithing - a Law for our Protection and Advancement

Happy fathers day!

Today sister Jenya Stroh taught our lesson from the Teachings of the President Lorenzo Snow,  Lesson 12  - Tithing, a Law for our Protection and Advancement.

Jenya's favorite quote from the lesson is:

"Tithing is not a difficult law..."

Tithing is simple to understand. If you earn $100, you give $10. You can choose to give it today. It can be this simple if we are determined to obey; we can be perfect tithe payers :) Lacy pointed out that it's good to know there is at least one thing we can be perfect at!

President Snow traveled to visit the saints in Saint George in 1899 to give this message to the saints:

"The word of the Lord to you is not anything new; it is simply this: THE TIME HAS NOW COME FOR EVERY LATTER-DAY SAINT, WHO CALCULATES TO BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE AND TO HOLD HIS FEET STRONG UPON A PROPER FOUNDATION, TO DO THE WILL OF THE LORD AND TO PAY HIS TITHING IN FULL." 

He later said, “I never had a more perfect revelation,” he later said, “than [the revelation] I received on this subject of tithing.”

We talked about how the church is in fantastic financial standing and that we have been able to purchase lands and build temples with no debt thanks to all the faithful tithe payers. Tithing is a law that brings spiritual and temporal blessings.

Here is a quick jot of out class comments:

Church is growing, self insured, and ~170 planned/operating temples because of tithing.

Without tithing, can't receive the blessings of the temple because the church wouldn't be able to build temples.

Easy to understand - It is an easy law that we can be Perfect in following because it is simple

Never hear of anyone going in to debt because of tithing. There are always miracles that follow

Giving makes you richer, data shows it. People who make money a priority seem to be worse at keeping it. Those who aren't so focused on money are better at keeping it and bring smarter with it.

Amazing thing about tithing is that you can go to the bishop and ask for help. The gospel will take care of you (bishop note: don't necessarily need to pay tithing for help in certain situations)

Used to build stake centers through member work. Used to have ward budgets. Used to fundraise for temples. Evolved so that members know if we pay our tithing, we'll be blessed and temples, stake centers will be built for us.

Utah is the most charitable state. Ranked as one of the lowest incomes, but gives so much more

God does not care about the amount, just where our heart is and our intentions

Easy law to keep up, hard law to postpone. There are consequences.

Once you stop paying tithing, then it is easier to stop doing the next thing. It only takes a little effort for tithing, and if you stop that, then it's easier to stop the harder ones

So much harder when you start saving it up instead of paying it every time you gain, then it's easier than that bigger lump sum

Much bigger taxes nowadays, but if stay faithful with tithes and fast offerings, then can have peace that you'll be taken care of by the Lord

There is no debt with tithing. Don't have to pay back what you missed, just start over and pay full tithe. You will be forgiven

Build ourselves up by focusing on tithing and it being a simple law that we can follow. And keep Satan's influence away.

Broken into house over break. Only thing they took was little sister's tithing envelope. Ward helped out little girl and donated money to her so she could pay her tithing.

We hope if we missed you this week you can come next week <3