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	The previous chapters reveal that Malachi wasn't talking to the general membership of the Church when he asked, “Will a man rob God?“ but was rebuking the priests who had been collecting money and food to give to the poor, but were keeping it for themselves.		The previous chapters reveal that Malachi wasn't talking to the general membership of the Church when he asked, “Will a man rob God?“ but was rebuking the priests who had been collecting money and food to give to the poor, but were keeping it for themselves.
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−	{{misinformation|We are taught to "liken the scriptures unto ourselves." In fact, ''most'' scriptural teachings in their original context are not addressed to "the general membership of the Church." For example, when Oliver Cowdery attempted to translate and failed, he was taught that he needed to "study it out in his mind." We apply this teaching to the "general membership of the Church. What difference does it make that Malachi was talking to the priests who had stolen tithing?  In this case, the principle is exactly the same: Give the Lord what He asks for and he will open the "windows of heaven" in return. This applies not only to the priests, but to the "general membership of the Church."	+	{{misinformation|We are taught to "liken the scriptures unto ourselves." In fact, ''most'' scriptural teachings in their original context are not addressed to "the general membership of the Church." For example, when Oliver Cowdery attempted to translate and failed, he was taught that he needed to "study it out in his mind," we apply this teaching to the "general membership of the Church. We do not discount it as applying only to Oliver Cowdery. What difference does it make that Malachi was talking to the priests who had stolen tithing?  In this case, the principle is exactly the same: Give the Lord what He asks for and he will open the "windows of heaven" in return. This applies not only to the priests, but to the "general membership of the Church."
	}}		}}

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Revision as of 22:07, 25 September 2017

1. REDIRECTTemplate:Test3

Response to "For my Wife and Children" ("Letter to my Wife"): Chapter 23 - Tithing

Chapter 22 - Expert Views (Book of Abraham)

A FAIR Analysis of: For my Wife and Children (Letter to my Wife), a work by author: Anonymous

Chapter 24 - Church Spending

Response to claims made in "For my Wife and Children" ("Letter to my Wife"): Chapter 23 - Tithing

Jump to details:

• Response to claim: "The definition and requirements of tithing have varied at different periods in the Church"
• Response to claim: "The previous chapters reveal that Malachi wasn't talking to the general membership of the Church when he asked, 'Will a man rob God?' but was rebuking the priests who had been collecting money and food to give to the poor, but were keeping it for themselves"
• Response to claim: Regarding a statement by Lorenzo Snow in a Church manual: "The removal of the phrase 'who has means' demonstrates that the modern Church is not above misrepresenting the truth to ensure being paid above the individual needs of members"

Response to claim: "The definition and requirements of tithing have varied at different periods in the Church"

The author(s) of "For my Wife and Children" ("Letter to my Wife") make(s) the following claim:

The definition and requirements of tithing have varied at different periods in the Church

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: This claim is based upon correct information - The author is providing knowledge concerning some particular fact, subject, or event

This is correct. The definition of what constitutes tithing has been modified over time by Latter-day prophets. The requirements related to tithing in the 21st century are not the same as they were in the 19th century. When tithing was initiated in the 19th century, it was based upon surplus. However, the First Presidency issued the following statement in 1970, which is repeated the current Church Handbook of Instructions:

The simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay 'one-tenth of all their interest annually,' which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this. ^[1]

Response to claim: "The previous chapters reveal that Malachi wasn't talking to the general membership of the Church when he asked, 'Will a man rob God?' but was rebuking the priests who had been collecting money and food to give to the poor, but were keeping it for themselves"

The scriptural basis for this teaching comes from the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. Malachi 3:8,10

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. …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.

The previous chapters reveal that Malachi wasn't talking to the general membership of the Church when he asked, “Will a man rob God?“ but was rebuking the priests who had been collecting money and food to give to the poor, but were keeping it for themselves. }}

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

We are taught to "liken the scriptures unto ourselves." In fact, most scriptural teachings in their original context are not addressed to "the general membership of the Church." For example, when Oliver Cowdery attempted to translate and failed, he was taught that he needed to "study it out in his mind," we apply this teaching to the "general membership of the Church. We do not discount it as applying only to Oliver Cowdery. What difference does it make that Malachi was talking to the priests who had stolen tithing? In this case, the principle is exactly the same: Give the Lord what He asks for and he will open the "windows of heaven" in return. This applies not only to the priests, but to the "general membership of the Church."

Response to claim: Regarding a statement by Lorenzo Snow in a Church manual: "The removal of the phrase 'who has means' demonstrates that the modern Church is not above misrepresenting the truth to ensure being paid above the individual needs of members"

The author(s) of "For my Wife and Children" ("Letter to my Wife") make(s) the following claim:

At the October 1899 General Conference, President Lorenzo Snow delivered a talk on tithing.

“I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has means shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing...” (Conference Report, October 1899, p .28. http://archive.org/stream/conferencereport1899sa/con ferencereport692chur#page/ 28/mode/2up)

Again, the early brethren knew some were so burdened they had no means to pay. However, in a piece of disturbing information, an edited version of this statement was reprinted in the lesson manual Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, ch.12: Tithing, a Law For Our Protection and Advancement.

“I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child ... shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing” (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow manual, p.160. www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzosnow/chapter-12-tithing-a-law-for-our-protection-and-advancement?lang=eng)

The removal of the phrase “who has means” demonstrates that the modern Church is not above misrepresenting the truth to ensure being paid above the individual needs of members.

The Church taught that tithing was only payable on the surplus income after all other living expenses were covered. Also, if a person did not have the ability to pay they did not have to. This doctrine has been deliberately hidden from the members.

FAIR's Response

Fact checking results: The author has stated erroneous information or misinterpreted their sources

On the same page of the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow manual that the author cites, we also see this quote from President Snow:

There is no man or woman who can not pay one tenth of what he or she receives. ^[2]

President Snow is not exempting anyone in the Church from paying tithing. He did not qualify his statement to exclude the poor or destitute.

The Webster's 1828 dictionary definition of "means" is as follows:

Means, in the plural, income, revenue, resources, substance or estate, considered as the instrument of effecting any purpose. He would have built a house, but he wanted means.

If we use this definition in President Snow's statement, here is what we have:

I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has income, revenue, resources, substance or estate shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing...

In 1899, there were still immigrants arriving in Utah who had spent months traveling, not working, and therefore had no "means" or "financial resources" to pay tithing. Even today, a Church member who has no income does not "have the means" to pay tithing, and such will not prevent them from obtaining a temple recommend.

Notes

1. ↑ First Presidency letter, 19 March 1970. This letter has been quoted in numerous talks by general authorities and Church lesson manuals. A convenient examples is Robert D. Hales, "The Divine Law of Tithing," Ensign (December 1986): 14. off-site
2. ↑ In “President Lorenzo Snow’s Message on Tithing,” 185; from the minutes of a meeting held in the Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City on May 29, 1899.