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The definition and requirements of tithing have varied at different periods in the Church
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]
The scriptural basis for this teaching comes from the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. Malachi 3:8,10The 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.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.
Author's sources:
- Malachi 3:8,10
- Malachi 2-3
One thing to consider when the Church applies Old Testament laws to modern standards is that Old Testament laws were never taught by Jesus Christ and did not apply to New Testament Christianity.
Abraham practiced it (Genesis 14꞉20), Jacob practiced it (Genesis 28꞉22), as well as under the law of Moses. There is no scriptural passage which abolishes the Law of Tithing. The way in which tithing is administered may evolve to meet the current needs of the Church as the prophet receives revelation on the subject. As Loren C. Dunn, Quoting Orson F. Whitney, noted in the April 1976 General Conference:
The Latter-day Saints do not do things because they happen to be printed in a book. They do not do things because God told the Jews to do them; nor do they do or leave undone anything because of the instructions that Christ gave to the Nephites. Whatever is done by this Church is because God, speaking from heaven in our day, has commanded this Church to do it. No book presides over this Church, and no book lies at its foundation. You cannot pile up books enough to take the place of God's priesthood, inspired by the power of the Holy Ghost. That is the constitution of the Church of Christ. … Divine revelation adapts itself to the circumstances and conditions of men, and change upon change ensues as God's progressive work goes on to its destiny. There is no book big enough or good enough to preside over this Church.[2]
Jesus reiterated and thus renewed Malachi's prophecy in his visit to the Nephites and Malachi's prophecy specifically commends the law of tithing. In 3 Nephi 24꞉8-10, Jesus Christ applies Malachi's words to the Nephites:
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.
The Law of Consecration is the eternal law: being willing to give everything with which you are blessed to the building up of God's Kingdom. Tithing is merely a sub-set of how we do that at this particular time in this particular dispensation.
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.
There is no man or woman who can not pay one tenth of what he or she receives. [3]
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
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