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Latter-day Saint First Presidency revamps annual tithing discussions

By Genelle Pugmire - | Aug 11, 2022

Courtesy Intellectual Reserve

This photo depicts a family within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meeting with their bishop during a tithing settlement.

The payment of tithings is as ancient as the Old Testament itself. From the time of Adam and Eve to the present, a tithe has been offered often in goods, animals, land or, as today, mostly in monetary donations.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints give tithing — 10% of their income — to the church to honor God’s ancient and modern commandments to tithe.

Up until now, the church held a tithing settlement at the end of each year when individuals and families would meet with their local leaders, a bishop or branch president, to discuss their tithing donations and declare if they were full, part or non-tithe payers.

On Thursday, the First Presidency of the church, including President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, signed a letter to leaders of the church saying tithing settlement has now been changed to a tithing declaration.

“The change is intended to enhance focus on the principles and blessings of tithing. Tithing declaration will be primarily a learning experience — especially for children and youth — and an opportunity for Latter-day Saints to declare their tithing faithfulness,” the First Presidency letter said.

As part of that change, tithing declaration interviews may now occur as early as Sept. 1 to offer bishops and branch presidents additional time to meet with families and individuals.

“What a great blessing to have a time dedicated to discussing the divine law of the tithe,” said Presiding Bishop Gérald Caussé. “Tithing is an essential practice of Latter-day Saints, regardless of where they live, their social standing, or their material circumstances. By keeping this law, Church members receive spiritual and temporal blessings in their lives and help further the Church’s divine mission on earth.”

The importance of paying tithing was represented in the days of President Lorenzo Snow.

In 1899, an aging Snow was troubled by the Church’s debt, left over from the anti-polygamy crusades of the 1880s. He felt prompted to travel to St. George, which was experiencing a drought, and while preaching at a conference in the St. George Tabernacle he received a revelation to re-emphasize the law of tithing as the solution to the Church’s financial troubles. Furthermore, he promised rain in St. George if they would faithfully pay tithing. A reformation then began throughout the settlements, and eventually St. George received rain and the Church climbed out of debt.

This true historical tale has been told in story and film version to help even the youngest members of the church to understand the importance and the blessings of tithe paying.

As adults, paying tithes and being a full tithe payer is one of the subjects members are asked when seeking a recommend to enter the temple. It is taught as a principle of faith and not a principle of church banking, although tithing funds help build temples, churches and wherever else funds are needed to sustain all the church does, according to church information.

Members of the church can give tithing donations in envelopes to their bishops or donate online at the church’s website.

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