Spin off - Mormons and Tithing 10% of income

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tithing is an important test of your personal righteousness. President Joseph F. Smith (1838-1918) said: “By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. … By it it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 276).

I am afraid you chose to convert to a religion that measures faithfulness by how much money you hand over to them. Now you are considering failing to fulfill that obligation. Shame on you!

Surely baptisms for the dead, Brigham Young's 55 wives, magical underwear, native americans descending from the lost tribe of israel, and god knows what else is worth 10%???? Don't you want your husband to become a god on another planet after he dies, with lots of wives?

I think the Jews have gotten a bad rap all these years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the PP is providing the more doctrinal Mormon answer to the question which is, when faced with the choice to fully tithe or to pay your rent, you should fully tithe, expecting that God will help you pay your rent another way. I was raised in "the church" as we called it, and fully tithed meant paying a full 10% on one's gross income. There was no room for interpretation as a PP implies. Not sure how much of the $$$ actually goes towards the church's charity work versus maintaining properties and a rather sizeable workforce, though.

Do tax benefits affect the amount/percentage of the tithe?

[Anonymous]

Not sure what you mean. We were raised to pay 10% - GROSS - period.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, I'm not a Mormon, but this is ridiculous. Again it goes to reinforcing my belief it is a cult and not a religion.

And yes, we may get our first cult member as a president. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

I always thought it was 10% of the net?? Anyway, I think you should pay the full 10% (gross or net, whatever you feel you should). PPs are right - if you want to maintain your recommend, then you need to tithe fully. Maybe you can ask for some additional support because you are going to PT? I know family members who forego preschool because of the cost. Maybe a group of you from church could have some group playdates instead that could substitute for preschool, or do some child swapping so you get some free time to run errands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Malachi 3:10. 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.

read the whole chapter.
You are supposed to give it to a Levite priest.
And this is talking about the grain offering

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Malachi 3:10. 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.

read the whole chapter.
You are supposed to give it to a Levite priest.
And this is talking about the grain offering

What does this have to do with CHRIST?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where did Jesus say there is a requirement to tithe?

He didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did Jesus say there is a requirement to tithe?

He didn't.

No, he said to give away all your possessions, leave your family and follow me. Obviously this is something that no American Christian (protestant, mormon, or catholic) would even entertain. Being a Christian is hard--that's why there aren't any.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did Jesus say there is a requirement to tithe?

He didn't.

No, he said to give away all your possessions, leave your family and follow me. Obviously this is something that no American Christian (protestant, mormon, or catholic) would even entertain. Being a Christian is hard--that's why there aren't any.

I always laugh when I read about Christians being disappointed that The Rapture didn't happen. How would they know? I bet it happened, it's just that the 3-4 actual Christians that exist around the world were marginal characters whose disappearance went unnoticed by the vast majority.

[Anonymous]

I would question any religion or group that put you in the position of choosing between educating your kids or saving for your financial security and being a part of the group. Whose interests are they concerned with the most? I'm sorry, I just don't understand how intelligent people buy into the fact that you have to give a certain percent of your income to be faithful. Is it guilt?

[Anonymous]

Allow me to clear up a misunderstanding about faith.

Faith is not just a wish or belief. It is a strong trust that moves one to action. Mormons keep commandments because they trust that God will bless them. As we keep commandments, our faith grows. Hebrews chapter 11 is devoted to giving examples of works that were accomplished because of faith. In the early Christian, people died becasue of their conviction. This takes more than just a weak belief in God. Without faith, there are no spiritual gifts. Then people wonder why there were miracles in the ancient church but not now. If there are no spiritual gifts, it is because of lack of faith.

Tithing is a good indicator of the level of faith of a person. Tithing is thus used as an indicator of how prepared a person is to receive temple covenants.

Tithing is actually a lesser law and is designed to prepare members of the church to live the higher law of consecration where they are willing to give all that they have including their substance, talents and even their life if necessary. Those who are familiar with the 4 gospels know that this is the law that was required by Christ. For example, Christ taught the young rich man that he should give all his money to the poor in addition to keeping the commandment in order to enter heaven. The early Christian church lived communaly and gave all that they had to the church. One couple died for not complying (see Acts 4:32 thru Acts 5:10)

If you belong to a church that believes that anyone can be saved regardless of who they serve, then this doctrine looks foolish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, I'm not a Mormon, but this is ridiculous. Again it goes to reinforcing my belief it is a cult and not a religion.

And yes, we may get our first cult member as a president. Good grief.

First? To my knowledge, ALL of our presidents have been Christian (nominally, at least). The next President will simply be continuing that unbroken "cult-member-as-president" string.

What, don't think Christianity is a cult? Why not?

[Anonymous]

Faith is not just a wish or belief. It is a strong trust that moves one to action. Mormons keep commandments because they trust that God will bless them

I realize this is "faith" talking, and not dry rationalism, but the the difference between a "belief" and a "strong trust that moves one to action".

While a "belief" is not just a "strong trust that moves one to action", a "strong trust that moves one to action" is just a belief.

I respect that within every cult/religion/faith you've developed a jargon to add a depth and richness to the experience, but it's a distinction without a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where did Jesus say there is a requirement to tithe?

He didn't.

No, he said to give away all your possessions, leave your family and follow me. Obviously this is something that no American Christian (protestant, mormon, or catholic) would even entertain. Being a Christian is hard--that's why there aren't any.

Excellent point!