2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Handbook I Chapter 14 Finances
I came across a post on Reddit that caught my immediate attention. It had to do with the ‘rules’ of tithing in the Church.
The excerpts are listed below, but I have to take issue with what they’ve said. Surprise, right?!
Growing up in Utah Mormonism afforded me the ‘opportunity’ of a front row seat on how the Church operates.
One event sticks out in my mind of a guy who had been caught cheating on his wife. In no time at all, they pulled his membership away.
At one of the Sacrament Meetings they had him stand in front of the entire congregation, and confess his sin. Apparently, he had been in a relationship with another woman for quite some time, was caught, and there we were listening to details of the sordid ordeal.
Long story short, the man confessed, cried the whole time while doing so, and the bishop announced he could earn his way back into fellowship after some time had passed, and also showing he had paid a full tithe. He immediately agreed to the terms.
All that brings us to the Church Handbook Instructions on tithing…
The handbook states all members of the family need to attend the yearly tithing settlement, and we’re left to believe it would include this man since he was still a member of the family.
The handbook also states excommunicated members aren’t allowed to tithe.
Now this wife’s only means of income was through her husband, so how does that work?
This is a good example of how twisting scripture to suit your own purpose is never a good idea.
Pray, please pray, for those who are still living through things like this! To read reference in full, see link provided above.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
“Contributions
Church leaders should teach members the principles of tithes and other offerings and encourage members to live these principles. Nonmembers may also make contributions to the Church. However, a person who has been excommunicated may not pay tithing or other offerings to the Church. …
All members should attend tithing settlement to make sure their contribution records are correct and to declare to the bishop their status as tithe payers. If possible, all members of a family should attend tithing settlement.”
Tithing in the LDS is something I never studied. This is very interesting!
That it is! And we didn’t even discuss the more egregious aspects of it…