“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
A cursory glance at the topics of the October 2023 General Conference seemed rather mundane at first glance. They kept saying their main theme was on the Holy Ghost, however, this was only partly true.
Their main agenda seemed to zero in on being temple worthy and to be worthy enough you have to pay 10% of your income. They used the word tithe and its derivatives 61 times. Any hint at what God’s Holy Spirit might be able to do for you was overshadowed by the panhandling ways of the Church.
At the end of the conference a video of Russell Nelson appeared where he talked about the importance of temple attendance. Since the time Nelson became their prophet, he’s announced 153 temples would be built.
After reading what he had to say, it was clear they’re trying to shame members into obedience of being temple worthy and giving an honest tithe so they can pay their bills.
We’ve listed a couple of short statements they made. It’s obvious they’re trying to convince people that being worthy will make you happy. Sigh…
The most disturbing talk was delivered by Neil Andersen when he said their tithes have strengthened the reserves of the Church. We can’t help but wonder if he was referring to the 100 billion dollars they amassed in 2019. For more info see LDS Response to Stockpiling $100B.
Please pray for Jesus to intervene by guarding their hearts and rejecting the lies!
With Love in Christ —
Michelle ✟
Church News, ‘Do You Want To Be Happy?’, 30 Sept 2023 “Being happy is really quite simple: Just stay on the covenant path.
Sometimes, however, people who make covenants fail to keep them. When that happens, it’s important to return to the covenant path by obeying the commandments.
… My dear brothers and sisters, do you want to be happy? Stay on the covenant path. Your life will be easier, happier and filled with joy.” —Yoon Hwan Choi
Church News, ‘Opening the Windows of Heaven,’ 30 September 2023 “The spiritual power of the divine law of tithing is not measured by the amount of money contributed, for both the prosperous and the poor are commanded by the Lord to contribute 10% of their income. …The added abundance of the Lord conveyed through your generous tithes has strengthened the reserves of the Church… “These blessings and so many more come in large measure from the young and old of every economic circumstance who pay an honest tithe.”” — Neil L. Andersen [emp. added]
[…] Conference Quote: Pay Tithe to be Worthy and Happy […]
Great post! I appreciate your analysis of the main agenda and messaging of the October 2023 General Conference. It’s interesting how the emphasis on temple worthiness and tithing appears to overshadow the discussion of God’s Holy Spirit. My question is, do you think this shift in focus is intentional or simply a reflection of the current priorities of the Church? That’s a thought-provoking perspective, Michelle. I wonder if the Church’s focus on temple worthiness and tithing is an intentional strategy or a response to prevailing priorities. What are your thoughts on this?[/result-end]
I think everything the Church says is a calculated way of instilling fear into its members. People like my mother will adhere to their admonitions so that she won’t be found unworthy. Sigh…
I’ve tried to explain to her many times that her worthiness is found when she accepts what Jesus did for her on the cross and not her own works that are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
Thank you for sharing this article. It’s great to see that the Church is emphasizing the importance of being temple worthy and giving a tithe. It’s a reminder of the blessings that come from obedience and generosity.