So why do Mormons tithe and (according to the article) only three percent of other churches do? Mormons give their Bishops an envelope with their money and they don’t pass around a plate where everyone can see you lift your arm high as you put money in.
I guess Mormons understand the principal: “givers gain”. I always get more from money I give. What I contribute always comes back to me. Maybe non Mormon churches should teach that principal.
Joel!
I didn't know you posted on FR!
Hebrews 11
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
In short, tithing is a principal of faith for members, that we give as gratitude and through obedience to God. To suggest otherwise is for the most part just ignorance and hateful. If I paid tithing just to attend the temple, you could at least surmise that attending the temple also has deep significance to members with regard to their commitment [corrector, post #98]
Do you realize, dave & corrector [others; lurkers] that while some...
...Mormon leaders...
...posters on this thread...
...appeal to tithing as an ancient practice, that one of the "prophets" said
-- at the 1900 General Conference of all places -- that the reason why the Lord imposed "The Law of Tithing" on the Mormon people was...
...because they were imperfect at fulfilling a greater law -- "The Law of Consecration."
[This was enfolded under the United Order "revelations" of Joseph Smith...yet because the Utah Mormons failed this order by their gods in the late 1880s into the 1890s, "The Law of Tithing" has since become the #1 emphasized law @ Lds.org!]
If you don't want to take my word for it, just read the following:
1949: Doctrine and Covenants Studies, by Bryant S. Hinckley
Chapter 42: THE LAW OF TITHING (Section 119)
Why Instituted
We know of no better statement as to why the Lord revealed the law of tithing than that made by President Joseph F. Smith at the general conference of the Church in April, 1900. “Why the Law of Tithing Was Instituted – The Lord revealed to his people in the incipiency of his work a law which was more perfect than the law of tithing. It comprehended larger things, greater power, and a more speedy accomplishment of the purposes of the Lord. But the people were unprepared to live by it, and the Lord, out of mercy to the people, suspended the more perfect law [the law of consecration and stewardship], and gave the law of tithing, in order that there might be means in the storehouse of the Lord for the carrying out of the purposes he had in view...; (GD, p. 282.)
Secondary Sources: Bryant S. Hinckley, 1949, citing Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 282. Doctrine and Covenants Studies
Therefore, of all the laws a Mormon might boast about as fulfilling, this one -- although emphasized the most by Lds, Inc. on its Web site -- it's actually the least to be proud of!
Why? Because their "prophet," Joseph F. Smith said in 1900 that this was a sort of "second-best" law that the Lord gave in/relenting to...
...via the reality that Mormons just couldn't quite get that 100% consecrated socialism-communism law down pat...that law called, "The Law of Consecration" -- otherwise known as the United Order! (Which, btw, Joseph Smith "lied" about in claiming in the Doctrine & Covenants that it was an "everlasting" order)
The Law of Tithing itself, by the Lds own "prophet's" concession, was geared toward realizing how IMperfect Mormons were in following Joseph Smith's revelations!!!
But, hey, since at one time almost 80% of Smith's revelations were fiscally related, I'm sure the Mormon people got tired of hearing Smith preach and preach about his fave topic -- $!