I sat in a good class on Tithing in Gospel Essentials this last Sunday. As we went through the almost compulsory set of “Ensign Stories” of how people were destitute, down to their last $100 and were faced with the decision to pay tithing or not, the notion came to me about the role of money and tithing as well as the promises for keeping the Law of Tithing. While I would say that I have been blessed when I have kept the law of Tithing, and I do appreciate its role in funding the operations of the Church regardless of my own personal blessings that result, this whole notion of paying tithing because I get some financial blessing in return has not always sat well with me. Part of why I feel this way is because I paid my tithing, and I lost my house and had to declare bankruptcy. Tens of thousands around the world pay their tithing and live in poverty. These examples are a stark evidence in opposition to the notion that paying tithing equals financial peace and independence. It also doesn’t seem to be in line that just because one person pays their widows mite that financial blessings are sure to follow. That is a false interpretation of what the scriptures promise.
Money is not the currency of heaven. The presence of money is not a sure sign of divine favor. It is understandable why people come to that conclusion because there are several scriptures that talk about people being blessed with temporal blessings if they keep the commandments (Mosiah 2:41, Malachi 3:10, and others) but there are also scriptures that talk about the rain falling on the just and the unjust.
While there are certain stories where people have made the connection of being blessed with money for paying tithing, and I don’t mean to say that paying tithing CAN’T result in people being taken care of in their financial needs, I am saying that it isn’t automatic, nor are the blessings of tithing to be focused on “what we get in return.” The scriptures don’t speak of tithing that way, and we shouldn’t either. There is no R.O.I. (return on investment) promised in terms of money when it comes to paying tithing.
The way many read D&C 130:20-21 is to blame in some part. People have interpreted these verses to mean that if you keep a law or commandment, there is ONE blessing that is assigned to that commandment and the blessing for that commandments comes in no other way. They also consider these verses to mean that if you keep a financial law or commandment that the nature of the blessing will be financial in return. The scriptures don’t say that; they never have. Tithing is not God’s law on how Mormon’s are to become rich. Nor is tithing a quid pro quo with God.
The impression came to me in that Gospel Principles lesson that tithing is one of a group of laws, “the law” (referencing D&C 130:20-21) upon which ALL blessings are predicated. This group of laws is also called the law of the gospel and the law of consecration, God’s Law. These laws are designed to test and tutor every part of our discipleship. Tithing is one aspect of that effort, but it is not some segmented or isolated law that has a limited set of blessings that come for keeping it. While I do believe that there are certain temporal laws that carry some specific consequences for their adherence or noncompliance, God is not governed the same way. His omnibenevolence opens doors based on our keeping “the law.” The blessing we receive is not some specific mandate, rather the blessing is based on what will move us forward on our path of discipleship.
Looking at tithing as some kind of R.O.I. financial proposition colors the law of tithing as if God is running some kind of Ponzi scheme. On top of this interpretation would calls for people to pass spiritual judgment based on financial class status. This notion is directly denounced in the teachings of Alma and Amulek to the Zoramites who shut out the poor from their synagogues and prayed from their Rameumptom. Money doesn’t equal righteousness.
While it is understandable as to where, how, and why the traditional discussions of tithing in our Sunday School lessons have come equate paying tithing with receiving some financial blessing in return, it is a spiritually dangerous interpretation to say that R.O.I. is at the core of tithing, or that the presence of money is a sign of divine favor. Money is not the currency of heaven, nor should we make obtaining money our motivation for keeping any of God’s commandments.
Nick Galieti is an experienced podcaster as both producer/host of The Good Word Podcast, and as host/voice for LDS Perspectives, and Book of Mormon Central. Nick was named the recipient of the 2015 John Taylor: Defender of the Faith Award by FairMormon for his podcasting effort with FairMormon. Nick has directed and produced two documentaries on the life of Joseph Smith Jr., Picturing Joseph, and Murder of the Mormon Prophet.
Nick is also a published author of the books Tree of Sacrament, and The Exaltation Equation. Nick was also a past guest of The Cultural Hall (click here to listen). Nick was born in Southern California and served a mission to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Nick is a freelance sound engineer for over 17 years, is married, has 5 daughters, and now lives in West Valley City, Utah.