Powerball and tithing

I obviously didn’t win the Powerball. 😥 I think it is interesting that the church doesn’t want tithing on gambling winnings, but it’s their loss and my gain. 😈 The only answer I have as to why is that McConkie describes gambling winnings as “dirty money” in Mormon Doctrine – you know, like playing with face cards and such. Coupled with my love for gin rummy and hearts, the Pepsi’s I drink every week surely condemn me to outer darkness, so gambling would seem to be no big deal.

More seriously, I don’t think the two (gambling and working mothers) equate – one of those proverbial apples and oranges things. Most (but not all) mothers who work do so to earn a living – my wife is the breadwinner in our house. I think the church tries to make a distinction between money earned because it’s needed and the “sin” of gambling. As alluded to above, I’m not sure gambling is a sin – but I am sure women working is not a sin.

I thought about this a bit more and started to wonder – what if I did win the Powerball and dutifully paid tithing through my online account (perhaps unaware that it’s considered dirty money)? The church is very adamant about donations becoming theirs once given – there are no refunds under any circumstances (at least as far as I understand – they make it very clear regarding the $400 monthly missionary support). So, I win, I pay – what do they do? It belongs to them, they’re not giving it back.

I know it’s hypothetical, but I’d love to try it and make sure I made it very well known I won and tithed just to see what happens.

Nibbler, I do recall seeing it in the handbooks years ago when I was in the bishopric. Perhaps it’s in GHI 1? (Someone with access care to check?) Or maybe in light of the above scenario they changed their minds (we apparently never know when a new revelation for the handbook will come down). After all, tithing on 1.5 billion is a chunk of change – they could build a new temple or two (or a new mall 😈 ).