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Life is better without a recommend. For some. Not for others. Absolutes rarely are.
To change it around a little, why is it the church is so concerned about tithing that they have you attend a settlement each year to determine your standing? Why is tithing a question for admission to the temple? What is it so critical about tithing that your eternal salvation stands in the balance? Easy: Without tithing, the Church struggled mightily for a long time and even faced financial ruin more than once.Without tithing, the leaders can’t provide everything they believe is important to the membership. Tithing runs the Church and SO much that it does for the membership – and that foundation allows the Church to use other resources for humanitarian aid and other important things.
We can disagree about its use – and whether exemptions should be allowed openly – and how to calculate an honest tithe – and any number of other issues related to tithing. I think it’s next to impossible to argue solidly, however, that tithing isn’t important to the organization and its membership and ought to be abolished. I’ve studied our past, and it’s not what I want.
Cadence wrote:To change it around a little, why is it the church is so concerned about tithing that they have you attend a settlement each year to determine your standing? Why is tithing a question for admission to the temple? What is it so critical about tithing that your eternal salvation stands in the balance?
My understanding of tithing settlement isn’t that it’s meant to determine my standing, but to confirm that the amount the church recorded to receive is what I actually paid.
I agree with Unknown, this has been my understanding too: Quote:My understanding of tithing settlement isn’t that it’s meant to determine my standing, but to confirm that the amount the church recorded to receive is what I actually paid.
Sorry, Cadence. Your comment got double posted and, in trying to delete the duplicate, I accidentally deleted both. Everyone, Cadence copied my last comment and agreed, saying the Church couldn’t operate without cash.
Mike wrote:I agree with Unknown, this has been my understanding too:
Quote:My understanding of tithing settlement isn’t that it’s meant to determine my standing, but to confirm that the amount the church recorded to receive is what I actually paid.
I have had my TR confiscated in front of my wife in a tithing settlement interview (though struggling in testimony, I was following all other church teachings but tithing). My bishop said that as a man he was sympathetic to my situation – but as a church administrator he was obligated to take it.
Yes – the legal purpose of the meeting may be to verify payments sent and received – and yet there is so much more happening.
Mike wrote:I agree with Unknown, this has been my understanding too:
Quote:My understanding of tithing settlement isn’t that it’s meant to determine my standing, but to confirm that the amount the church recorded to receive is what I actually paid.
I’m not sure I ever understood it quite that way, but I think that is a part of it. Our bishop stood up today to encourage people to sign up for tithing settlement, and he apparently doesn’t see it that way either. He actually said it’s an opportunity to meet with the bishop and discuss “your tithing worthiness.” He also said failing to come in and declare yourself a full tithe payer (or not a full tithe payer) leaves it up to the bishop to decide if you are or aren’t. Other than going on a statistical report, I’m not sure why it matters how many are and aren’t full tithe payers. If I were a less than scrupulous bishop (and for those who think that’s an oxymoron, I’d say just look around here and you’ll see it isn’t) I’d mark all those who didn’t come to settlement as full tithe payers to keep the stake off my back.
DarkJedi wrote:He also said failing to come in and declare yourself a full tithe payer (or not a full tithe payer) leaves it up to the bishop to decide if you are or aren’t.
Yes, I have heard that too. I wonder where this information gets turned in at. Is there any negative consequence to me personally if I am listed as not a full tithe payer. Does it get linked to my records so that any new ward I may move into will have an accurate record of how long it has been since I paid. If it isn’t tied to me personally but just gets rolled up into some larger statistics for the ward, stake, and region – would it make a difference if my tithing status gets an educated guess by my bishop?
What about the individual that doesn’t pay tithing and doesn’t have a recommend – what purpose does it serve for that individual to attend tithing settlement?
Roy wrote:What about the individual that doesn’t pay tithing and doesn’t have a recommend – what purpose does it serve for that individual to attend tithing settlement?
Good question. The likely scenario is that the bishop is going to use that opportunity to “call the person to repentance.” Probably not what the individual desires, and maybe not what the person needs. From that point of view I would rather it be a simple accounting (verifying the records are correct).
DarkJedi wrote:Roy wrote:From that point of view I would rather it be a simple accounting (verifying the records are correct).
I don’t believe that verifying the amounts are correct was ever a primary purpose of tithing settlement. It’s purpose is to ensure the revenues are there — to act as a trigger for people to get caught up, and to encourage them to pay — not only tithing but fast offerings. It’s also a time to entrench children’s commitment to paying tithing.
I find it odd that the only meeting we have to give an accounting of our actions relates to tithing — which is mandatory for a TR, and benefits the the church, rather than for fast offerings, which is optional and for the benefit of others.
I went to tithing settlement yesterday. My wife answered when the bishop asked about our status. She told him that she is a full payer and I’m a part payer. She also told him that we didn’t actively make a decision to not pay a full tithe, and that the reason is that we just couldn’t afford it. I cut in and said I actually did make a conscious decision and I gave up on paying it about a month ago. The bishop was cool about it. He said he once had to report being a part tithe payer, too. I agreed to pay tithing from now on and there’s no need to take my recommend.
He sounds like a good man. I’m glad it went well. I am happy for you Shawn! You have a very understanding bishop (not that he didn’t take your TR but that he admitted to having at one time been a part tithe payer – This in my mind shows understanding.).
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