Priesthood lesson question

[Anonymous]

Great insights and ideas. Thanks a ton!

[Anonymous]

Yep. Read the 1970 FP statement, then give them a history lesson about how tithing has meant different things throughout history. It can be a real eye-opener, and it’s totally grounded in the most recent official statement – to how can anyone argue with it or call it heresy? (I know people can, but they would be arguing with the FP.) :clap:

Make sure you focus enough time on the part that says members make the decision about how to pay on their own – that it’s a PRINCIPLE, not an exact PROGRAM.

[Anonymous]

Thanks ray. Any suggestions for “tithing has meant different things in different times”. ?

[Anonymous]

I might mention that some people (me) don’t pay tithing on money that is put into a retirement account because that money can be lost and that money will be tithed after ist is withdrawn during retirement. Money for child support or alimony should be paid by the person receiving the money and not the person paying the money. If I had big medical expenses, I would not pay tithing on the money I used to make those payments. I don’t think we need to pay anymore then necessary in thithing but I try to more giving in my fast offerings.

[Anonymous]

Bear wrote:

Thanks ray. Any suggestions for “tithing has meant different things in different times”. ?

Check Shawn’s thread in the ‘Doctrine’ forum. Dozens of great quotes.

[Anonymous]

mackay11 wrote:

Check Shawn’s thread in the ‘Doctrine’ forum. Dozens of great quotes.

The quotes Shawn dug up begin here: http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3058&start=30

They continue on the page that follows.

[Anonymous]

I was just asked to teach this lesson on Sunday, so it has been great to have all this information. I read over the lesson manual and man was I disappointed in the content. No mention of the FP message, and quotes like these:

Quote:

“Poverty exists among the Latter-day Saints, and always will exist until we at least obey the law of tithing”

. and

Quote:

“the law of tithing is one of the most important ever revealed to man…Through obeying this law the blessings of prosperity and success will be given to the Saints”

I think that these ideas are very misleading at least from my point of view. If tithing is one of the most important laws, why no mention in the BoM, or the teachings of the Savior? Poverty will always exist and besides tithing does not go to help the poor. Tithing goes to buildings, missionary work, administration, but not much to the poor if any.

Anyway I will get through this lesson but it all will not come through the manual.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again to everyone for your comments! I just prepared the lesson and it was great fun preparing it. I’ll be using the FP quote at one point in the lesson and I will be going through a brief history of tithing (illustrating that it has not always been 10 percent) – The church faced economical problems because of polygamy (the state took the church property because they didn’t follow law of the land). That ended in 1890 – Lorenzo spend a lot of time trying to resolve the problems= revelation on tithing=> How do we get revelation= when we work for it! Prophets aren’t told by God what to eat for breakfast, just like you and I aren’t told what to do. I will include lots of material from the lesson book and i hope the lesson will be faith promoting and uplifting – and maybe even provide a new view on the church and its history to some.

So great to get inspiration from you guys and gals.

:thumbup:

[Anonymous]

I gave the lesson today on tithing and used a lot of information from this thread and also a site about the history of thithing. The lesson when well, didn’t have time to cover all I wanted to. I gave a very different lesson than the manual and the topic that everyone wanted to talk about was the gross vs net idea. I read the FP message, which wasn’t in the manual, and I could tell that many of the men agree that things are different today than in times past and that net might make more sense. I emphasized many times that it was up to them to decide and that there wasn’t a right answer for all and that as a family they should make it a matter of discussion and prayer. One man kept on making comments about what some GAs have said about paying on gross and I kept referring to the FP message. I asked if God would bless the grosser more than the netters and all that responded said no. I like the way we could discuss more than just the urtra TBM approach and include all ideas and approaches and I could tell others appreciated some thing other than just what was in the manual.

[Anonymous]

That’s awesome, church. Thank you for being a representative of your local Church and introducing people to the FP Letter. My complaint regarding the ambiguity of tithing is that while we might all understand it, we are a minority. It’s not common knowledge within the Church.

I’m curious… as far as you could tell, how many people in your lesson were previously aware of the statement in that letter?

[Anonymous]

There was about 20 HP in the meeting and I counted 5 former bishops. I would guess most were familiar with the FP letter and my guess is about half or a little more paid on net rather than gross. I don’t know for sure but that was the impression I got. After the class a few make private comments to me that they wanted to maybe rethink the whole issue. I do hope that it got people thinking. I stated pretty strongly that I felt that the lord wanted us to be good stewards with our money and that God doesn’t want us to pay more than required but that the church would like all that it can get. That got a few smiles.

[Anonymous]

Ok. Another round:

Im going to give the lesson from chapter 13 about relief society/true worship/true love (translated title..)

Any suggestions?

Thanks:)

[Anonymous]

I would focus on the Social Gospel – caring for the sick and the afflicted – loving the unloved – mourning with those who mourn and comforting those who stand in need of comfort – the “Relief” Society.

[Anonymous]

Bear wrote:

Ok. Another round:

Im going to give the lesson from chapter 13 about relief society/true worship/true love (translated title..)

Any suggestions?

Thanks:)

If you wanted to you could print off an original copy of the Nauvoo RS minutes book:

http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book?p=19

Quote:

30 March 1842 • Wednesday

Minutes of the Proceedings

of the Third Meeting of the Society —

Lodge Room March 30th 1842.

Meeting opened with Singing—

Prayer by Prest. Joseph Smith—

The house full to overflowing.

Prest. J. Smith arose— spoke of the organization of the Society— said he was deeply interested that it might be built up to the Most High in an acceptable manner— that its rules must be observed— that none should be received into the Society but those who were worthy— propos’d that the Society go into a close examination of every candidate— that they were going too fast— that the Society should grow up by degrees— should commence with a few individuals— thus have a select Society of the virtuous and those who will walk circumspectly— commended them for their zeal but said sometimes their zeal was not according to knowledge— One principal object of the Institution was to purge out iniquity— said they must be extremely careful in all their examinations or the consequences would be serious

Said all difficulties which might & would cross our way must be surmounted, though the soul be tried, the heart faint, and hands hang down— must not retrace our steps— that there must be decision of character aside from sympathy— that when instructed we must obey that voice, observe the Constitution that the blessings of heaven may rest down upon us— all must act in concert or nothing can be done— that the Society should move according to the ancient Priesthood, hence there should be a select Society separate from all the evils of the world, choice, virtuous and holy— Said he was going to make of this Society a kingdom of priests as in Enoch’s day— as in Pauls day — that it is the privilege of each member to live long [p. 22] and enjoy health.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Any other ideas?

[Author]

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