Pure Motives for Paying Tithing

[Anonymous]

Quote:

I would stop living the Word of Wisdom. (I need to start a new thread, I think.)

or not. There are some really long threads in our archives that deal with that topic – and it pops up in comments regularly in lots of threads that have nothing to do with it originally.

[Anonymous]

I’m glad the tithing principle works for you Katzpur….I on the other hand, don’t seem to have any issues with the Word of Wisdom. I live it seemingly effortlessly.

Here is what runs through my mind when I think about paying tithing…

1. I just lost $XXXX (picture a big number there) on the real estate I bought back during the housing boom. My retirement fund stinks now as a result. I need the money for retirement so I’m not running to the Church, family, or government programs for basic necessities.

2. My son has a chronic illness and may well be uninsurable at some point, and will probably end up leaning on us for financial support as an adult. I need to be prepared for that.

3. My kids education funds are paltry, and they are smart kids. I need to be putting money away to help them be able to go to college.

4. I have debts that I would like to see paid off. Not irresonsible debts, but debts that seem to get paid off EVER so slowly when I am giving large sums of money to the Church, which, based on my history, has been pretty harsh and iron-fisted on the non-welfare temporal matters I’ve approached them about, and have observed. And, when they seem to have such significant business assets, whose returns doesn’t seem (in my view) to trickle back to the Ward level to make the work there more effective.

5. My health is deterioriating and I’m concerned that in a decade or so I may be unable to work. What then if I have given so much away?

What would run through your mind to counter such thoughts if you had such ideas repeatedly entering into your mind? I would be interested in knowing. Katzpur, or anyone that has peaceful uplifting thoughts that counter these thoughts. I feel I need to proactively combat these thoughts if I’m going to pay willingly ever again.

My only request is that everyone be nice. I”m again trying to open my soul to light ….and to see where it leads.

[Anonymous]

I’m late to this thread and haven’t read all the comments so I hope this isn’t a repeat.

I pay tithing because I am thankful for the blessings that the church as an institution has brought into my life.

I love to sing church hymns and I’m thankful for hymnals and songbooks.

I love the scriptures and find them rich with meaning so I’m thankful for the seminary supplies I was provided by the church which nurtured in me the desire to engage these texts.

I love meeting in a comfortable chapel. Throughout my life, I have met in rented halls, living rooms, and even a movie theater balcony. Having a building is a blessing I appreciate.

I love having a temple closeby. When my parents were sealed, we drove 45 hours. Later, the drive shortened to 8 hours. Now it takes me 20 minutes. I find meaning in the ritual and the symbols of the temple ordinances, especially the beautiful correlations between the initiatory and the OT promises of exaltation. And I have had powerful spiritual experiences in the temple.

All of these blessings are in my life because I and others like me, pay tithing.

So, to those of you who pay tithing – thank you.

[Author]

Posts