Tithing

[Anonymous]

I’m like you, I don’t want to pay it this year. First time I’ve wanted to maintain activity and be worthy for the temple, but have no desire to pay it. The announcement about the mall the Church is buying, feelings about my release a while ago, loss of part-time income, burn out from working so many jobs and going to school all these years — they have all combined to make me feel the money is better used for other things the Church mandates, like emergencies, mission funds and school funds, or reducing our mortgage. Plus a bigger fast offering since really, those are the people who really need the money — not Church operations — I hate to say it.

This year I will be recognizing a huge loss on my real estate. First time I’ve done it. This wipes out my tithing commitment this year, and next year. Hopefully by then I will feel differently. This means I’ll have to recognize any real estate gains in the future, but I don’t see those materializing for a really long time.

Also, I did some research a while ago, and learned that tithing has been defined a number of different ways over the life of hte Church. Sometimes surplus, sometimes gross wages, sometimes a percent of a person’s equity — with only ambiguous statements like “increase” used in the scriptures. I have also been studying accounting and realize that income is technically defined as surplus, and represents the amount of money that goes to “retained earnings” which can be likened to savings or additional equity. Brian sounds like an accountant and will know what I mean. So, the First Presidency letter indicating increase means income, itself, is up for interpretation. The fact that people openly pay on net and gross means the term is open to interpretation in my view. So, I will report myself a full payer, and if the amount is questioned, will indicate I have included some large real estate losses in my computation this year.

I probably will not go to the temple, though, even though I will have a temple recommend, given my current feelings and state of my testimony……that’s my two cents.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, this will be the first year in my life that I will not be a full tithe payer. I have lost my testimony in it and the church, so to speak. I have always paid on gross – which is unbelievable to me now looking back at it. This year I just haven’t been able to do it. This is the first year that I will not be able to jump through the hoops to get a TR either. Coincidence?

I have no good advice to give. I believe in the concept of “tithing” but, unlike how I used to judge folks, as of right now I’m not about to judge anyone who finds themselves unable, either financially or spiritually to to do so. I have given away way more than 10% of my money this year – I just haven’t given it to the church.

This is quite ironic to me actually, because eight years ago the SP called me in and had me speak at SC on this very subject because I was such a die-hard tithing advocate – even though at the time i wasn’t a die-hard mormon. Oh how times have changed.

[Anonymous]

For me, the word “increase” is crucial here. If you don’t have an increase, you can’t really tithe on it.

It’s not in the interests of the church to bankrupt its members anyway. If it does, it will “pay” for it…

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