Ready Always / Everyday questions / Money

You give 10% of your money to your church? Why?

1

The hallway answer

About 15 seconds

“Yep, tithing. It’s from the Bible, and I see it as giving back to God for everything He gives me. Even on babysitting money, it’s cool knowing it helps build churches and temples around the world.”

Then ask them: If you had to give 10% to one cause, what would you pick?
I want the real answer ↓
2

The real answer

About 5 minutes

Tithing means giving one-tenth of your income to the Lord. The Topics and Questions page notes it goes back to Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek, and quotes Malachi’s promise that God will “open you the windows of heaven.” The funds “build up the Church and further the work of the Lord throughout the world.”

For the Strength of Youth says that when we “pay tithes and offerings, you show God that His work is more important to you than material things.” For a teen, that might be a dollar out of ten.

Members also give fast offerings, the money saved by skipping two meals once a month, to help people in need nearby. Local leaders don’t get paid. Tithing goes to Church headquarters, where a council decides how it’s used.

Scriptures to know. Tap to read.

Malachi 3:8-10Open the windows of heaven
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Read in Old Testament, Connected →
Genesis 14:18-20Abraham pays tithes
18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. Read in Old Testament, Connected →
D&C 119:3-4One-tenth of interest annually
3And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. 4And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. Read in Doctrine and Covenants, Connected →
3

Go deeper

Research room

What’s behind the question

Ten percent sounds like a lot, especially to someone who isn’t religious. Some friends may also have seen headlines about Church finances and wonder where the money goes.

OfficialTopics and Questions: Tithing ↗OfficialFor the Strength of Youth: Love God, love your neighbor ↗OfficialTopics and Questions: Fasting and Fast Offerings ↗Faithful scholarshipFAIR: Tithing ↗Responses to questions about how tithing is used

Source labels: Official = published by the Church. Scripture = the standard works. Faithful scholarship = independent Latter-day Saint researchers. Helpful, but not official.

4

For me

Think it through
  1. Have I seen the “windows of heaven” in my own life?
  2. What does giving teach me about trust?
  3. How can I be generous beyond money?
Act in faithWhat do I already know and believe here?
Eternal perspectiveHow does God’s plan change how I see this?
Good sourcesWho could I ask: a parent, a leader, the scriptures?

Notes stay on this page while it’s open and aren’t saved or sent anywhere.

5

Practice this one

Pick a reply

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Weak Things is an independent site, not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Answers are written to match the Church’s published teachings, and every answer links to its sources.

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