Tithing
by Elder Kent D. Watson
First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency

In a recent Sunday School lesson, we studied the Abrahamic Covenant.   Abraham was a righteous young man who desired to possess greater knowledge and keep all of the commandments.   He was also obedient.

  When he was called to leave the land of Ur and go into the land of Canaan, he left Ur and went to Canaan without questioning or murmuring.   When he was old and was blessed with a son Isaac, he was asked to make a sacrifice similar to the sacrifice made by God—the sacrifice of his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Abraham continued in his obedience until an angel appeared and instructed him not to “lay thine hand upon the lad.”   Because of his desires and obedience, Abraham, among other blessings, was promised:  “I will make of thee a great nation.” 

Another evidence of Abraham’s obedience, perhaps mentioned less frequently when we learn about the Abrahamic covenant, is that he paid a full tithing. 

Recently, Sister Watson and I had the privilege of accompanying Elder and Sister Russell M. Nelson to a district conference in East Malaysia.  As I observed the many attentive young people, I was reminded of the Book of Mormon reference to the rising generation.  I thought of King Benjamin’s marvelous sermon to the people,  and remembered that many of those who heard his speech did not understand it when they became the rising generation because they were little children when they first heard King Benjamin speak.   Interestingly, the law of tithing is something that can be taught and remembered from the time we are just a child.

When our children were young, they loved to go to tithing settlement.  They would not have let us go without them. One reason they enjoyed it was because our bishop had a large jar of candy on his desk.  After each child handed him their last contribution envelope for the year and reported that they were full tithe payers, they in turn got to reach into the jar and pick out their favorite piece of candy.  At an early age they were always excited to contribute a dime for every dollar that they earned.  They established the practice of paying tithing when they were young.  If we teach our children to pay tithing when they are young, it is a commandment that they will remember, not only as the rising generation, but something that will carry to their own children and grandchildren as they realize the blessing that comes from paying tithing.

Elder Nelson spoke directly to the rising generation in East Malaysia.  He mentioned to them the importance of education.  He spoke of what they should do so the Lord could keep His promises and could bless them throughout their lives.  Elder Nelson taught this rising generation that it is most important to be obedient to the law of tithing and the Lord’s promised blessing to them if they pay an honest tithe.  He quoted the scripture from Malachi:  “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse. …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.”  
 
In a talk to the young women of the Church, President Hinckley provided what he referred to as a simple four point recipe that would assure their happiness:  (1) pray, (2) study, (3) pay your tithing, and (4) attend your meetings.   He went on to say:  “While tithing is paid with money, more importantly it is paid with faith.  I have never met an individual who paid an honest tithe who complained about it.  Rather, he put his trust in the Lord, and the Lord never failed him.”

Over the years, I have heard many members tell their story of a blessing received or lessons learned after obedience to the commandment to pay a full and honest tithe.  I have my own favorite story.  When Sister Watson and I were first married, we lived in rather humble circumstances.  Our only possessions were an old car, a typewriter which was a wedding gift from my parents, and a washing machine which was a wedding gift from her parents.  We were both in college and working part-time jobs to pay our tuition, rent, and groceries.  If there was a dollar left over at the end of the month, we would buy one dollar’s worth of gasoline to bring the gas needle back up to empty. 

After the first month of marriage, when we tallied our income and expenses, it was no surprise to observe that we had more expenses than income.  I declared that we did not have enough left for food unless we delayed paying tithing. Sister Watson reminded that we should pay tithing first and the Lord would bless us.

I was studying accounting at the time and trusted what I had learned in financial analysis.  Sister Watson did not study accounting but she did trust what she had learned from her parents and church leaders. 

On Sunday we paid our tithing.  On Monday, my new bride was at work and overheard a co-worker ask aloud if anyone had postage stamps as they were urgently needed for personal use.  Sister Watson reached into her purse and pulled out a new, unopened roll of stamps.  Weeks before, she had purchased postage stamps for mailing thank you notes to those who helped us celebrate our wedding.  The co-worker was pleased and handed her a $5.00 bill, the value of the postage stamps which was a significant amount for us at the time.  That day, when I stopped by to walk my wife home from work, she came running out the door with a big smile and a surprise for me.  We even had the important $1.00 to bring the gas gauge in our car to empty. Tithing could not wait until we got our next pay check.  Thank you notes could! 

To an accountant who measures income and expenses by looking backward, paying tithing did not compute.  To a person looking forward with faith and trusting in the Lord, paying tithing will bring promised blessings.

As an accounting student, I was not sure how it worked.  I wondered if perhaps we learn to be wiser in our spending. Maybe we are blessed with increased intelligence and diligence so we add value that enables increased incomes. Could this be part of the meaning of the Lord’s promise to tithe payers? “I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.  And all nations shall call you blessed:  for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.”

When we married, Sister Watson and I determined that we would be obedient and keep the Lord’s commandments.  During our first weeks together, I was reminded of our promise and our need to trust in Him.  I learned as many others have learned after paying tithing first:  The Lord does keep his promises to us.  Since that day, we have always paid our tithing in advance.

Abraham paid his tithing.  Perhaps that is one reason that all the nations of the earth have been blessed because of him.  Elder Nelson taught still another rising generation that paying tithing will bless them throughout their lives.  President Hinckley has taught that paying tithing will help to assure happiness.  Children can learn from parents and church leaders to pay a full and honest tithe.  I was reminded by my young bride that we should not pay tithing last and hope for enough money, rather we should pay tithing first with trust and faith.  May each of us put our trust in the Lord and understand that He will not fail us as we pay our tithes and offerings. ■