I have recently been thinking much about the first question of the temple recommend interview. It is “Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?” I have pondered on the fact that this question asks about both my testimony (do I believe?) and my faith (do I act in accordance with that belief?). I find that God has been very generous with me in giving me testimonies of his work and his existence. I also find that it is much harder for me to reply that I always act with faith. As I have the chance to travel through Asia on Church assignments I find many wonderful members of the Church who truly have testimonies, but also struggle to act in faith. Perhaps this is our great test…to act in accordance with that which the Spirit has testified to us.
When I visit with Stake Presidents or with Bishops in personal interviews, I will often ask “Which commandment is most difficult for the members in your unit to obey?” Almost invariably the answer is tithing. I would like to share with you not only my great testimony of tithing, but also the knowledge I have that acting in faith to obey this commandment has greatly blessed me and my family in both spiritual and material ways.
Following are three of my favorite teachings from President Hinckley about tithing. Wonderful promises are contained within them:
“Tithing is not a matter of money so much as it is a matter of faith. We take the Lord at His word, and it is my testimony that He keeps His word. It is He who made the promise. That is not my promise. It is His promise that He will open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings upon you which you will not have room enough to receive” (Gordon B. Hinckley, fireside, Bogotá, Colombia, 8 Nov. 1996).
I know that people are living in difficult circumstances. I know they are unemployed. I know they live in simple dwellings, etc., but they will not walk out of poverty until they pay their tithes. We lose so very many converts to inactivity. I am confident they will not remain active in the Church unless they pay an honest tithing”. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, General Authority Training October 2001
Simple statements and powerful promises. Tithing is about faith, not money. We will not remain active unless we pay our tithing. We will not walk out of poverty unless we pay our tithing. Knowing the power of tithing, President Hinckley pleaded with us in a recent Ensign article to obey this commandment.
”With all my heart, I plead with the Latter-day Saints to live honestly with the Lord in the payment of tithes and offerings. I plead with youth to establish this habit while you are still young and to resolve to continue with it all the days of your lives. I plead with you who are Church officers to plead with the people for their benefit and blessing to increase their faithfulness in the payment of tithes and offerings.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Sacred Law of Tithing,” Ensign, Dec. 1989, 2)
Note the use of the word ‘plead’ four times. Can you sense just how much the prophet wants us to enjoy the blessings of being a faithful tithe payer?
Tithing is one of the great tests of the personal righteousness of Church members. President Joseph F. Smith wrote: “By this principle the loyalty of the people of this Church shall be put to the test. By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his commandments, thereby sanctifying the land of Zion unto God, and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion. There is a great deal of importance connected with this principle, for by [our payment of tithes] it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful.
And Joseph Smith taught: “Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; for, from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things” (Lectures on Faith, 6:7).
As a bishop and later as a district president I had the opportunity to have many interviews with members. I discovered a wonderful thing. Those who were faithful in the payment of their tithes and offerings were happy and felt close to the Lord. Not once did I find anyone who was paying their tithing faithfully who felt that tithing was a great sacrifice. This included members who were both poor and well off. They were ALL truly blessed by their faith. Conversely I interviewed a number of members who had a testimony of tithing but were finding it difficult in their life at that time to find the faith to pay a full tithing. It wasn’t a matter of money; it was a matter of faith. Almost all were struggling in their life to find direction and happiness. I remember one very well off financial executive who held a leadership position in the Church who talked with me about why he couldn’t pay a full tithing that year. I watch as his struggles increased the following years until he again began to pay a full tithing.
I am confident of our member’s testimonies. I know they have a testimony of the Savior, of the gospel, of the restoration, and of the scriptures. I pray that we all may be able to act with a faith that will match our testimonies….that both our testimonies and faith will grow further. I testify that you will find happiness, peace and closeness to the Lord in faithfully paying your tithing.
