Mormon Tithing

I would like the world to consider the ins and outs of Mormon tithing. I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as the Mormon church). I, a happy husband and father, along with my wonderful wife, have decades of experience paying tithing to the Mormon church. We have real money invested in it. We have real skin in the game.

I don’t have any issues giving money to those less fortunate. It’s something I still do today. I don’t even have issues with the Mormon church using tithing to build its meeting houses and temples. They can do what they want with it, and church members find value in meetinghouses and temples. However, the issue I do have with the tithing doctrine of the Mormon church is how it must be done one way or else you are going to Hell and don’t get to participate in temple activities. Let me expound.

Tithing means a tenth part, and you’re supposed to give 10% of your earnings to the Mormon church per church doctrine. Whether it’s 10% of your net or gross is not really clear to me, but perhaps you can find a definitive answer.

The Mormon church and other Christian churches teach that tithing began long ago as a way to feed the poor. Genesis 14:20 “And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Also, many other religions (Islam, Hinduism, etc.) teach giving to the poor. I don’t think many people would say that giving to the poor is wrong. On the contrary, those with the means should help others.

Mormon scripture, what Joseph Smith says God told him, D&C 64:23, states the following: “Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.” So, you’re saying if I don’t I will be burned? Ouch. Well, maybe the Lord meant I’m OK if I do pay tithing through other channels besides the Mormon church?

From the official website of the Mormon church: “The Bible indicates that God’s people followed the law of tithing anciently; through modern prophets, God restored this law once again to bless His children. To fulfill this commandment, Church members give one-tenth of their income to the Lord through His Church. These funds are used to build up the Church and further the work of the Lord throughout the world.” (emphasis added)

I guess not. I guess I have to pay tithing through the Mormon church according to Mormon doctrine if I want to avoid burning fire.

If you go into a clothing store and the owner meets with you and says there is an all-powerful clothing maker who needs your money to build up his stores and further his work, would you give that person money? You might ask to meet the all-powerful clothing maker, but the owner of the store you’re in says you can only meet him after you die or if you have a powerful vision. But trust this store owner and give him the money because he’s the only official representative on the Earth right now and he’ll do the will of the clothing maker… and by the way, if you don’t give the money, the clothing maker will cast you to Hell.

Why is God limited to receiving tithing through one church? And why does more than one church claim to be the one and only true church? I do actually believe in a God/Creator, and I do believe in doing good and in an afterlife of great things. I just don’t believe God will punish us for not giving a certain amount of tithing or not giving it through one particular church.

Mormon church doctrine is that a full tithe must be paid to enter the temple, which is where you’ll need to be to attend any temple weddings and attain the ordinances to have eternal life. If you don’t attend the temple, you don’t have eternal life and happiness with God after this life per Mormon doctrine. So temple worthiness and attendance is one of the highest Mormon priorities and is stressed during church talks and General Conference, a semi-annual telecast where church leaders speak to the people.

However, why would God cast one of his (or her if you want to be controversial, or both, or neither) children down to Hell if that child gave tithing to the poor directly and not through his “one and only true” church? Think about it. It doesn’t make sense. Imagine you telling your 30-year-old child who is doing well in their career to send you $1,000 so you could feed poor people in your town, but instead she buys $1,000 worth of food and takes it to the poor in her town. Will you not let her in the door at Thanksgiving because you’re so mad at her, or will you be proud of her for doing good? And what if your child only gives 9% of her earnings to the poor instead of 10%? What will you do?

The point I’m making here is this: I don’t believe our creator will punish us for doing good — no matter what religion we do or do not use, or whether or not we use any religion or other organization through which to do good. It’s OK to give through other means than through the Mormon church. However, per Mormon church doctrine, doing so will result in excommunication from the church and eternal punishment.

I used to be afraid of church punishment, but not anymore. Nice try Mormon church. I’ve lived more life since I was indoctrinated by you as a child, and I now have other perspectives to draw from.

This can come up in many scenarios in your life. Say your child goes to a school than needs extra funding. You can choose to give to that school. You can give to the poor directly. You can give to charitable organizations. You can do good without fear of punishment.

Another facet of Mormon tithing doctrine is the insinuation that paying tithing will give you worldly and spiritual prosperity while not doing so will result in poverty, illness, and spiritual stagnation. I grew up only knowing Mormons and in a prosperous household. It wasn’t until I started my career that I met people of other faiths and those who did not even attend any church. I found out that the primary factor of success was not the religious actions but the ability to work with others and produce quality results. Those who were not paying tithing to the Mormon church were certainly not punished or doomed in their prosperity. The two were unrelated. Do you know successful people? Why are they successful? Could you take an unsuccessful person and start having them pay tithing to the Mormon church and turn them into success by that one change alone?

The Mormon church claims to be the one and only true church. The church is perfect, it says, but the members are not. Ok, Mormon church. That means that if I find something about your doctrine that isn’t true, it means you’re aren’t correct in the claim that you’re perfect. If you would have said, “We aren’t a perfect church, but we’re doing our best and we’re helping you do good in the world,” I would have not held them to such a high standard. But they didn’t say that. If they say you must pay 10% tithing to their church to it to be saved, and it doesn’t make logical sense that this is the only reasonable way, I think that means they aren’t perfectly true like they claim.

And this is just one of many areas of the Mormon church I have found to not be like they claim.

Some have estimated Mormon tithing revenues at $7 billion per year.

Everyone has the right to believe and act as they wish. No one has to listen to what I say. I’m just offering another point of view. My message is to do good without fear and that you don’t need a church to be more of yourself — to be like God or to feel of his love. When my wife and I were considering abandoning some of the church’s teachings, we know it helped greatly to read the stories of those who had done the same. That is why I write these words today — in the hope that these words may benefit others.

May you go in strength, confidence, peace, and joy throughout your life. We are responsible for our actions. We are able to choose our actions. We are all powerful, eternal beings with the ability to create our reality.