Tithing

Let whoever is of a generous heart bring the Lord's offering. --Exodus 35:5 NRSV

 

Mission Tithes

Mission Tithes are given to the church in response to the call to "Let the truths of my gospel be proclaimed as widely and as far as the dedication of the Saints, especially through the exercise of their temporal stewardship, will allow" (Doctrine and Covenants 153:9a).

 

Sharing equally with Congregation Ministries and World Ministries will help to "meet the needs of a growing church" (Doctrine and Covenants 154:5b)

Local Mission Tithes

By contributing to Congregation Ministries, disciples support ministry and operation of the local congregation and Mission Center, including:

• missionary and community outreach

• worship

• children and youth activities/programs

• facility operations and maintenance

Additional opportunities for sharing Local Mission Tithes include building funds, camping ministries, food pantries, and other local and Mission Center ministries.

World Mission Tithes

By contributing to World Ministries, disciples support ministry and operation of the church around the world, including:

• field ministries

• worldwide outreach

• worship and education materials

Additional opportunities for sharing with World Mission Tithes include:

• Oblation--assists those with financial need, disaster relief, and Tangible Love grants

• World Hunger--supports programs that seek to alleviate hunger locally and throughout the world

• Temple & World Ministries Endowments--provide funding for the church's future

• Other Designated & SPecial Offerings--provide opportunities that occur for special ministries

Community Tithes

Community Tithes reflect contributions to church-affiliated organizations, other charitable non-profit organizations, and other good causes that are "in the forefront...recognizing the worth of persons...committed to bringing the ministry of my Son to bear on their lives" (Doctrine and Covenants 151:9).

Church-affiliated organizations extend the mission of the church's witness beyond our jurisdictions and active membership. Examples of these organizations are:

• Graceland University

• The Groves

• Outreach Europe

• Outreach International

• Restoration Trail Foundation

• SaintsCare (Australia)

• World Accord (Canada)

In our communities, there are other charitable nonprofit organizations whose missions are also recognizing the worth of people and bringing Christ's ministry to their lives. The availability of these organizations will vary in every community, and each disciple must determine which ones to support.

Therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.--Alma 1:46 RAV

Weekly Giving Guide

 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with [your] income.--I Corinthians 16:2 NIV

Tithing is

a gift to God in response to God's gifts to us. God generously gives us grace and love through the life, ministry, and message of Jesus Christ. Our generosity comes from God's generosity and grows from a spirit of thankfulness within us. We share because God first shares with us. Created in God's image, we want to share God's gifts with others.

Our desire to give to God through tithing is not new. Tithing is a concept rooted in our scriptures. It is based on the biblical principle of sharing first fruits with God. This means tithing is the disciple's response of thanksgiving and is given before we save or spend from our income.

Responding to our call as disciples, we are to bring Jesus' ministry to our church, the community, and the world. Our tithing supports this call. We give our tithing to God by contributing to the church and other organizations.

Our tithing response comes out of our commitment to this call and is reflected in Mission Tithes (Local and world) and Community Tithes. Mission Tithes is the larger portion of our tithing response.

We  each have unique financial circumstances. We honor what we have received from God by striving to share 10 percent or more of our income through tithing. Some may choose to share more than 10 percent of their income, while others may need to share less.

Jesus' example teaches us to grow in our discipleship by giving intentionally, regularly, cheerfully, and in proportion to what we have received. A disciple asks, "How much tithing can I hope to share?" rather than, "How much should I give?"

Our hope to share may exceed our financial ability to share. Get started by setting an attainable goal to increase your tithing by: 1 percent of income, 10 percent of your previous sharing amount, or a specified amount per pay period.

Disciples generally give Mission Tithes during worship services by using offering envelopes requested from the Congregational Financial Officer (CFO). The receipt we receive for these contributions allows us to track the progress in reaching our sharing goal. Contributions mailed to the Congregation, Mission Center, or World church headquarters will also be receipted.

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. --2 Corinthians 9:7 NRSV

 A Blessing

Take the generous gifts we offer.
    Wrap them in abundant grace
So that they who shall receive them
    Look past us and see Your face.
May the object of our giving
    Strip itself from rules that bind
'Til the measure of our sharing
    Spills beyond what law confines.

Adapted from a hymn by Danny A. Belrose

You are now invited to continue your journey by reading Becoming a Generous Disciple--Six Principles to Live By, available through Herald House (1-800-767-8181 or www.HeraldHouse.org).

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