Hey guys, it's been quite a while since I was last on here, but I wanted to ask a question about tithing.
First off, I am a convert to the church, and I have been taught that tithing is done in an act of faith, to sacrifice my material needs for the sake of the church as well as other reasons. It's the main reason that has kept me as a full tithe payer, and I have not doubted that... until now.
I am great in debt, and I have also learned from prophets and apostles to pay off the debt as early as possible. At the same time, I am also in college, trying to save money to pay for my tuition. In other words, rarely any of my money is going for "material gain.." I don't intend to buy a boat or anything, anytime soon. I am saving my money for the right reasons, yet I am still obligated to pay more than I can afford? Why contribute my 10% of my paycheck to the church that is already... who knows how rich? I want to be responsible with my money, but tithing first before paying anything else just doesn't fit right with that.
I am hoping a fellow LDS member can help elaborate on this for me, that I can understand the concept better, rather than paying in blind faith.