Smeagums

The bishop is only supposed to ask whether or not you are a full tithe payer or actually which of the three you are: full tithe, partial or none.

This bishop is out of line. Why does it matter if you pay to the local ward or send it to Salt Lake anonymously? It doesn't and he probably suspects you aren't paying.

Some interesting quotes: Letter from Heber C. to his wife: vs Dec 2012 Ensign: I have a confirmation from the Lord that what is written in the Ensign article is incorrect.

http://ldscharities.org/bc/ldscharities/content/english/articles/why-we-help/pdf/2011%20Humanitarian%20Summary.pdf Over a 26 year period the Church spent 1.4 billion in assistance from 1985 to 2011. The Church spent at least 1.5 billion on City Creek from roughly 2003 to 2012. From Wiki:

I would like to know why the Church's gay website says that having gay thoughts and feelings are okay as long as they aren't acted out but Christ in the New Testament said that when someone lusts after another they have already committed adultery in their heart.

Have you asked Him? God wants to and intends to talk to all of His children the same way He did to Joseph Smith.

While I respect the Church's ability to formulate opinions I often find myself following what I believe to be the standard given to us in the scriptures. Lesson manuals and the Ensign are not approved doctrinal sources. The only words that I know that have been approved by the Lord are the standard works and the teachings of Joseph Smith. This is the standard I think every Saint should consider following. But with everything this choice of mine is between the Lord and I. I know most people in the Church will disagree with me. Before the Lord declared that we should be tithed 10% of our "interest annually" he also said that we should give our surplus property to the Church. Something that we as a Church have discontinued. Why did we discontinue the practice when the Lord told Joseph to implement it? Was it the will of the Lord? The will of man? Some things to think about.

This is the law of tithing: The posters who say that tithing is between you and the Lord are correct. I pay anonymously to Salt Lake and it is "one-tenth" of my "interest annually". I interpret "interest" to be my net income. What I have left over after paying for needful things i.e. rent, food, and gas. Others will tell you your net or gross income weekly, biweekly or monthly. The Lord said "annually". But again it is between you and the Lord. Read section 119. Ponder it and ask the Lord faithfully in prayer. You don't need a man, or woman, to decide what the correct answer is. The Lord will tell you Himself.

Doesn't it seems strange that Joseph Smith ordained black men and Brigham did not? I mean Joseph we know(believe) saw angels, Christ and the Father. Brigham said that he wasn't a prophet and that Heber C. Kimball was "his" prophet. Brigham was chosen by common consent (something I agree with). Yet we all assume that Brigham was indeed a prophet and that what he said is doctrine. I like Brigham. I think he was honest. I think he was an extraordinary leader. I do not think he was a prophet like Joseph. I have a hard time taking anyone's word, even President Monson's, over Joseph Smith's.

Well let me give you one small example. Gordon B. Hinckley as prophet said that those who give disparaging remarks about other races are not true disciples of Christ. Brigham gave those disparaging remarks. The Church teaches that the prophet cannot lead the Church astray. So which is it? God's will was that it was okay to make disparaging remarks against blacks then but not now? The prophet can lead the Church astray? Brigham wasn't a prophet? Gordon wasn't a prophet? They both are not prophets? Presiding High Priest doesn't equate to prophet? Because it is apparent what the Church is trying to do here. The traditional history taught by the Church doesn't match up with reality unfortunately. The Church is trying to help contain the "Google Apostasy" which is alive and well. Only sound doctrine and truth will do that. Otherwise the Church must be prepared for people to continue to become dissatisfied and leave.

Absolutely.

Christ was convicted and sentenced to die... and He had no sin. Conviction doesn't equate to guilt. OP, I'm sorry for your situation. Pray to God for strength and comfort.

I do wish the Lectures on Faith were still included in the Doctrine and Covenants.

I mean delivery is one thing. You should never be rude or insulting BUT the Truth is a double edged sword and should offend people! Let the Truth offend and work within people.

I would review the law of tithing in the Doctrine and Covenants and then counsel with the Lord to see how He'd like you to proceed. Enjoy your retirement.

By the mechanism given in the Doctrine and Covenants. I personally don't believe that the president of the Church cannot lead the Church astray.

10% of your interest annually is what is recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. You decide what that means to you.

Excess funds go to the stake center. In fact I think all fast offerings go directly to the stake after every deposit. Then when the bishop uses fast offering funds the stake will take it out of the fast offering budget.

Annually.

I have no one thing in particular I am thinking about. Just generally speaking (asking).

If the funds are the Lord's is it okay if they are used for other reasons than prescribed in the Doctrine and Covenants?

According to the actual law of tithing: 2 For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.

Well, according to the scriptures, to be tithed is to give all your surplus property to the Church. "For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church." Then "those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually" and it should be a "standing law unto them forever". The disclaimer on the bottom of the tithing slip was changed maybe a year ago. It now reads: "Though reasonable efforts will be made globally to use donations as designated, all donations become the church's property and will be used at the church's sole discretion to further the church's overall mission."

Not unless they've conversed with the Lord through the veil. You have to deny Him after Knowing Him.

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