Reporting tithing to Church Leaders?

[Guest Cneve]

I read on certain antiMormon sites that people sacrifice their oldest child on the temple altar and that Mormons keep their horns sanded down so no one suspects. Not that I'm saying this is the case, but, um, is this the case?

Of course, if you say no, then you're probably just hiding something. I read Mormons do that a lot. Those antiMormon sites really are a great help to me.

aren´t you over reacting a bit? it was not that kind of anti-mormon site i read it on, of course i don´t belive those things about mormons! Don´t you think that some critiscism ever can be sort of fair and justified? Relax, man!

And again about tithing - mustn´t the sum seem "reasonable"? You can´t pay very little and expect the bishop to buy that you payed full tithe? (i´m thinking maybe a scenario here where a person is a cheap ba***rd who thinks that 10 % is too much, but would rather pay a few percent, but he still believes in the church?)

[Mamas_Girl]

Honestly yes a bit, cause i read stuff like that by ex-mormons who claims the church is very controlling and monitoring is members, and that the church really ask A LOT of questions about your economy, and are very strict about tithing? ?

Sounds more like the IRS than the LDS. Wonder if they had a senior moment there.

There was only one time that I've ever been asked anything about my financial condition other than "Are you a full tithe payer?"

It was when I wanted to go on my mission. My branch president and I sat down and discussed my finances. I was 21 years old, didn't have enough money to pay for my own mission and was asking for church assistance. I found this totally within reason as I was asking for the church to invest in me for 18 months, and they needed to know whether or not they could financially do it (there were three of us leaving in one month's time). Sadly, they were unable to cover my whole bill, so my branch president found some wonderful anonymous guy out in Utah who offered to cover whatever I and my branch were unable to do. I have never found the church to be invasive.

Edited November 27, 2011 by Mamas_Girl

[estradling75]

I've been paying tithing for almost 30 years now. I've been to a lot of tithing settlements with a lot of different bishops over the years and I have never been asked to prove that I am a full tithe payer... Only to declare it to the bishop (who is standing in for the Lord)

Over the years I have heard people say that you pay tithing with faith not with money. I've also seen people struggle to pay tithing, people who then worry about having to pay all the tithing they missed while struggling with it (which can add up fast) If the church was just about the money then you would expect them to want the missing money. But the Church does not ask for it. The Church is interested in developing faith and repentance. Their actions show this. If a person goes to the bishop and expresses the desire to repent and begin paying tithing the bishop isn't going figure out how much is owed. He is going to wipe the slate clean and say start now and go forward.

[Suzie]

I know at least two families (and I believe I shared before about one of them here) who were rejected for financial assistance and they were not spending their money on unnecessary things, quite the opposite. It was in fact a very, very, VERY sad and delicate situation (health related), two elderly people and in my opinion, the whole thing was handled terribly.

After seeing that first hand and talked to the Bishop involved about it, I realized then that it's quite a misconception to think that those who do not receive financial assistance from the Church is because the Church may think they are going to spend the money on unnecessary things or what is worst, that they are unworthy somehow.

There are lots of factors involved and even though it may not be common for someone who is truly in need to get rejected for financial assistance from the Church, it does happen unfortunately.

[pam]

That's one of the reasons why when I was receiving assistance for rent, utilities, etc..the checks were made out directly to those organizations and not to me. Kept me honest and the money went where it was supposed to. In fact for the utilities, the Bishop had me bring my bills and he mailed them in for me.

[miztrniceguy]

Information given during EQ today was that if you didn't attend tithing settlement and re-affirm you are a still a current full tithe payer then your temple rec would be cancelled. The bishop would report to HQ anyone not a full tithe payer. This was communicated from a member of he High Council to our EQ 1st counselor today. We do not have a current EQ President right now. I asked a member of a different Stake Presidency, who said it is not an automatic policy, but that a bishop could do that.

[Guest mormonmusic]

In spite of the fact that there are a lot of policies about how you are supposed to do things in the Church in the Church Handbook of Instructions, the Bishops have a lot of discretion at the local level. So, some might find their Bishops controlling -- others will find them reasonable -- it depends on the Bishop and the perception of what is meant by "controlling" to the member at large.

I know of some people who find the Church too controlling because they make tithing a requirement for entering the temple...just that much. Others find it a reasonable sacrifice. Still others, some on this discussion forum, have posted questions about Church policy where no policies actually exist -- which shows there are some who want more direction than is currently given.

I think the key is how strongly you believe in your testimony; through the lens of someone who doesn't have a testimony, then the requirements like tithing for temple attendance will seem controlling and onerous. For people who believe it's the only true Church the requirement seems reasonable -- difficult for some perhaps, but reasonable. I know that during certain periods of my life, the fact that you had to make tithing sacrifices to enter the temple was what made it special to be in the building doing ordinances. The fact that everyone else cared and had faith enough to do that, I was working alongside them, made the place feel more heavenly.

However, it's not the same for everyone, and not the same through everyone's life to feel that way, depending on the ebb and flow of their testimony and the strength of their testimonies over time. So, perhaps you were talking to people in a down period.

[Backroads]

I'm sure a bunch of people can tell tales of an unjust and prying bishop, but I don't think they are the majority at all.

[NeuroTypical]

I've been paying tithing since 1996 - in 5 different wards in 2 states - to 9 or more different bishops. I've changed positions on the 'gross vs. net' debate at least once. Tithing settlement has always amounted to basically the same thing:

"Bro. LM, are you a full tithe payer?"

"Yes."

"Glad to hear it."

I've been Executive Seceretary and attended Bishopric meetings. I've watched a Bishop get trained, and the training he shared with us is "the scriptures say a tenth of one's increase, and only the member can work out with God what that means".

To answer cneve's question that he keeps asking over and over again: If a Bishop thinks someone is lying to him, he may ask further questions, or he may let it slide. The member's relationship to the Bishop is less important than the member's relationship to God.

[Blackmarch]

and pay tithe right? isnt that a important part? a must?

Moderator Edit: This line of conversation was split from a previous thread and thus why it starts somewhat incomplete. At the point of split the discussion was how members report tithing.

Yes its a must as any other covenant is. Will the clergy go and check to see if you are stating the truth when you give or state your tithing? if they are doing their job how they are supposed to, no they won't.

Now if an individual is requesting money from the church for assistance then they may go a lot more in depth into what an individual's economic situation.

Edit: ditto what LM said.

[ChooseTheSun]

I had my first Tithe-settlement meeting last week. It took about 3 minutes, including the Bishop providing education regarding the purpose of tithing. No sweat! I've never had anything but positive, discrete experiences with the Church regarding the tithing process. And the blessings just keep on coming!

[Guest mormonmusic]

if they are doing their job how they are supposed to, no they won't.

Well, not exactly...I have spoken to one Bishop very closely about this. He said that if he KNOWS someone is a high earner, and they are reporting excessively low tithing, they may question the amount. However, this was described as a limited exception and not the rule...but that is what one Bishop told me. Is this in harmony with policy? I don't know -- this is simply what he told me after his 10 year stint as a Bishop.

The Bishop is also a "judge in Israel", and matters of worthiness do fall within his portfolio of responsibilities, so I can see a Bishop questioning amounts in this case. However, if a person had a reasonable explanation, I don't see the Bishop demanding W2's or official statements of moneys earned.

The only time I've ever been asked to provide documentation of anything financial was when I applied to serve a mission. My SP, who was a rather hard-edged business man, insisted on proof I had paid off my student loans entirely, or he wouldn't process my application until I provided it. He wanted hard, documented proof from the bank. Beyond that, no one has ever asked for documentation or asked about my finances in any detail.