Tithing Question

[lilered]

Tonite I was having a discussion with my mother-in-law (85yrs) about Tithing. She indicated she has always paid tithing all of her life and continues to pay a full tithing on her meager Social Security Pension. Upon further questioning, she has paid a full tithing on her Gross Salary for all those years and continues to do so.

I was under the impression that if one pays tithing on their Gross Income, when the retire, they need not pay tithing on the generated retirement. They would however have to pay on any investment income, etc. that is addition.

So the quesiton is What is the church policy? Pay Gross all ones life, Pay net until retirement then continue to pay net?, Pay Gross until one retires, then only on additonal income over and above retirement pension?

[crytsprospect]

Gross or net is a personal choice and if you mil feels good about it the better the blessings on her. Sounds like she has it under control

[Jenamarie]

I don't think there is an official policy about this. :)

[Palerider]

This is the official policy on tithing.....10% of your increase...

[crytsprospect]

You got it exactly right Pale---- gross or net is subjective and a personal choice right?

[Flyonthewall]

Hear! Hear! That is the only policy I know of...The rest is up to us.

[Jbs2763]

the way my parents taught me was to pay tithing on your gross, and you dont have to pay on your tax refund, as for retirement goes, the money you put in to 401k's grows, to use round numbers and a make belive rate of return for easy math, say you put 100 bucks is, you've already tithed on that 100, but it grows to 1000 over the years it sits in the bank, when you pull out your monthly 500 to pay bills, if it were me i'd pay it on whatever i pulled out of my 401k, beacause, you have no idea what's been paid tithe on and what hasn't , and i figure, err in the side of caution here....

[Traveler]

Tonite I was having a discussion with my mother-in-law (85yrs) about Tithing. She indicated she has always paid tithing all of her life and continues to pay a full tithing on her meager Social Security Pension. Upon further questioning, she has paid a full tithing on her Gross Salary for all those years and continues to do so.

I was under the impression that if one pays tithing on their Gross Income, when the retire, they need not pay tithing on the generated retirement. They would however have to pay on any investment income, etc. that is addition.

So the quesiton is What is the church policy? Pay Gross all ones life, Pay net until retirement then continue to pay net?, Pay Gross until one retires, then only on additonal income over and above retirement pension?

Tithing is more a spiritual principle of devotion to G-d than it is a monetary sacrifice. The wonderful thing I love about tithing is that your humble mother-in-law is as able to demonstrate her love and obedience to G-d in her tithing as is a billionaire is with their enormous donations.

In the Gospel of Christ not only are we allowed to serve according to our desire but we can also be served according to our need.

The Traveler

[Hemidakota]

This is the official policy on tithing.....10% of your increase...

Correct.

Reference: Manual P.154 or see "First Presidency Letter, March 19 1970

[MobyMule]

Yeah whatever she and Lord have worked out through prayer and the spirit is all that matters.

[WillowTheWhisp]

That's the best answer I've seen. :)

[Guest tomk]

Tonite I was having a discussion with my mother-in-law (85yrs) about Tithing. She indicated she has always paid tithing all of her life and continues to pay a full tithing on her meager Social Security Pension. Upon further questioning, she has paid a full tithing on her Gross Salary for all those years and continues to do so.

I was under the impression that if one pays tithing on their Gross Income, when the retire, they need not pay tithing on the generated retirement. They would however have to pay on any investment income, etc. that is addition.

So the quesiton is What is the church policy? Pay Gross all ones life, Pay net until retirement then continue to pay net?, Pay Gross until one retires, then only on additonal income over and above retirement pension?

10% of your increase, annually.

It is between you and the Lord, alone.

There is a REASON that the Lord does not tell us "Net" or "Gross", "Paycheck" or "Pension".

Your mother-in-law understands this reason. It is between her and the Lord. Leave her be. :)

The money means nothing to the Lord. It is not about the money.

Tom

[Rico]

I'll get technical. For people over 65 now and particularly someone 85 years old, she is getting much more from social security than she or her husband paid in. Remember, a huge chunk of the SS pension is interest income on the social security contributions. That interest income is an increase and should have tithing paid on it.

[lilered]

Had the opportunity to discuss this in great length today with our Stake President.

He commented he gets this question all the time.

The correct answer is: Drum Roll ****************

It is between the Tithing Payer and the Lord! The church's letter of 1970 is still in affect as to the churchs policy. 10% Tithing on ones increase.

He used these examples: If a man and woman were retired and each drawing $500 per month. They would have a total income as a family of $1000. If one or the other died, then the living spouse would have $500 less per month to live on. Thus, the $500 that would be missing and the household would feel that. So it would seem that that Tithing should be paid on the entire income of the household prior to the one members death.

(Increase v decrease).

Next Example: Grandma has be happily paying her tithing since childhood until the present time. She obviously is committed to obediance and faith in paying tithing. Who is to say that the Lord has not been blessing her more because she has paid on her gross all these years including her pension, than if she would have paid less because of retirement.

Bless Grandma

[rise]

Tithing is a personal choice and ultimately is a question between you and God.

[Iggy]

Had the opportunity to discuss this in great length today with our Stake President.

He commented he gets this question all the time.

The correct answer is: Drum Roll ****************

It is between the Tithing Payer and the Lord! The church's letter of 1970 is still in affect as to the Church's policy. 10% Tithing on ones increase.

He used these examples: If a man and woman were retired and each drawing $500 per month. They would have a total income as a family of $1000. If one or the other died, then the living spouse would have $500 less per month to live on. Thus, the $500 that would be missing and the household would feel that. So it would seem that that Tithing should be paid on the entire income of the household prior to the one members death.

(Increase v decrease).

Next Example: Grandma has be happily paying her tithing since childhood until the present time. She obviously is committed to obedience and faith in paying tithing. Who is to say that the Lord has not been blessing her more because she has paid on her gross all these years including her pension, than if she would have paid less because of retirement.

Bless Grandma

Hmmmm, seems that is the EXACT thing many have said here - déjà vu or echo??? It is between God and the Tithe Payer.