Heavenly Father has commanded that 10% of all money a person earns or receives must be given to the Church. This is known as a tithe. Money collected by local Church leaders is transmitted directly to Church headquarters where a council is directed by God in how to use these funds. Some ways the Church uses theses funds are: to build and operate temples and meetinghouses; to support the missionary program; and to educate young people in Church schools and seminaries.
It can take great faith to pay a full tithe when funds are scarce. But your willingness to sacrifice demonstrates to God your devotion toward obeying his commandments. It is not so much a matter of money as it is of faith. If we did not need to make sacrifices, we could never develop the faith that is required to return to the presence of Heavenly Father after death. You must be willing to sacrifice everything you have for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Many members of the Church subsist on very little, yet still pay a full tithe or make other sacrifices. One family in Mexico sold their home in order to afford a trip to a temple. Another sold their only car and contributed the money to building a new temple. Members of another family slept on the ground while attending a Church conference—they had used all their money to get there and had nothing leftover for food or shelter.
Sources:
• Gospel Principles, (2011), 149–54
God has promised to bless those who pay their tithes faithfully. Those who willingly, cheerfully, and joyfully pay their full tithes will receive Heavenly Father's help in providing for their daily needs of food, shelter, and clothing. To achieve successful budgeting and financial management in a home, always make certain that the payment of a full tithe is the first obligation to be met.
It may be difficult for you to believe that you can afford to give up 10% of your income, but you should ask yourself if you can really afford not to. In addition to the day-to-day blessings that faithful tithe-payers receive, we have learned from latter-day revelation that those who pay their tithes will not be burned alive by Jesus at his Second Coming.
NEXT:
Also from the creator of The Brick Book of Mormon:
