What Is Tithing—Extortion or an Act of Faith?
You are not just surviving in mortality—you are participating in a divine economy.
In God’s kingdom, every soul is not merely an observer but a steward. That stewardship includes your time, your talents, and yes—your resources. Tithing is not a tax. It is a covenant. It is a declaration of trust in God and an investment in eternity.
“One bed, two masters.” You can fill your life with money or with meaning—but rarely both. Christ’s warning against serving God and mammon wasn’t just about finances. It was about what occupies our hearts. Tithing teaches us to choose what matters most—because in the end, we all lie down with our treasures.
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”
What Exactly Is Tithing?
Tithing is one-tenth of your annual increase, meaning 10% of your interest or income over the course of a year. The Lord defined it this way in 1838 through revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith:
“…those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever…”
The word interest was understood in the 19th century as a synonym for income or gain. Modern prophets have consistently taught that members determine what constitutes their “increase” and pay accordingly. Full tithe payers give 10% of their gross or net income—based on personal understanding and integrity—not compelled, but consecrated.
Eternal Law, Eternal Blessing
Tithing was not invented in modern times. It is an eternal law—a principle that predates the Law of Moses and extends into eternity. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20), and in doing so, acknowledged that all he had belonged to God. When we pay tithing, we don’t donate; we return. We acknowledge God’s ownership and demonstrate our faith.
“Behold, now I say unto you, and I speak also from the voice of the Spirit: that tithing is a standing law unto them forever.”
Ownership vs. Stewardship
In a world obsessed with possession, tithing is radical. It declares: I own nothing. God owns everything. I am a steward, not a master. When you live as a steward, your identity shifts. You no longer hoard; you consecrate. You stop asking “What do I get?” and start asking “What can I give?”
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Faith in Action
Tithing is not about math. It is about trust. The Lord does not need your money—He needs your heart. And your willingness to give when it’s not easy is proof of your faith. Tithing turns belief into action. It transforms abstract doctrine into living discipleship.
“Prove me now herewith… if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing…”
Sanctified Prosperity
The world sells prosperity without purpose. God promises prosperity with sanctification. The “windows of heaven” are not merely financial—they are spiritual, emotional, and eternal. Tithing aligns your heart with the purposes of God. And in that alignment, you find peace that the world cannot offer.
“He who is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.”
This striking promise ties tithing directly to our readiness for Christ’s return. It’s not about money. It’s about loyalty.
Building Zion
Your tithing builds temples. It funds missionary work. It sustains the Church. But more than that, it builds you. Each act of giving chisels away selfishness and replaces it with consecration. You are not just supporting the kingdom—you are becoming part of it.
Serving God or Mammon?
“Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
To “serve” mammon is more than enjoying or prudently using money; it’s letting the pursuit of it dictate your loyalties, habits, and vision. Jesus frames the choice in stark servant-and-master terms because wholehearted devotion can’t be split: whatever rules your heart will eventually set the agenda for the rest of your life.
That principle still lands with force today. When we choose God over mammon, we are choosing what matters most—not just for this life, but for eternity.