This is just my talk (chantal's) I will post Brian's Later. I pretty much wrote out EVERYTHING so its long, hopefully not too boring :). Enjoy!
“Payment of tithing has very little to do with money. Tithing has to do with faith.” (A. Theodore Tuttle, in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, p. 86; or Improvement Era, June 1970, p. 80.)I have learned that; The money I have been given is not mine it is the Lords, Malachi 3: 8 ¶ aWill a man brob God? … Wherein have we robbed thee? In ctithes and offerings
It takes faith to pay tithing. The Lord has given us responsibility for our blessings, or money, and asks for 10% back. As a trial of our faith.
D.C. 132: 5 says: For all who will have a ablessing at my hands shall abide the blaw which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.
That says that for every Law here is a blessing appointed to it.
And in Malachi 3:10-12 it we find the blessing of paying tithing,
10:Bring ye all the atithes into the storehouse, that there may be bmeat in mine house, and cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not dopen you the ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will arebuke the bdevourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
This scripture is full of the blessing of paying tithing, but no money is mentioned.
The windows of heaven are opened, and the blessings are poured out, more then we are able to receive it, this does not necessicarily mean overflowing with money. It may mean we are overwhelmed with joy, peace, love, satisfaction, wish is more important then money.
In the 11th verse it says, I will arebuke the bdevourer for your sakes,”
the devourer may not just be physical; health, or poverty but also emotional, mental, and spiritual. We will be freed from, stress, sadness, and other things may try devour us, by paying our tithing.
The 11th verse goes on, “He shall not destroy the fruits of your ground,” the fruits we grow, or what we care for plant and wach grow, the seeds of harmony and love we plant in our homes. The seeds of education for a future career,
Again in the 11th verse, “And neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time on the field.” Time is an important word there. If a fruit grows on a plant to soon in the season it may get burned by the sun.
We are blessed that the fruit will not grow until the time is right, or best for us. We will not receive the fruit of our labors until the time is right. Also like the fruit of the vine, things will grow, ripen and get better, sweeter, and more delightful.
The greatest blessings we receive from paying tithing are spiritual. Our faith grows stronger each time we choose to obey the law of tithing. In my life I have felt my faith grow stronger according to my obedience.
There has been lots of encouragement to get involved with the Proposition 8 campaign; to preserve the sanctity of marriage. The prophet asked we get involved, or stake president and the bishop has asked we get involved and donate. My family has donated of our time. These past few weeks that we have been serving I have had more success in my efforts to complete a big sewing project. I have felt the spirit guide me and prompt me more clearly the past few weeks. I know these blessing are as a result of tithing, reading my scriptures daily, praying often and making the Lords work a priority.
This week after I committed to do a few more pages of calling I put it off an neglected, in the end I did not finish. I was feeling so good a few weeks ago, I stopped reading and praying earnestly and regularly this week.
I know when I don’t read my scriptures, pray, and when I put off paying tithing, and other commandments we have been given, I struggle, I don’t have the spirit with me, I can’t work effectively, my trials seem greater. Satins plans to devour me are stronger, and as a result we I am unhappy.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.” (History of the Church, 5:134.) And the path that lead to it is rightenouss. I know this is true.
Simply the blessing of obedience is happiness.
Elder William R. Bradford shared the scripture story of the widows mite;
One of the most humbling and powerful stories from the life of the Savior is that of the widow’s mite. Jesus’ words on this occasion leave us with much to ponder as we measure our generosity, and I would add faith, against that of a “certain poor widow.”
While Jesus sat teaching in the outer court of the temple, He noticed a lone, destitute woman as she approached one of the 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles provided for the voluntary deposit of contributions by worshipers. It was Passover time, and the temple court was crowded with people from all walks of life. Just ahead of her had been several rich people who had thrown large amounts of money into the basins. As the woman approached, Jesus discerned the hearts of those in the line and called to His disciples. He pointed to the woman and said, “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43). But she had only given two mites, the smallest coins then in circulation in Palestine! Jesus then explained the mystery: “For all the rich did cast in of their abundance; but she, notwithstanding her want did cast in all that she had, yea, even all her living” (Joseph Smith Translation, Mark 12:44).
Earlier this year, In the Ensign an article by Elder Sheldon F Child was published called, The Greatest Investment; referring to tithing
He says, “In 1936, at the height of the Great Depression in the United States, when people were struggling to make ends meet, Elder John A. Widtsoe admonished the Saints to pay their tithing because of the spiritual blessings they would receive. He said:
“Obedience to the law of tithing … brings a deep, inward joy … that can be won in no other way. … The principles of truth become clearer. … Prayer becomes easier. … The spiritual sense is sharpened [and] … man becomes more like his Father in Heaven.”5
A mother in West Africa shared her testimony about tithing. She was a trader in a marketplace. Every day she would come home, count out her tithing, and put it in a special place. Then on Sunday she would faithfully take it to her bishop. She shared with us how her business had grown and how her family had been blessed with health and strength and enough food to eat. Then with tears in her eyes she said, “But the greatest blessings of all are that my children love the Lord and we are a forever family.”
This humble mother understood that one of the great blessings of being a full-tithe payer is the privilege of entering the house of the Lord and participating in the sacred ordinances that enable families to be together forever.
She had come to know of the deep, inward joy of paying tithing. He continues
As we faithfully pay our tithes, the Lord will indeed open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. He states, “I want each of you to know, …that if you always pay an honest tithing, the Lord will bless you. It will be the best investment you will ever make. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
I would like to add with my testimony,
Prayer becomes easier. When I am obedient to the Lords commandants of tithing, prayer, scribture study, and when I put the Lord first I am reminded more often during the day to pray. To thank the lord when something goes right for me, and to plead with the lord for the blessings I need.
James E Foust shares a story of a Mother; Sister Yaeko Seki experienced part of this precious promise. She writes:
“My family and I were spending a day at the Japan Alps National Park. … I was pregnant with our fourth child and was feeling rather tired, so I lay down under the trees. … I began thinking about our financial problems. My heart became overwhelmed, and I burst into tears. ‘Lord, we are full-tithe payers. We have sacrificed so much. When will the windows of heaven open unto us and our burdens be lightened?’
“I prayed with all my heart. Then I turned to watch my husband and children playing and laughing together. … Suddenly, the Spirit testified to me that my blessings were abundant and that my family was the greatest blessing Heavenly Father could give me.” 11
Many of us have had the windows of heaven open up for us, We can not look upon tithing as a sacrifice but rather a blessing and even a privilege.
