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Elder Stephen A. West, former member of the
Second Quorum of the Seventy, stressed the importance of paying
tithing in his Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional address
on Tuesday, March 7.
Elder West began by explaining the reason he chose to talk about
tithing was there are several events that take place in a
college student’s life in which it is important to remember the
commandment of tithing.
The first event is that student’s income will soon show a major
increase when education is finished. Second, it will be required
to pay tithing in order to qualify for a temple recommend and
receive your endowment prior to serving a mission or being
married in the temple. Third, before choosing a spouse it would
be wise to discuss with them their commitment to paying tithing,
since your resources will be combined after marriage. Fourth, if
one is already married then they can already fully see the
effect of paying or not paying tithing can have on their lives.
Fifth, as a family is started, the children will look to the
parents for an example in living the commandments, such as
tithing.
Elder West then said, “Therefore, the following is intended to
give you some things to think about as you deal with this
doctrine that is about to play an ever increasing role in your
life.”
Tithing is one of the ways the Lord’s people have to prove
themselves here on earth, according to Elder West. The law of
tithing was practiced in the Old Testament when Abram paid his
tithing to Melchizedek, king of Salem. Tithing was also taught
in the Book of Mormon when the Savior commanded His disciples on
the American continent to write the words about tithing that had
been given to Malachi. Then in modern times, the Prophet Joseph
Smith received a greater understanding of the law tithing
through revelation from the Lord. This revelation is found in
Section 119 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder West then quoted remarks by President Hinckley on tithing:
“Tithing is so simple and straightforward a thing. The
principle, as it applies to us, is actually set forth in one
verse of section 119 of the Doctrine and Covenants. That fourth
verse consists of thirty-five words. Contrast that with the
cumbersome and complex tax codes enacted and enforced by the
governments. In the one case it is a brief statement from the
Lord, the payment left to the individual and motivated by faith.
With the other it is a tangled web created by men and enforced
by law.”
Elder West then recited the testimonies of many latter-day
prophets concerning the law of tithing. One from President Heber
J. Grant, focusing on the temporal blessings of tithe paying,
said, “I want to repeat to the Latter-day Saints my firm belief
that God our Heavenly Father…gives wisdom to those men and to
those women who are strictly honest with Him in the payment of
their tithing.” In a later statement President Grant said, “I
believe that to those who are liberal [in paying tithing] the
Lord gives ideas, and they grow in capacity and ability more
rapidly than those that are stingy.”
Another quote Elder West shared concerning the spiritual
blessings of tithe paying was from President David O. McKay, who
said, “Tithing is an unfailing source of spiritual power. True
and constant obedience to this law will give us as much
spiritual development as will obedience to any other principle
of the gospel.”
Elder West then made his own personal observation of paying
tithing. “As we pay tithing voluntarily on our own initiative,
we feel joy, increased spiritual strength and personal growth.
These come because of our adherence to the enforceable,” he
said. “I can testify that I have seen and felt many of those
results in my own life and in the lives of our family. May I add
one last reason to pay tithing, ‘God loveth a cheerful giver.’”
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
Next week’s devotional speaker will be Elder Quentin L. Cook,
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. Devotionals are held
every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional
seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham
Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m.
and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. |