A wonderful lesson was given today on The Law of Tithing, Chapter 9 in our Howard W. Hunter Manual. A beautiful story is told at the beginning of the lesson when Howard and Claire were about to be married. Pres. Hunter was interviewed by his bishop and it was soon realized that he had not been a full tithe payer. Pres. Hunter says, "Because my father had not been a member of the Church during my years at home, tithing had never been discussed in our family and I had never considered its importance." His bishop explained to him the law of tithing and he and Claire agreed that they would live the law fully in their marriage.
The Lord's definition of the law of tithing is simple, stated as "one tenth of all their interest" (D&C 119:4). Interest means profit, compensation, increase. Pres. Hunter teaches us that the Lord said in effect, "Take out the decimal point and move it over one place."
The law of tithing existed from the beginning and continues today. Starting with Abraham, then Jacob, and down to Moses and the Levitical law, tithing was paid by all people and is a universal law from the Lord. At the end of the Old Testament in Malachi we read, "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me know herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. 3:8-10). After the gospel was restored in this dispensation a revelation was received regarding tithing: "And after that, 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, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord. (D&C 119:4).
We had a fun presentation with 3 volunteers during the lesson. We all learned that each time we pay our tithing, we not only receive the blessings we need, but we also get closer to the Lord as we do so.
Pres. Hunter explains and makes it very clear that: "The payment of tithing strengthens faith, increases spirituality and spiritual capacity, and solidifies testimony. It gives the satisfaction of knowing one is complying with the will of the Lord. It brings the blessings that come from sharing with others through the purposes for which tithing is used. We cannot afford to deny ourselves these blessings. We cannot afford not to pay our tithing. We have a definite relationship to the future as well as to the present. What we give, and how we give, and the way we meet our obligations to the Lord has eternal significance. A testimony of the law of tithing comes from living it."
Hi.. I'm preparing this lesson for my ward relief society lesson and I'm just wondering what the fun presentation with the 3 volunteers was. Thank you in advance for sharing.
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