Tithes and offerings!

Church is a great place to renew the spiritual power that is essential in today's world. I am always strengthened when I attend church and partake of the sacrament in remembrance of Christ. The lessons always remind me of the importance the gospel plays in our everyday life. Today at church the speakers in sacrament meeting spoke about tithing and reminded me of this commandment and its many blessings.

I have always tried to pay my tithing right away whenever I have an increase in monetary gain. As Latter-day Saints we pay 10% of our income or financial gain to the Church. These sacred funds are then used to build temples, church houses, print Book of Mormon and Bibles, print church media materials, and other purposes for furthering the work of the Lord.

I know that tithing and offerings bring many blessings. My wife and I have made it a life-long goal and priority to always give 10% to the Lord first before we begin personal spending. I know that the Lord blesses those who are faithful to this commandment and I am grateful for His laws. The blessings of going to the temple and reading The Book of Mormon are easy reminders for me that the $ is spent in a righteous way...to bless those who follow the Savior.

Malachi 3:9-11 ^aWill a man ^brob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In ^ctithes and offerings.

9 Ye are ^acursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

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.

Tithing is a test of our faith to prove if we are willing to sacrifice our own interests in behalf of the Lord's church and kingdom here upon the earth. Fast offerings are also a great blessing for both the giver and receiver. We pay fast offerings once a month on the first Sunday of each month as we fast for two full meals giving the $ in return for the cost of the meals generally.

D&C 64:23-24 23 Behold, now it is called ^atoday until the ^bcoming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of ^csacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is ^dtithed shall not be ^eburned at his coming.

24 For after today cometh the ^aburning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the ^bproud and they that do wickedly shall be as ^cstubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not ^dspare any that remain in ^eBabylon.

May you come learn of the Lord's way and begin receiving this blessing in your life also.