Blessings of Tithing?

[_Who Knows]

Just curious about some of the 'blessings' anyone has received from paying tithing - either from the current LDS on this board, or from post-mos who think they were blessed at some point for paying tithing.

I ask, because I got my largest bonus ever last month, and just got a nice raise today. And last year was the first year I didn't pay a dime of tithing. I'm not saying that to brag or anything, it just made the topic pop up in my mind - and made me wonder what the blessings of tithing actually are.

[_Runtu]

Just curious about some of the 'blessings' anyone has received from paying tithing - either from the current LDS on this board, or from post-mos who think they were blessed at some point for paying tithing.

I ask, because I got my largest bonus ever last month, and just got a nice raise today. And last year was the first year I didn't pay a dime of tithing. I'm not saying that to brag or anything, it just made the topic pop up in my mind - and made me wonder what the blessings of tithing actually are.

Last year was also the first year I paid no tithing. Compared to last year, I have a better job with more potential for advancement (and it pays better).

One thing I will say about tithing is that it forced me to be disciplined about spending and saving. I still carry that discipline over, but I'm enjoying having that extra income.

[_SatanWasSetUp]

I stopped paying tithing a few years ago and the financial blessings have been very positive. I got an immediate 10% raise, but also, like Runtu, I learned to budget. I no longer relied on magical math to balance my checkbook which forced me to use real math to budget better. I also got a better job last year and the biggest raise ever this year, along with a nice bonus. I'm not bragging either, I'm sure there are a lot of people on this board, both Mormon and non-mormon, who who are far more financially successful than me, but for me personally, my financial situation has improved greatly since I stopped paying tithing.

The point is, LDS tithing isn't a bad thing, but it's not a magical/spiritual thing either. It's simply a contribution to the Mormon church, nothing more, nothing less. If you're going to pay it, make sure you budget for it, and don't count on it giving you extra financial blessings, and never, ever pay it before your other bills. Only make charitable donations with disposable income left over after paying bills. You have a legal and moral obligation to pay your debts, and you'll find yourself in bankruptcy court if you pay tithing instead of your real bills. Don't believe the testimonies.

[_Mister Scratch]

There is no such thing as a "direct" benefit/blessing from the paying of tithing (unless you want to count "feeling the spirit" as a blessing/benefit). I defy anyone---TBM or otherwise---to demonstrate that tithing has led to any kind of legitimate benefit/blessing. I suppose one could argue that the SLC mall is a "benefit," but then again, that would entail admitting that tithing was used to pay for it... Oh, well!

[_Sethbag]

Mister Scratch, I distinctly remember the true film depiction of a drought down in St. George, where people starting paying tithing, and eventually, it rained again. If that's not proof right there, I don't know what is. I mean, if they hadn't started paying tithing again, it might never have rained down there again! Ever!

[_Mister Scratch]

Mister Scratch, I distinctly remember the true film depiction of a drought down in St. George, where people starting paying tithing, and eventually, it rained again. If that's not proof right there, I don't know what is. I mean, if they hadn't started paying tithing again, it might never have rained down there again! Ever!

Heh. Gee, maybe I should try not to be such a literalist/empiricist in my thinking. Anyways, it wouldn't be possible to determine if the rain was a result of the tithing, or else some child's prayer, or, heck, the function of annual weather patterns!

[_ajax18]

It makes me wonder sometimes how ethical the idea of pay your tithing before you pay any othe bills is. Most people are in debt, and not really for being frivolous in my opinion. Education, housing, transportation to your job can swallow most budgets, especially for people just starting their careers. A fact that makes me think we're not as far from feudalism as we thought.

If one is debt, how does he have an increase?

[_Bond...James Bond]

It makes me wonder sometimes how ethical the idea of pay your tithing before you pay any othe bills is. Most people are in debt, and not really for being frivolous in my opinion. Education, housing, transportation to your job can swallow most budgets, especially for people just starting their careers. A fact that makes me think we're not as far from feudalism as we thought.

Especially when it's almost mandatory that a person pay 10%.

[_maklelan]

There is no such thing as a "direct" benefit/blessing from the paying of tithing (unless you want to count "feeling the spirit" as a blessing/benefit). I defy anyone---TBM or otherwise---to demonstrate that tithing has led to any kind of legitimate benefit/blessing. I suppose one could argue that the SLC mall is a "benefit," but then again, that would entail admitting that tithing was used to pay for it... Oh, well!

When I first joined the church I was way in debt. I struggled with tithing for a while. When I finally payed it, including all the back-tithing from since I got baptized. It hurt me a lot. A few days before some substantial bills were due I had absolutely nothing and no way of getting money to pay any of those bills. Out of nowhere I get a check in the mail from my grandmother. My birthday had come and gone long before, but she suddenly just decided she was going to start sending me money again for my birthday, and she was going to start by making up for the birthday I had earlier that year. I've payed my tithing faithfully since then and I've only had one real problem since: A few months after I got married my wife and I were severely behind in our bills. She had been in and out of the hospital a few times and doctor bills were piling up. Both of us were going to school and couldn't work much. A few big bills were looming, but we used virtually all of our money to pay a few weeks of tithing we had missed. One day out of nowhere a professor comes up to me and asks me if I knew who drew the poster for the Students of the Ancient Near East club. I said I drew it a long time ago and he asks me if I wanted to illustrate a book for him. He paid me well and we got the money two days before those bills were due. I've worked part time illustrating books for three different professors ever since.

You guys can say what you want about tithing, but there's nothing in heaven or on earth that will ever convince me that it is not an enormous and completely real blessing. As long as I've payed my tithing the money has shown up, whether it be by mundane or miraculous means.

[_Bryan Inks]

There is no such thing as a "direct" benefit/blessing from the paying of tithing (unless you want to count "feeling the spirit" as a blessing/benefit). I defy anyone---TBM or otherwise---to demonstrate that tithing has led to any kind of legitimate benefit/blessing. I suppose one could argue that the SLC mall is a "benefit," but then again, that would entail admitting that tithing was used to pay for it... Oh, well!

When I first joined the church I was way in debt. I struggled with tithing for a while. When I finally payed it, including all the back-tithing from since I got baptized. It hurt me a lot. A few days before some substantial bills were due I had absolutely nothing and no way of getting money to pay any of those bills. Out of nowhere I get a check in the mail from my grandmother. My birthday had come and gone long before, but she suddenly just decided she was going to start sending me money again for my birthday, and she was going to start by making up for the birthday I had earlier that year. I've payed my tithing faithfully since then and I've only had one real problem since: A few months after I got married my wife and I were severely behind in our bills. She had been in and out of the hospital a few times and doctor bills were piling up. Both of us were going to school and couldn't work much. A few big bills were looming, but we used virtually all of our money to pay a few weeks of tithing we had missed. One day out of nowhere a professor comes up to me and asks me if I knew who drew the poster for the Students of the Ancient Near East club. I said I drew it a long time ago and he asks me if I wanted to illustrate a book for him. He paid me well and we got the money two days before those bills were due. I've worked part time illustrating books for three different professors ever since.

You guys can say what you want about tithing, but there's nothing in heaven or on earth that will ever convince me that it is not an enormous and completely real blessing. As long as I've payed my tithing the money has shown up, whether it be by mundane or miraculous means.

Wait, so your grandma is senile, you paid your tithing and she sent you a money for your birthday? I guess I can see how there is no other rational explanation other than an invisible magician in the clouds.

You know, I paid tithing all growing up and my grandma didn't send me money for my birthday. In fact, she died.