Tithing; is it a form of blackmail?

Nickman · Post by **Nickman** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:37 pm

In the LDS church Tithing is a law found in the Doctrine and Covenants as well as spoken of by the church leaders.

In order for a person to receive a temple recommend, which allows you to participate in temple ordinances for salvation and progression in the celestial kingdom, you must pay a full 10% of your gross annual income. From an inside perspective it may seem to be voluntary to pay tithing, no one truly forces you to. From the outside, though, it seems to be a form of blackmail. Especially, when you have to pay in order to participate in all aspects of what the church has to offer. Its almost as if you are purchasing your salvation and your place in the eternities. When you are taught by the mormon missionaries about the church, this tidbit of information is candy coated. Once you become a member you become obligated to follow the leader and pay tithing. If you don't you will never go to the temple and receive your endowment and saving ordinances pertinent to your salvation.

Is this a form of blackmail?

Are people buying their salvation, while the church gets filthy rich?

Is this a marketing strategy that sells a product hope in exchange for your hard earned money and labor to the church?

Wootah · Post by **Wootah** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 6:19 pm

That does sound like blackmail. Is there evidence it is true?

Nickman · Post by **Nickman** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 7:27 pm

Wootah wrote: That does sound like blackmail. Is there evidence it is true?

I was a member for sometime and at the end of the year, they have tithing settlement. That is where the Bishop of your ward (church) sits down with you behind closed doors and has you provide documentation for your gross annual earnings. He pulls out the tithing slips you have given to the church and verifies whether or not the amount the church has collected is equal to 10% of your earnings. If so your GTG, if not then you either pay the remaining amount or you lose your temple recommend. It can also be found in the policies of the church. Just google tithing settlement.

Here is a link of other such cases.

Mr.Badham · Post by **Mr.Badham** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 9:20 pm

Nickman wrote:
Wootah wrote: That does sound like blackmail. Is there evidence it is true?
I was a member for sometime and at the end of the year, they have tithing settlement. That is where the Bishop of your ward (church) sits down with you behind closed doors and has you provide documentation for your gross annual earnings. He pulls out the tithing slips you have given to the church and verifies whether or not the amount the church has collected is equal to 10% of your earnings. If so your GTG, if not then you either pay the remaining amount or you lose your temple recommend. It can also be found in the policies of the church. Just google tithing settlement.

Here is a link of other such cases.

What is a GTG and what is a Temple Recommend?

razovor · Post by **razovor** » Sun Sep 30, 2012 11:00 am

Good to Go?

Nickman · Post by **Nickman** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 1:01 pm

Mr.Badham wrote:
Nickman wrote:
Wootah wrote: That does sound like blackmail. Is there evidence it is true?
I was a member for sometime and at the end of the year, they have tithing settlement. That is where the Bishop of your ward (church) sits down with you behind closed doors and has you provide documentation for your gross annual earnings. He pulls out the tithing slips you have given to the church and verifies whether or not the amount the church has collected is equal to 10% of your earnings. If so your GTG, if not then you either pay the remaining amount or you lose your temple recommend. It can also be found in the policies of the church. Just google tithing settlement.

Here is a link of other such cases.

What is a GTG and what is a Temple Recommend?

good to go. Temple recommends are like membership cards allowing you into the temple.

sleepyhead · Post by **sleepyhead** » Tue Oct 02, 2012 4:30 pm

Hello,

I would just like to clarify that the LDS law of tithing and the tithing outlined in the Jewish scriptures are like apples and oranges.

Brian Of Nazareth · Post by **Brian Of Nazareth** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 4:56 pm

Nickman, does the Bishop of that particular temple get a kickback or bonus depending on his success? If he does it sounds more like a commercial franchise than a religion.

What kind of annual profits did you notice?

Nickman · Post by **Nickman** » Wed Oct 03, 2012 10:03 pm

Brian Of Nazareth wrote: Nickman, does the Bishop of that particular temple get a kickback or bonus depending on his success? If he does it sounds more like a commercial franchise than a religion.

What kind of annual profits did you notice?

No, the bishop is a member just like others who has been placed in a position over a specific church. The bishop does not receive any monetary compensation. All members are required to pay tithing and, if called, required to perform labors for the church. A huge number of bishop's families are unhappy because the father is always away from the home in order to fulfill church duties.

Cewakiyelo · Post by **Cewakiyelo** » Tue Oct 09, 2012 2:57 pm

What you are describing is not blackmail, it is extortion.

However, if you are a member of a church that has certain requirements either to be a member of, or remain in good standing in, that organization than those requirements should be expected to be upheld. Membership is a choice not a requirement. I do not necessarily feel that a partial or missing tithe should warrant loss of a recommend. In fact I do not feel that money should enter into the equation at all. Yes it is good that we help the church as we can. The key words being "as we can". But if a man makes no money than he has no money to give. 1/10 of nothing is still nothing. Would he be seen as temple worthy? If not than what the organization is saying is that a poor man is not worthy. The man who can not fulfill his obligation of a tithe, for what ever reason, is unworthy. Furthermore, Jesus suggested that we give away our worldly possessions to the poor and rely upon God to meet our needs. To walk as poor humble beings. Funny how churches can read this but don't preach it nor follow the suggestion. Instead they have become rich and desire that the congregation help them be so.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)

But in the end it is the choice of the participant to choose to be a part of that organization or not. For me I was raised Catholic but I could not remain in the church as I will not call any man on earth Father. I don't care how many excuses they give trying to make it right and appropriate to do, in my heart it is not and therefore I can not and will not.