LDS (Mormon) principal off tithing?

Your question contains a number of questions. I'll try to cover all of them.

The higher law is one of complete and total consecration of all one has-- all one's time, efforts and resources. Tithing is a only one step in that direction. How one approaches giving is very important and recognized within the LDS church as a large part of giving. That's why no collection plate is passed for others to see what we (give or don't give).

Early Christians attempted to live in a common order (which we call the United Order) in which all things were held "in common." That is also a step above tithing toward total consecration.

Christians are first mentioned in the New Testament (book of Acts).

I know of no church that makes _public_ its donations (You state they do -- so where can I find the financial records for the 700 club? For the Willow Creek megachurch?)

However, members are provided with statements of their donations for tax purposes.

The church does submit its records to regular (at least annually) audits by independent third parties for the purpose of maintaining accuracy.

Considering the cost of the buildings and properties that the church owns with respect to building of worship world-wide, that does not surprise me. What are the assets of the Roman Catholic Church worth?

Why does any church need so much money (assets)? Keep in mind that there is no paid ministry and there are many, many LDS chapels, auxiliary buildings (institutes and seminary buildings attached near public schools and universities), church college campuses like Brigham Young University, Free to the public historical sites where no donations are asked of any visitors (nor any place to give a donation if a visitor wants to), the largest record filming group in the world which provides copies for genealogical research in free-to-the-public buildings around the world. Also, the massive relief (welfare) program that provides help to those out of work (and a means to work), along with education and counseling services. At least we don't have to go back to the members whose finances are under stress as well, for more money. The money is already there.

Why the for prophet, er profit, corporations? To pay taxes for one thing. To operate businesses without having to worry about meeting tax code requirements for non-profit organizations. Furthermore, the corporations provide a means to provide income to church general authorities (which are taxable income), which do not draw any salary from the donations of the members (which would not be taxable income). You should also note that the Beneficial provides missionaries with insurance that they otherwise would not be able to afford. Bonneville provides the church with the means to access the satellite system which carries (on private encoded channels) major meetings around the world.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to provide answers to questions people may wonder about.

What about John 3:16? , what about Acts 5:1-10? And these were early Christians who were participating in this practice of selling and giving a possession up to God through the Apostles. Apparently it's still pretty serious if you end up lying to God after you promise or should I say covenant that you're going to give something to Him to begin with. Yea, I use to not pay my tithing. But I was using the money I should have been paying for tithing for selfish reasons, to support a very expensive bad habit. I also suppose I was tempting the Lord as well, wanted to see if their was any big difference between not paying it and paying it. I think their is, I cut out my bad habit which ended up with me having more money in the long run so theirs a benefit in itself. Plus the money I give up in tithing was a lot less than the addiction I was paying into. My money is being spent a lot better than it use to be spent, therefore I guess I am blessed. But I doubt you see it that way. Where does this tie into the atonement? You know as someone pointed out earlier as an answer, Christ did mentioned to the Rich man that he needed to obey the commandments, and if he wanted to be Perfect he needed to sell everything. So apparently Christ can request things out of people aside from His gift of the atonement to everyone.

LDS is not like other churches, Mormons actually take care of each other. They don't just go to church on sunday and godless the rest of the week, they are active in the church. And when a Mormon is in need, they don't say tough luck, they open there doors to a needy Mormon.

When they call each other brother and sister, they really mean it. LDS has its own welfare system for members, if a mormon is on hard times the church will help them if no one else will.

There are thousands of missionaries, around the world, millions of book of mormons, Holy Bibles, literature and dvds given away for free to anyone who ask for it.

Temples and meeting houses are constantly being built and repaired with thousands of full and part time employees. As well both places are constantly in use, they are not open 1 day a week, but 7.

So you can imagine how much this all cost.

The church owns for profit companies such as Deseret books, they pay taxes on those companies.

You are not forced to pay tithes and members who are surviving off government programs such as disability are forbidden to pay tithes and it won't effect them getting a temple recommend.

The LDS church does not catagorize all laws of the Old Testament as part of the law of Moses. Some laws span all ages. Abraham didn't know the law of Moses - he lived long before Moses. He did know that the Lord expected a full tithe, and as an act of faith, he paid it. He paid his tithing to Melchizedek. Melchizedek himself, may not have been keeping the law of tithing. He may have been following the higher law of consecration, as he sought to follow in the footsteps of Enoch. The early saints also followed the law of consecration, or as it says in Acts "had all things in common." The LDS church has also lived by this higher law on occasion, and intends to one day return to it. I do not believe it is completely compatible with our current economic system, nor do I believe that many of the members of the church are ready to live this higher law. One of the current goals of the church is to prepare the saints to once again live this higher law. The church is slowly raising the bar, requiring greater faith and dedication on the part of the membership. The church of today is better than the church of even thirty years ago, and in thirty more years, who knows what additional changes will have taken place.

We see ourselves as the Lords pleasant plant, and he will nourish us and prune us, to bring forth the fruit that he desires. He knows the end from the beginning; we are left to have faith in the spirit of revelation and prophecy - the spirit that has inspired all of God's holy prophets from the beginning of time.

Actually for Mormons that's a lesser law, the higher law would be to give everything you don't need, and share everything to make sure there is no one needy.

The members give tithing of their own free will and happily, no one ever asks them if they've payed their tithing or to bring in their pay stubs or anything like that. Most members don't go to the temple anyway, services are in the meetinghouses.

oh and its called the principle of tithing, not principal

I have been the beneficiary of church welfare, so I don't complain about putting my part into it for someone else. And believe me, with people in my town scrambling for jobs (the average hourly wage in this town for working class people is only about $7.00 an hour!!, that is, if you can even find work) the church gives freely to help those in need.

Like I said, I don't complain about it. I understand in both a wordly and a doctrinal sense of why tithing is a commandment.

Like with the ants and the grasshopper story--it makes sense that everyone do their part to store. The grasshoppers are suffering in this economy.

First of all, members who pay tithing do so because they want to, admission to the temple being one of the many reasons, but not the only one. The church's economic condition is good because so many members tithe and make other offerings - willingly, and gladly - not because they are forced to. Since those members are not concerned, I have to wonder why non-members are concerned. Our church hierarchy are unpaid, for the most part, and most of it is a "lay" ministry. The church contributes millions each year to various charitable organizations, including Catholic Charities, Boy Scouts of America, and numerous others. The Church is also first in line during and after natural disasters, and in countries where the need is constant. It all takes money, lots of money, and building costs have skyrocketed in the past 20 years - and no building is dedicated to God unless it is completely paid for. The church is audited, and reports are given to the IRS as per law, so I'm not sure why you expect the "books to be opened" to just anybody. It's really none of "anybody's" business - but the people who contribute.

All for-profit businesses owned by the church pay taxes.

What do you think our tithes pay for? There are people who work for the church, who need to get paid. Each temple and chapel and missionary training center and any building owned by the church is paid for in total BEFORE the first shovel of earth is turned. That's where the money goes.

Jesus asks us to give ALL and follow Him. But, He will settle for 10%. You don't have to give it. But, giving is part of the covenants you make with God when you are baptised. If you can't keep THAT covenant, how are you going to keep the bigger ones you make in the temple?

I have quite a bit of comfort knowing where 100% of my tithes and offerings go to.

I am not paying any wages of any pastors, priests, choir, band members.

100% of my fast offerings (given with love and conviction) goes to help people within my own local area and sometimes it is MORE than 10%, depends on what I can give.

I know that my money is well spent and accounted for and that it buys over 100,000 wheel chairs for needy people in countries all over the world.

If you are ever down and out and have need to feed your children stop by the Bishops office and my tithes and offerings will help to feed and cloth you as well.

Do some home work before you make accusations as to how I FEEL when I give. You have NO idea.

You can't very well pay a part tithe, what is a part tenth?

In case you were wondering, it has and always will be a commandment.

Read your scriptures. The LAW doesn't change to suit the needs of the people and the Prophet doesn't bend to popularity and out cry. We are not at Leisure to pick and choose which of Gods laws we will and will not obey.

Tithing is a tenth...really...read your scriptures.

Or you could just mail your money in to Olsteen and your prayers will be answered.

The church makes jobs for people and services

In malachi yes in the old testament, try reading it, it says to give 10% of our income and we are christians too.

Scholarship doesn't show that Christianity was against tithing, in fact in Acts members had all things in common...they shared everything.

Almost commune like living, the exact opposite in what you are saying...can you back up your views by scripture?

Look at all the televangelists asking for money and living high on the hog....hypocrites.