For many people encountering Latter-day Saints for the first time, the practice of tithing raises immediate curiosity. Why would someone willingly give ten percent of their income to a church? Is it a requirement, a cultural expectation, or a form of financial pressure? In a world where money is often associated with security, independence, and personal freedom, voluntarily parting with a portion of one’s income can seem counterintuitive.
For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however, tithing is not primarily about money. It is about priorities, trust, and relationship with God. Paying tithing is understood as a commandment that teaches faith, gratitude, and reliance on divine guidance rather than solely on personal resources.
Rather than being viewed as a financial obligation imposed by an institution, tithing is seen as a spiritual practice that helps individuals place God at the center of their lives. It is a deliberate reminder that material blessings are temporary, while spiritual commitments have eternal significance.
For Latter-day Saints, paying tithing represents trust in God’s promises and a willingness to participate in building His work on earth. Understanding this practice requires looking beyond numbers and finances to explore faith, discipline, generosity, and accountability.
What Is Tithing?
Tithing is defined in Latter-day Saint teaching as giving one-tenth of one’s income to God through His Church. This principle is not viewed as a modern invention but as a commandment with ancient roots that spans thousands of years of religious history.
Latter-day Saints believe that tithing was practiced by faithful believers in biblical times and was reaffirmed through modern revelation. This continuity connects present-day practice with scriptural tradition, reinforcing the belief that tithing is a timeless principle rather than a temporary policy.
Funds collected through tithing are used to support the operation of the Church worldwide. This includes maintaining meetinghouses and temples, funding missionary work, supporting educational institutions, and providing humanitarian aid. Importantly, the Church operates without a paid local clergy, making tithing central to its ability to function.
A Biblical Principle
Tithing appears throughout scripture as an act of devotion and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty. Biblical figures offered a portion of their increase as a symbol of gratitude and obedience.
For Latter-day Saints, these scriptural examples establish tithing as an expression of faith rather than a transactional exchange. Giving a portion back to God is seen as recognizing Him as the source of all blessings.
This scriptural foundation helps members see tithing as part of a long-standing covenantal relationship between God and His people.
Modern Application
While rooted in ancient scripture, tithing is believed to continue today through modern revelation and living prophets. Latter-day Saints believe God still guides His Church and reaffirms eternal principles for contemporary circumstances.
This belief allows tithing to remain relevant in a modern economic world while maintaining its spiritual purpose. The practice adapts to different cultures and economies while preserving its core principle of sacrifice and faith.
Tithing as an Act of Faith
One of the most significant reasons Latter-day Saints pay tithing is that it is viewed as an act of faith. Giving ten percent of income often requires trust, especially during times of financial strain or uncertainty.
Paying tithing can feel challenging when resources are limited. For this reason, it is often described as a test of faith and obedience rather than a convenient practice. Members are encouraged to trust that God understands their needs and will provide in ways that may not always be immediate or obvious.
This practice helps believers develop spiritual discipline, humility, and reliance on God rather than solely on personal effort or financial security.
Trust in God
Tithing is a tangible expression of trust in God’s care and provision. By choosing to pay tithing, members symbolically place God before material concerns.
This act reinforces the belief that God is aware of individual circumstances and capable of sustaining those who seek to follow Him. Trust developed through tithing often extends into other areas of life, strengthening overall faith.
Faith Before Fear
Latter-day Saints are encouraged to prioritize faith over financial anxiety. While careful budgeting and responsibility are valued, fear is not meant to guide decisions about tithing.
This mindset helps individuals confront fear of scarcity and replace it with confidence in divine care. Over time, paying tithing becomes less about calculation and more about conviction.
Blessings Associated With Tithing
Latter-day Saints believe God promises blessings to those who faithfully pay tithing. However, these blessings are not understood as guaranteed financial returns or material wealth.
Blessings associated with tithing are often spiritual, emotional, or relational in nature. Members frequently describe feelings of peace, clarity, and reassurance that come from faithful obedience.
This understanding helps prevent tithing from becoming transactional or conditional.
Spiritual Prosperity
Spiritual prosperity is often cited as one of the most consistent blessings of tithing. Members report increased faith, gratitude, and trust in God.
Other blessings may include improved decision-making, a sense of purpose, and emotional stability. These outcomes are seen as evidence of God’s involvement in daily life rather than financial gain.
Supporting the Work of the Church
Tithing enables the Church to function on a global scale. Without relying on a professional clergy, the Church depends on voluntary service supported by tithing funds.
Members view their contributions as direct participation in God’s work. Paying tithing allows individuals to support missionary efforts, temple construction, educational initiatives, and humanitarian aid worldwide.
This collective effort fosters unity and shared responsibility among members.
Global Impact
Tithing supports a worldwide church operating in diverse cultural and economic contexts. Funds help build and maintain places of worship, support disaster relief, and provide assistance to those in need.
Members often feel a sense of connection to the global Church, knowing their contributions help others far beyond their local congregation.
Accountability and Personal Choice
Latter-day Saints are encouraged to evaluate their own honesty in paying tithing. The Church does not audit individual finances or enforce compliance through punishment.
Instead, tithing is framed as a matter of personal integrity and conscience. Members periodically declare whether they consider themselves full tithe payers, emphasizing self-accountability rather than external enforcement.
This approach reinforces agency and sincerity in religious practice.
Personal Commitment
Paying tithing reflects an individual’s relationship with God. It is a personal commitment that varies in meaning and experience from person to person.
Some view tithing as a spiritual milestone, others as a steady habit of faith. In all cases, it is meant to be voluntary and heartfelt rather than coerced.
Compassion and Financial Realities
The Church recognizes that members face a wide range of financial circumstances. Leaders emphasize that God understands individual challenges and that compassion should guide teaching about tithing.
Members experiencing financial hardship are not condemned. Instead, the Church provides assistance programs, counseling, and support to help individuals and families meet basic needs.
This compassionate approach reinforces the belief that tithing is about faith, not financial strain.
God Knows Individual Needs
Latter-day Saints believe God is aware of each person’s situation. Tithing is taught with empathy, recognizing that obedience looks different across life stages and circumstances.
This belief helps members approach tithing with sincerity rather than guilt or fear.
Common Misunderstandings
A common misunderstanding is that tithing is payment for blessings. Latter-day Saints reject this idea, believing blessings come through God’s grace, not financial transactions.
Another misconception is that tithing exists to enrich the Church. Members view it as supporting sacred purposes rather than accumulating wealth.
These misunderstandings often arise when tithing is viewed through a purely financial lens rather than a spiritual one.
Why This Belief Matters
Paying tithing shapes spiritual priorities and reinforces trust in God. It teaches generosity, gratitude, and reliance on divine guidance rather than material security.
For believers, tithing is a tangible expression of discipleship. It reflects confidence in God’s promises and commitment to living a faith-centered life.
Ultimately, tithing matters because it transforms how individuals view money, responsibility, and trust. It shifts focus from possession to purpose and from fear to faith.
Sources
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Gospel Topics: Tithing
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org
Doctrine and Covenants Central – Law of Tithing
https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org
Church News – Tithing and Faith
https://www.thechurchnews.com
Scripture Central
https://scripturecentral.org