The Blessings of Tithing

Let's examine an article that came out by the LDS Church in the June 2011 edition of the Liahona
magazine. It is written by President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency.

http://lds.org/liahona/2011/06/the-blessings-of-tithing?lang=eng (local copy in pdf format)

"God’s purpose in giving us commandments is to bless us. He wants to give us eternal life, the 
greatest of all His gifts (see D&C 14:7). To receive the gift of living with Him forever in families 
in the celestial kingdom, we must be able to live the laws of that kingdom (see D&C 88:22)."

Single (unmarried) Mormons will not live with Heavenly Father after they die. They will
suffer great misery knowing that they fell short of this Mormon teaching.

"The law is that we give to the Lord one-tenth of all our income. It is simple enough that even 
a child can understand it."

I wish he would simply explain if this means net or gross income.

"To live in the celestial kingdom, we must live the law of consecration."

This law is revealed in Doctrine and Covenants, section 119.

"It makes us feel gratitude that He asks only 10 percent of what He has already given us. 
So we are better prepared to live the law of consecration when it will be asked of us."

Surprisingly, Mr. Eyring fails to mention that the law of tithing and the law of 
consecration are two different laws.

According to the notes preceding D&C 119, "Revelation given through Joseph Smith 
the Prophet, at Far West, Missouri, 8 July 1838, in answer to his supplication: "O 
Lord! Show unto thy servant how much thou requirest of the properties of thy people 
for a tithing” (History of the Church, 3:44). The law of tithing, as understood today, 
had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation. The term tithing in the 
prayer just quoted and in previous revelations (64:23; 85:3; 97:11) had meant not 
just one-tenth, but all free-will offerings, or contributions, to the Church funds. The 
Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of 
property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that 
was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, 
the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole 
Church. The Prophet asked the Lord how much of their property he required for sacred 
purposes. The answer was this revelation."

It's interesting that the Mormons claim that their church was founded in 1830, but
they did not tithe 10% until 1838.

Section 119 is fairly short so let's example verses 1-7.

"Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the 
hands of the bishop of my church in Zion, For the building of mine house, and for the 
laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the 
Presidency of my Church. And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.
And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their 
interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy 
priesthood, saith the Lord. Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those 
who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall 
observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you. And I say 
unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify 
the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, 
that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion 
unto you. And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen."

So, the Mormons must first give all their surplus property to the bishop and after
that comes the tithe of 10%.

I wonder how many Mormons follow this "forever standing law?"

"Tithing settlement is months in the future. I pray that you and your family will begin now 
to plan and prepare to qualify for the blessings that God pours out on all those who can 
declare to Him that they are full-tithe payers."

I do not see anything in the Bible (nor the LDS scriptures) where the tithe is 
due (apparently) at a  certain time of year.

Also, and surprisingly, Mr. Eyring fails to mention one critical blessing to the full-tithe 
payer (i.e. an LDS curse to the person who does not pay the full-tithe - they will be 
burned by the wrath of God).

"Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day 
of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be 
burned at his coming" (Doctrine and Covenants 64:23).

"It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their 
inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may 
tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should 
have their names enrolled with the people of God" (Doctrine and Covenants 85:3).