Finances

1.      “Spiritual illumination and perspective are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing.” (David A. Bednar in Conference Report, The Windows of Heaven, Oct. 2013)

2.      “In the financial operations of the Church, two basic aand fixed principles are observed. First, the Church lives within its means and does not spend more than it receives. Second, a portion of the annual income is set aside as a reserve for contingencies and unanticipated needs.” (David A. Bednar in Conference Report, The Windows of Heaven, Oct. 2013)

3.      “Tithing is one of the commandments that qualifies us, by our faith, to enter the temple-the house of the Lord.” (Robert D. Hales in Conference Report, Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings)

4.      “Remember this: debt is a form of bondage. It is a financial termite. When we make purchases on credit, they give us only an illusion of prosperity. We thing we own things, but the reality is, our things own us.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin in Conference Report, Earthly Debt, Heavenly Debt, April 2004)

5.      “Set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it may small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and piece in your hearts.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, To the Boys and to the Men, October 1998)

6.      “All too often a family’s spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning. They somehow believe that their life will be better if they surround themselves with an abundance of things. All to often all they are left with is avoidable anxiety and distress.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin in Conference Report, Earthly Debt, Heavenly Debt, April 2004)

7.      “Tithing is so simple and straightforward a thing.” (Gordon B. Hinckley in Conference Report, The Miracle Made Possible by Faith, April 1984)

8.      “You may ask, ‘where will the financial resources come from to fund this growth?’ The resources will come from faithful members through their tithes and offerings. As we do our part, the Lord will bless us with prosperity and with wisdom to keep our mind focused on what matters most in life” (M. Russel Ballard, Face the Future with 

Faith and Hope, April 2012)

9.   "Some people say 'I can't afford to pay tithing.' Those who place their faith in the Lord's promises say, 'I can't afford not to pay tithing.'" (Dallin H. Oaks, Tithing, April 1994)

10.   "To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior's example to serve and bless others." (Robert D. Hales, Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually, April 2009)

Position Statement: I think it is safe to say that growing up, I was never the best at saving my money and creating a budget. But my parents raised me to know that no matter what circumstances I was in, that tithing was always the first thing to be paid. Even if I didn’t think I would have enough money for the others things I needed it for, tithing was always the first and most important thing to be paid. This last semester I have learned a lot about staying out of debt. There have been times when I found something I wanted or even thought that I needed, but when it came down to it, I recognized that it was completely out of my budget. I have also gained a testimony on fast offerings, because growing up my parents always paid our fast offerings but now that have been out of the house for a while, I realized that it is my responsibility. I know that as I have done so, my life has been blessed.