2023 October General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session

Tithing: Opening the Windows of Heaven
Elder Neil L. Andersen, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Main Points

  • The Lord promises to “open the windows of heaven” to bless us when we are honest in our tithes.
  • The tithes do not belong to the leaders of the church.
  • When I pay tithes, they no longer belong to me; those funds are then consecrated to the Lord.
  • The authorities of the church are answerable to the Lord for the use of tithes.
  • Focus on the phrase “an honest tithe”
  • The added abundance of the Lord conveyed through your generous tithes has strengthened the reserves of the Church, providing opportunities to advance the Lord’s work beyond anything we have yet experienced.

Gospel Principles taught

Jesus Christ, Agency, Prophets, The Lord’s Covenant People, Faith in Christ, Sacrifice, Tithes & Offerings, Missionary Work, Obedience, Temple Work & Family History

Gospel Doctrine taught

Commandments, Agency, The Covenant Path

Scriptures

Malachi 3:7, Malachi 3:10, Malachi 3:11, Matthew 22:21, Acts 5:38–39,  1 Corinthians 2:14, 3 Nephi 24,  3 Nephi 24:10, Doctrine and Covenants 119:3–4,  Doctrine and Covenants 1:30, Doctrine and Covenants 78:14, Doctrine and Covenants 120:1, Moses 7:18

Related talks: 

Works Cited:

Look for Jesus Christ:

  • Testimony of Christ.
    • This is my witness. Jesus is the Christ. This is His holy work. He will come again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
  • Description of His Teachings.
    • Jesus said to give “unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”
    • The resurrected Savior asked the Nephites to write into their record His promises found in Malachi.
    • In our day, the Lord reconfirmed the divine law of tithing, declaring: “This shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And [they] shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever.”
    • The Lord clearly directed how tithing should be disbursed, saying, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,”12 meaning bring the tithes into His restored kingdom, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
    • He directed that the use of these sacred tithes would be prayerfully considered by a council of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presiding Bishopric, “and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord.”
  • Description of His relationship with us.
    • “Prove me now herewith”

Inspiring Words & Phrases

  • All that we have and all that we are comes from God. As disciples of Christ, we willingly share with those around us.
  • With all the Lord gives to us, He has asked us to return to Him and His kingdom on earth 10 percent of our increase.
  • Trust in the Lord’s timing; the blessings always come.
  • We sorrow with those who struggle to have the necessities of life.
  • The only permanent solution to the poverty of this world is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • The world speaks of tithing in terms of our money, but the sacred law of tithing is principally a matter of our faith. Being honest in our tithes is one way we show our willingness to put the Lord first in our lives, above our own cares and interest.
  • These sacred funds do not belong to the leaders of the Church. They belong to the Lord. His servants are painstakingly aware of the sacred nature of their stewardship.
  • The spiritual power of the divine law of tithing is not measured by the amount of money contributed…The power comes from placing our trust in the Lord.
  •  Both the prosperous and the poor are commanded by the Lord to contribute 10 percent of their income.
  • (Quoting Charlotte Hlimi, a 12-year old he interviewed for a patriarchal blessing while serving in France) “My mother has taught me that there are temporal blessings and spiritual blessings that come from paying our tithing. My mother taught me that if we always pay our tithing, we will want for nothing. And President Andersen, we want for nothing.”
  • (Quoting Charlotte, now 45) “My testimony of tithing was very real at the time, and it is even stronger now. I am deeply grateful for this commandment. As I live it I continue to be abundantly blessed.”
  • You and I are part of God’s important work upon the earth.
  • I testify to the words of President Russell M. Nelson: “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time He returns … He will bestow countless privileges, blessings, and miracles upon the faithful.”

Lists

The windows of heaven open in many ways:

  • Temporal
  • Spiritual
  • Subtle, sometimes easy to overlook

From the generous tithes and offerings you have consecrated to the Lord:

  • Last year more than a billion US dollars were used to bless those in need
  • Missionaries are able to serve regardless of their family financial situation
  • The blessings of the temple are being brought across the world (177 in operation, 59 under construction or renovation, and 79 more in planning stages)
  • Thousands of chapels in 195 countries and territories house more than 30,000 congregations
  • 5 institutions of higher education, serving more than 145,000 students, are sponsored
  • Seminaries and Institutes teach 110,000 classes each week

Personal stories about being blessed by paying an honest tithe:

  • The story of the Parra family in Venezuela: during a time of political unrest, they gave away their food to people in need. After a night of looting, only their bakery was intact. Their oldest son, Rogelio, attributed this blessing to his parents’ determination to always pay their tithes.
  • The story of Charlotte Hlimi. When Elder Eyring was a mission president in France, he interviewed her for her patriarchal blessing. When he asked if she paid her tithes, she said yes. She asserted that because they paid their tithes, their family of 10 “wanted for nothing.”
  • Elder Eyring’s mother in law insisted on writing out a tithing check by herself for an insignificant amount, days before she passed away from cancer. “I want to do it myself. I want to be right before the Lord.”

Equations

  • As we are honest in our tithes=He will bless us
  • 177 + 59 + 79 = 315 (Temples!)

Invitations/Challenges

  • Willingly share
  • Be honest in our tithes
  • Trust in the Lord’s timing
  • Sorrow with those who struggle to have the necessities of life
  • Give fast offerings

Warnings

  • (Recounting an experience with Elder Eyring in 1998) Elder Eyring cautioned the Saints about comparing what they had with others and wanting more. I will always remember his promise that as they paid an honest tithe, their desire for more material possessions would diminish.
  • There will be those who cheer us forward and those who do not.

Blessings/Promises

  • He has promised us that as we are honest in our tithes, He will “open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
  • He has promised us that He will protect us from evil.
  • I promise you that as you trust in the Lord, the blessings of heaven will follow.
  • All is known by the Lord, and in time, we will see His sacred purposes fulfilled.
  • As you pay an honest tithe, your desire for more material possessions will diminish.
  • There will be those who cheer us forward and those who do not.
  • You and I are part of God’s important work upon the earth. It will not come to naught but will continue to move across the world, preparing the way for the Savior’s return.

Apologetics

  • There will be those who cheer us forward and those who do not.

Application Ideas

  1. Why do you think Elder Eyring used the phrase “honest tithe” instead of “full tithe”? Consider writing your thoughts in your scriptures or journal.
  2. Start where you are and commit to paying an “honest tithe” from now on.
  3. Make it a habit when paying tithes to consecrate that money to the Lord: let go of the desire to control those funds anymore.
  4. Practice noticing the ways you are blessed, spiritually and temporally. A daily or weekly gratitude journal may help with this.
  5. Think of other ways you can help prepare the way for the Savior’s return.
  6. Find other ways to consecrate your time and talents to the Lord through those around you.

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