LDS Church Financially Exploits Members

Поделиться
HTML-код
  • Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
  • Did you realize how manipulative the church is with money?? It's wild! We've done a deep dive into several points of the BITE model now, what do you think so far? Do you think the church is a cult? Let's discuss in the comments!
    SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss future videos! (:
    Want to help support the channel??
    Channel membership: / @exmolex
    Merch: shop.spreadshi...
    Patreon: / exmolex
    PayPal: paypal.me/exmo...
    Cash App: $exmolex
    Venmo: @lexivarsson
    Mail:
    Exmo Lex
    PO Box 895
    123 11th Ave S
    Nampa, ID 83653
    ADDITIONAL WAYS TO SUPPORT:
    Buy the "Heathen" candle from Exmo Candles! Link: exmocandles.co...
    My previous videos on the BITE model:
    • Is Mormonism a Cult?
    • Mormon Church = Cult? ...
    The BITE Model of Authoritarian Control: freedomofmind....
    SOURCES:
    What is tithing: www.churchofje...
    Temple recommend interview questions: www.churchofje...
    “Voluntary offering:” newsroom.churc...
    Tithing is a debt: www.churchofje...
    A Commandment Even for the Destitute: www.churchofje...
    Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball: deseretbook.co...
    Without tithing, no exaltation: www.churchofje...
    Pay tithing before feeding family: www.churchofje...
    Those who pay less: www.churchofje...
    No Inheritance without Tithing: www.churchofje...
    Requirement for baptism: www.churchofje...
    Follow me on:
    TikTok: vm.tiktok.com/...
    Twitter: / exmo_lex
    Instagram: / exmo_lex
    Facebook: / exmolex
    Contact me: exmolex@gmail.com
    MUSIC:
    Secrets by RYYZN / ryyzn
    Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 Unported - CC BY 3.0
    Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/-secrets
    Music promoted by Audio Library • Secrets - RYYZN (No Co...

Комментарии • 463

  • @michaelgrey7854
    @michaelgrey7854 Год назад +65

    All I know is that all my financial problems dissapered when I stopped paying Tithing.

    • @amberwilmoth
      @amberwilmoth Год назад +1

      Yes mine too

    • @the-salamander4truth
      @the-salamander4truth Год назад +3

      The only family members we have that are TBM, have their children’s school activities paid for by us exmo’s. It’s crazy how desperate they are, but they pay tithing. They genuinely believe they will get their kingdom in heaven, and then look down on all of us exmo’s. It’s so sad.

    • @tailee123
      @tailee123 Год назад +1

      Dude, same.

  • @janellbeach8616
    @janellbeach8616 Год назад +119

    My parents are in their 80's barely getting by on social security and they pay their tithing every month. Makes me so mad that a "church" worth billions requires the elderly to pay 10% of their social security in order to get into heaven. It's blackmail.

    • @laurahouse4100
      @laurahouse4100 Год назад +2

      😢

    • @DarkFire1536
      @DarkFire1536 Год назад +4

      So very sad.

    • @jeanie8593
      @jeanie8593 Год назад +4

      We’re in the same age group. We’re blessed financially and in every way by paying tithing. It’s a joy.

    • @sarak6860
      @sarak6860 Год назад +14

      @@jeanie8593 Good for you! It wasn't a joy for me and my family.

    • @sinistan1002
      @sinistan1002 Год назад +1

      you should be more mad that your church votes gop who are on record past present and likely future of wanting to get rid of social security altogether

  • @kelleren4840
    @kelleren4840 Год назад +57

    Mormons: "God wants us all to live with our families forever! He's so loving and kind!"
    Mormon God: "That's a real nice family you've got there... would be a real shame if something would split them up for eternity because you missed out on a few, easy, little payments..."

    • @user-yj9yk4rr3y
      @user-yj9yk4rr3y Год назад +6

      Pay wall to get into heaven 💔

    • @darrinhawkins8087
      @darrinhawkins8087 4 месяца назад

      Quite - why would you not pay tithing then? Why would you let it get in the way?

  • @Richard.Atkinson
    @Richard.Atkinson Год назад +39

    It’s kind of like that “voluntary” mission I went on.

  • @frannielogue
    @frannielogue Год назад +84

    When I was a member I was having difficulty paying my bills, mind you I was a single mom of 4 and the only income for the household, and my bishop yelled, yes yelled, at me because I wasn’t paying tithing. When I explained why I wasn’t he told me that if I paid then I would have blessings. What a joke

    • @audreybarlow7757
      @audreybarlow7757 Год назад +16

      That’s insane, at church there was always stories about when someone paid tithing and then someone gave them money or food or paid a bill. But one time help doesn’t help the situation overall.

    • @markkrispin6944
      @markkrispin6944 Год назад +1

      The entire Mormon Church is a complete joke. It is headed up by racists, old, senile men who enjoys "Playing God".

    • @r3b3lutions
      @r3b3lutions Год назад +8

      Breaks my heart

    • @trishayamada807
      @trishayamada807 Год назад +12

      I wasn’t Mormon but, my mom had three children and divorced and the Catholic Church had an issue with that, and yet she would give them money faithfully every week, even when there were times we didn’t have electricity or food. We needed help, not a multibillion dollar church. Ridiculous.

    • @tangentslayer
      @tangentslayer Год назад +7

      I'm sorry but the minute the bishop yelled at me would be the time I stand up and say "We're done here.", and leave. I won't take that garbage from anyone. Guess what Mr. Bishop, you just went from partial to no tithing, what do you think of that?

  • @howardsilk9521
    @howardsilk9521 Год назад +27

    If tithing is voluntary? Why do they have a tithing settlement every year?? And a requirement to get a temple recommend. Keep your money. Left 60 years ago.

  • @annettem.5758
    @annettem.5758 Год назад +29

    I was a stay-at-home wife and mother when a member of the LDS church. During our tithing settlement meeting with the bishop, my husband (now ex) told the bishop that we had come up short and we were not full tithe payers. We were both denied our temple recommends. Even though I protested verbally stating I was doing my duties and was not in control of the finances, it did not matter. It was a very upsetting incident in my life. Now when I look back, I shake my head about how I was so mentally manipulated by that cult.

  • @kimandersen3423
    @kimandersen3423 Год назад +96

    I’m not Mormon but I was really affected by this video. How many people have gone hungry because of this teaching?

    • @DQ_Mine
      @DQ_Mine Год назад +18

      Or got kicked out of their apartment for not paying rent on time, or had their car taken away, or didn't go to the doctor, or skipped/cut back on their medication, or didn't buy their kids clothes, or never took family vacation, or didn't save for kids college..........,..............

    • @kimandersen3423
      @kimandersen3423 Год назад +4

      I’m so sorry that happened to you. I was married to a very evangelical Christian who held similar views

    • @harryabelpotter9630
      @harryabelpotter9630 Год назад +2

      RE: The Bishop's Storehouse ... When in office, U.S. Pres. Ronald Reagan visited the Salt Lake City Bishop's Storehouse which is now expanded and larger than the biggest Amazon plant. Reagan said, quote" ... “If more people had had this idea back when the Great Depression hit, there wouldn’t be any government welfare today or need for it.” ... Pres. Reagan went on to say that if all of the Christian churches today followed the example of the Bishop’s Storehouse, that, in America, there wouldn’t be anybody that was hungry.
      Now,
      If you would like to know what a Bishop's Storehouse is and how it works, please be free to ask and I will be happy to give you a more detailed answer.
      Fact Check:
      FYI ... the ex-member who made this video is a critic and enemy of the Church. I do not know if she is misrepresenting the facts ignorantly or deliberately, but I do know that she is misrepresenting the facts.
      quote "
      Which religion gives most to charity?
      Mormons are the most generous Americans, both by participation level and by size of gifts.
      Evangelical Christians are next.
      end quote
      source of quote: ... www dot philanthropyroundtable dot org/magazine/less-god-less-giving/
      Please rest assured.
      No faithful member of the Church goes hungry because of paying tithing.
      We are actually well known for taking care of our own and helping others.
      peace.

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад +8

      @@harryabelpotter9630 I know it's hard to hear negative about something you are deeply invested in, but when you quote things that were said 30 years ago, you should find some newer references. Yes faithful members who for whatever reason can't pay tithing, do go hungry. Individual Mormons are neighborly and helpful, they give their time and talents generously. The big church, not so much. Just look at how much tithing is brought in and how much of that is spent on charitable. Yes the church has projects around the globe. I might also add that many of those projects are funded in part by SEPERATE offerings of the members. So Days for Girls makes pads and donates them, or a million masks were made during Covid, it wasn't the church cutting checks for the costs of the materials. It was members using more of their money, outside of tithing to create these things, and turning them over to the church.

    • @abigailasay7795
      @abigailasay7795 Год назад +8

      I grew up hearing so many stories about families who forsake paying bills or getting groceries in order to be "faithful and worthy" and this was considered a heroic and heavenly act...

  • @Kunta1926
    @Kunta1926 Год назад +44

    A cult’s primary tool is fear. They feed off it. It’s so powerful it can make otherwise intelligent and critical thinkers do insane things.

    • @joetaylor8687
      @joetaylor8687 Год назад +5

      Fear and social pressure. People will go to great lengths to be acceptable, obedient, and duly compliant . . . and to avoid the disdain of others they consider highly relevant in their lives.

  • @elizabethgrogan8553
    @elizabethgrogan8553 Год назад +70

    Australian authorities have launched an enquiry into the LDS Church, which has tax exempt status because it is a religion and a charity. It has been described as, by far, the wealthiest charity in the country, but did very little charitable work.
    One Politician called it a major corporation which also owns a church.
    There is also concern over compulsory tithing, and it's effects on families. No other charity operates a compulsory donation system for its members.
    I'm going to watch this with interest

    • @eppuparanormaali1999
      @eppuparanormaali1999 Год назад +7

      About time. It's a pity these kind of things aren't an issue elsewhere. Local laws should protect the children at least, over freedom of religion that's abusive and harmful in every aspect of life.

    • @redcurrantart
      @redcurrantart Год назад

      Both news agencies in Australia and Canada have exposes this week on donations and tithing.

    • @kentjensen4939
      @kentjensen4939 Год назад

      It will fail miserably as no one is forced at all.

    • @chlyri
      @chlyri Год назад

      @@kentjensen4939 You call holding a spiritual gun to the members' heads not being forced?

    • @kentjensen4939
      @kentjensen4939 Год назад

      @@chlyri What baloney! I admit some people might be a bit pushy; I'm always gentle and give my own testimony about the blessings that come from voluntarily paying tithing and I emphasize voluntarily. If they ask if it's on their gross or net income ,I repeat a phrase that it depends on whether they want gross or net blessings. On another note, if anyone had grounds to fall away it's me; I was bullied within the Church. Why am I still strong as ever? My testimony was strongly based. I see too many SINOs(saints in name only) in the ranks; they might as well not even be members. I'm hot and like Brigham Young said, I would rather Latter Day Saints be either hot or cold, not just lukewarm.

  • @paulseipert7432
    @paulseipert7432 Год назад +24

    I cannot believe that I did not realize this until about 10 years ago. I grew up hearing members praise Martin Luther for protesting indulgences and not realizing that tithing is largely treated like an indulgence in the LDS church.

  • @meredith1313
    @meredith1313 Год назад +40

    I always wondered why my mom gave my cousins gift cards for their birthday instead of cash and then when I asked her she said it’s so they don’t have to pay tithing on it and her/their gift doesn’t end up in the church 😂

    • @c471
      @c471 Год назад +6

      If their parents are like mine...they use their allowance to still pay tithing, even if you get gift cards.

    • @shezzylala
      @shezzylala Год назад +6

      My parents would still force us to pay tithing on gift cards received, it just had to come out of the cash that we got from everyone else on our birthdays. "It spends the same way as real money, and you are enriched by having it, so you must pay tithing on it."

    • @maryanneoflaherty2560
      @maryanneoflaherty2560 Год назад +2

      @@shezzylala wow!!!

    • @meredith1313
      @meredith1313 Год назад +2

      @@shezzylala yikes I’m so sorry ☹️

    • @meredith1313
      @meredith1313 Год назад +2

      @@c471 damn 🙁

  • @BJCUBED-hx8fz
    @BJCUBED-hx8fz Год назад +127

    Your videos saved me from falling for the missionaries BS! I have a lot of friends who’s are LDS and they almost reeled me in! Thank you!

    • @kelleren4840
      @kelleren4840 Год назад +15

      DANG. Talk about dodging a bullet.
      I obviously had nothing to do with Lex's videos and even I am feeling second-hand proud/soooo happy to hear that ---for both you AND Lex.
      She's a life-saver.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад +8

      Hooray for BJ. To all of the haters out there who constantly tell Lexi to "Leave our church alone. I don't get what your point is anyway", this is a perfect example of what her point is--to save people from the clutches of this brainwashing cult. Just know that they'll never give up BJ, so be firm and make it clear that you're not going to cave in to their demands.

    • @kentjensen4939
      @kentjensen4939 Год назад +1

      She's lying through her teeth.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад

      @@kentjensen4939 I do believe you have her confused with Joey Baloney. That dude couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it. It's no wonder they had to gun him down!

    • @lamaramariewilson6746
      @lamaramariewilson6746 Год назад +9

      @@kentjensen4939 Really? Then why is it that when I spoke to missionaries and told them that I have money issues, they still said that I have to still pay tithing!?

  • @mommyofkittens4809
    @mommyofkittens4809 Год назад +41

    This hit home. I was raised by my great-grandparents, papa (never mo) passed when I was six and left a lot of credit card debt. So it was a struggle. When I was 12 mama had a stroke. After 2 years she just couldn’t keep up. She asked the church for help. My 14 year old self went with her to the interview. The first question the bishop asked still angers me at 45. “How much do you pay in tithing?”
    She kept meticulous records so about 10 years ago I had an opportunity to go through them. She was paying more than 10% and it would have been enough to feed us. The greed of the church is boundless. As long as they get $$$ they don’t care how much their members suffer.

    • @DevoShire
      @DevoShire Год назад +7

      God doesnt really need the money…

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад +2

      @@DRT279 Your Christlike compassion is overwhelming. I think many exmo, pimo, and struggling mo's were 100% true believing members until stories like above happened and then poof, it all comes down. The cognitive dissonance that people experience trying to hold it all together even tho the irrationality of it is staring them in the face is a tough one to live with. Instead of assuming everyone is lying, look deeper.

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад +3

      @@DRT279 Which parts don't add up? Be specific. You called her a liar and a clown. You are destroying your own credibility with your personal attacks.

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад

      @@DRT279 I would hope that bishops don't ask, "How much do you make?", but they could because Bishop's are not professional clergy, and all are not tactful in these situations. They do not always know how much you make, you can opt out of disclosing to your ward how much you paid on line in tithing. There are a lot of wealthy people who prefer that that information is confidential between themselves and SLC- That is why you aren't asked to bring in your W-2 but simply asked to declare it. How do you know what is emphasized in every ward around the world? You don't know if she is lying. If you don't believe her that is your opinion but you don't know that she is lying. Her Bishop maybe was determine if she only paid $50 in the past in tithing, that she wasn't contributing enough and therefore she wasn't eligible. I think you must be 13, never lived outside of your small Utah town, and have zero real world experience in callings where you know this woman's story has happened multiples of times.

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад +2

      @@DRT279 "Once ppl donate who cares how the church spends the money." Well there it is.

  • @torresilk4277
    @torresilk4277 Год назад +46

    Blackmail is what it is.

    • @harryabelpotter9630
      @harryabelpotter9630 Год назад

      TO: @Torreslik
      RE: Blackmail ... The Church doesn't blackmail or brainwash anyone; the Church is not a cult. Participation in the Church is voluntary and all donations are free-will contributions to the Lord's work.

    • @torresilk4277
      @torresilk4277 Год назад

      I think it’s possible you’ve been brainwashed into believing that.

    • @lamaramariewilson6746
      @lamaramariewilson6746 Год назад +3

      @@harryabelpotter9630 yea ok😅

    • @kentjensen4939
      @kentjensen4939 Год назад

      No, it's orangemail.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад +2

      @@harryabelpotter9630 Spoken like a true cultist. Thanks for proving Torresilk's point.

  • @QuinnPrice
    @QuinnPrice Год назад +20

    Imagine that an inactive father hasn't paid tithing in two years. His daughter has her guy and is ready to get hitched in the temple. But...the Bishop requires the father to "catch up" on his tithing to be able to see his daughter get married. Welcome to Mormon manipulation.

    • @smaug3045
      @smaug3045 Год назад +2

      Living that nightmare now and it is so wrong and totally disgusting that people have to go through this.

    • @Preppyduo1234
      @Preppyduo1234 Год назад

      If he was inactive, he probably couldn’t have gone to the temple anyway, right?

    • @darrinhawkins8087
      @darrinhawkins8087 4 месяца назад

      Yes that is correct. He has to be a tithe payer to go to the temple. His choice!!

  • @mindeloman
    @mindeloman Год назад +5

    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."............for 10% of your income.
    "Jesus only loves you 90%.......you have to make up the other 10%" - LDS Corp

  • @yakko789
    @yakko789 Год назад +11

    Thank you for touching this topic! My biggest source of anger for the church is tithing. They did such a good job drilling it into my head that I needed to pay tithing in order to receive blessings and have financial security. It was literally the last rule I kept following out of fear. I stopped paying my tithing in May of 2021 (despite already being inactive since 2018) and I am so much more financially stable and have a very good amount of money in my savings. It's seriously the biggest scam ever and I hate that the church still asks its members for money when they have hundreds of billions of dollars. Disgusting.

  • @kathrynclass2915
    @kathrynclass2915 Год назад +10

    In a church that preaches, teaches and reveres self-reliance, they create this dependency system through tithing. They need to put their money where their mouth is

  • @CarinaPiersay
    @CarinaPiersay Год назад +9

    Wow! How can millions of people around the world believe all this? It’s not just the tithing. There is so much more.

  • @housekitty711
    @housekitty711 Год назад +17

    As a non Mormon who has grown up in a heavily Mormon area and has always had a fascination with why anyone would join such a religion, I love your videos so much! Thanks for this amazing channel. I know you are helping so many who are in the process of leaving, who are questioning or who have already left. As far as I can tell from the information in this video, the whole church sounds like a pretty nicer grift! Imagine holding eternal salvation and an afterlife spent in paradise with your entire family hostage to 10% of your earthly earnings?? It’s disgusting! I’m not sure if it goes hand in hand either (like is this encouraged by the church?) but I do know that A LOT of Mormon men are highly paid professionals ie: Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Lawyers, Pharmacists etc.
    10% of those kinds of earnings comes to a huge amount of money for the church!!

    • @danielmoore4024
      @danielmoore4024 Год назад

      housekitty711,
      I joined when I were 25 so I'll share why I joined as it was an independent choice, not I been told or manipulated by my parents who are irreligious anyway.
      I always believed in the possibility of God and Jesus Christ but I couldn't find a church that fitted the church in the Bible so I quit looking. When 25 I bumped into 2 missionaries and accepted the invitation to learn about the church and its beliefs, and it directly aligned with my beliefs, especially my belief that a God of justice would not thrust moral people to hell just because they didn't believe in something.
      The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only group of people who have ever accepted me for who I am without forcing me to pretend to be someone I'm not. If you have any autistic relatives or friends you might understand why people wouldn't accept me, cultural myopia, I have no doubt the church has cultural myopia as well.
      My happiness does not depend on money or anything else, what is happiness anyway? People only lose their happiness if they give it away, if they make happiness dependent on something other than themselves.

  • @GuyRegular
    @GuyRegular Год назад +7

    After I cash my paycheck I take all the money and I throw it up into the air and I tell God take all that you need and so far everything is fallen to the ground. So I assume that God really doesn't need any!

  • @indicatmusic
    @indicatmusic Год назад +16

    Thank you for dispelling the bs apologetic of the "optional" tithe 🖤

    • @darrinhawkins8087
      @darrinhawkins8087 4 месяца назад

      It;s true - you cannot force someone to have a temple recommend.

  • @hangonsnoop
    @hangonsnoop Год назад +23

    "No one is too poor to pay tithing." has to be one of the worst mind fucks that I've ever heard.

  • @sjenson6694
    @sjenson6694 Год назад +4

    No other "religion" puts a paywall to see your family and loved ones again.. funny in 35,000 years of humans this news only reached us from a known con man in the last 150 years.

  • @scottstringham2997
    @scottstringham2997 Год назад +3

    All of the Mormon commandments and covenants are given with a smile on their face and a spiritual gun to your head. Comply or you lose your salvation, eternal life, your family. It’s all so manipulative and toxic.

  • @12345gerrard
    @12345gerrard Год назад +14

    Plus when a poor person pays tithes to the church and then can't feed themselves. The leaders are simply just giving them there money back in the value of food help. They should of just kept the money and buy themselves food instead

    • @mommyofkittens4809
      @mommyofkittens4809 Год назад +5

      When my mama needed help with food the first question asked in the interview was, “how much do you pay In tithing?”what she was paying tithing would have fed us.

    • @c471
      @c471 Год назад +4

      That do not even give back the 10% when they "help" the members. And they require you to attend meetings each Sunday in conjunction with paying tithing in order to get food. You have to work at Walmart on Sunday or lose your job? The bishop in my ward told that lady to skip her job so the church could still assist her with food. 😣😤

    • @12345gerrard
      @12345gerrard Год назад

      @@c471 it's not great but I know what you mean

    • @scottf5791
      @scottf5791 Год назад

      The idea is what you give in tithing you receive in blessings but yeah I agree it’s all bs.

  • @janicehedley1006
    @janicehedley1006 Год назад +9

    Sad to realize I am not worthy. I don't pay tithing due to financial hardship. I am elderly and on a low income. I feed my grandkids so they don't go hungry. The church tells us we are to give 10% in tithings. I think the most hurtful being a Mormon; is not being "worthy" by the Prophets. We are not allowed to go to the temple because of our unworthiness. We can be wonderful people giving service to others and helping our neighbors, but we still are not worthy. I am a convert of almost 20 years. I have always been a Christian and helped others all my life. Now to be unworthy really hurts. I believe in eternal life. I am not going to let my church tell me I can't get to heaven when I pass away. I believe God is a loving God and knows our daily struggles. I have been really struggling with the recent findings of this church.

    • @sagesaith6354
      @sagesaith6354 Год назад +1

      @Janice Hedley - Jesus says you *ARE* worthy. *YOU* are worth dying for. And He DID. The REAL JESUS -- Who IS GOD. NOT the demonic Mormon "jesus" who is satan's big brother. shot from fake "Elohim's" member into a non-existent spirit mother.
      The LDS promise of "exaltation is a lie". They cannot deliver on it. You will never receive the "promise" (no Mormon will) -- and you've already wasted too many years paying into it.
      So who are you going to believe? The REAL Jesus? Or some lying man who pretends to be a prophet of God (he WILL have HIS reward).
      Please find a supportive Christian congregation -- and GET OUT ASAP!
      John 10:10-11 (NIV) 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

    • @ambert5790
      @ambert5790 Год назад

      Tithing brings blessings. Remember that scripture and Malachi bring y'all tithes into the storehouse any promises to open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing

  • @Julia-dy6ov
    @Julia-dy6ov Год назад +27

    My grandma in-law pays tithing instead of buying her medication. This is in a poorer country where the church doesn't do much for the members there.
    So disappointing to see that when I got so many fancy activities, trips, and meals provided by the church growing up in Utah.

  • @judytyler1870
    @judytyler1870 Год назад +7

    My first thought when I read the title of this video was the tie between tithing and a temple recommend. Oh, you want to be married in the temple? Better catch up with your tithing then we'll see. You want to attend you child's temple wedding? Guess you should have made sure you are up to date on your tithing. And to say you have to tithe before ensuring you have a home or food for your family when poverty striken. That is just disgusting!

    • @c471
      @c471 Год назад +1

      My parents would always fight near my birthday and Christmas. My dad wouldn't pay a full tithe during the year. He would pay some. My mom would make him pay the difference in a lump sum right before tithing settlements so they could be temple worthy...since she was a house wife, her worthiness was tied to him paying...Then they would go further into debt to buy my birthday presents and Christmas presents.
      It is a circular path to depending on the church. Pay the church before bills, need help from the church, go into debt to pay your bills, rack up debt as the amount needed to pay back credit cards increases, ask for help and pay again...but ya know the church stresses being prepared and self-sufficient...but they don't let you actually do that.

  • @telestialtrash
    @telestialtrash Год назад +5

    They also exploit those who make more money than others. My parents were “asked” to sponsor several boys on missions. They paid for their entire missions or bought all their supplies, etc etc. I never thought that was fair as the church has plenty of money to pay for missions- as well as money donated from members to the mission fund.

  • @joshd270
    @joshd270 Год назад +9

    Leaving when I was old enough was one of the best decisions I've ever made

  • @daemon9737
    @daemon9737 Год назад +6

    Great stuff, Lex. This is the issue that broke my shelf. Super video!! (Rock on In This Moment!!)

  • @lacigold6627
    @lacigold6627 Год назад +4

    I remember being 8 years old at tithing settlement with my family being practically shamed by the bishop for not paying any tithing that year. I WAS EIGHT. I was being stared down him and forced to give an explanation why I didn’t pay them. It enrages me to no end lmao

  • @queenmotherhane4374
    @queenmotherhane4374 Год назад +7

    My thought is “Jesus Christ Almighty.” Manipulation and doublethink!

  • @sdfotodude
    @sdfotodude Год назад +7

    The ultimate grift. A Mob shakedown as it were.

  • @lfrancis8980
    @lfrancis8980 Год назад +5

    I remember reading an article about how the LDS church practically controls the entire welfare state (what's left of it) in Utah, with elders going around and making arbitrary decisions of who's allowed SNAP, etc. This "debt to the church" and "teach the poor self-reliance" mindset has a huge effect on people outside the church as well as Mormons themselves.

  • @elizabethdavis8594
    @elizabethdavis8594 Год назад +2

    Why would I give this church tithing when I've needed help with not only food but also medical assistance as well.

  • @johnb5254
    @johnb5254 Год назад +5

    What no one mentions is that the LDS Corporation requires a regressive taxation system, meaning the poorest members end up suffering the most.

  • @redcurrantart
    @redcurrantart Год назад +18

    Fun story: My mother was disabled, I wasn’t working and was her primary care taker. The alternator went out on my car. We had paid tithing faithfully but not fast offering because we couldn’t afford it. New bishop was brought in and I asked if the ward could help get my car fixed so we could do little things like go shopping or take my mother to her Doctor’s appointments. The bishop prior to my arrival at the ward reviewed the records and saw fast offering wasn’t being paid. He told me basically we were stealing from ‘the widows mite’ because we couldn’t afford to contribute. So not just tithing is done people’s eyes… fast offering too. I understand that part of the story plays into “Bishop roulette”. However it’s still a leader of a ward denying helping care to its members because of what he felt was mandatory.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад

      They claim that Fast Offerings go to help the hungry, but I wonder if it really does. They're so secretive about what they do with their money that I wouldn't be surprised if they just added it all to their slush-fund. It's just one more way to rip their gullible members off!

  • @johnb5254
    @johnb5254 Год назад +5

    You know if they demand money in return for salvation, it's a scam.

  • @Noxlion28
    @Noxlion28 Год назад +5

    My parents complained the other day that they had been “miscalculating” their tithing the past couple months and they now have $1,500 to “catch up on”. They said it without even thinking about how insane it sounded. $1500 could pay a month of their mortgage. And my parents have a modest living but they aren’t wealthy by any stretch. Imagine if they had been saving that 10% since they got married. I’m glad I got out of the church when I was 25 because I’ve been saving so much more money now.

  • @slippy720
    @slippy720 Год назад +7

    I really like this series! I also like how you bring quotes from apostles and profits so that you can't get away with saying oh tithing isn't something you have to pay. Thank you for the work you put into this!

  • @miguelblanco5283
    @miguelblanco5283 Год назад +11

    Thank you for what you are doing!

    • @ExmoLex
      @ExmoLex  Год назад +1

      Thank YOU for being supportive!! ♥️

  • @courtneyusmcwife5665
    @courtneyusmcwife5665 Год назад +5

    Love these videos. They also make me so sad/mad watching my family be so blind to this shit

  • @Panfolils
    @Panfolils Год назад +7

    Lex, I love seeing your uploads every Friday ❤️ also I love your plants!!

    • @ExmoLex
      @ExmoLex  Год назад

      Thank you so much 😍🥰

  • @Indi_Waffle_Girl
    @Indi_Waffle_Girl Год назад +1

    The more distance I put between myself and the church, the more I am flabbergasted by it. I still live in a Mormon saturated area, so a lot of weird little (and big) behaviors are just "the norm" for me still. I'm dating someone who's a never-mo, and I was describing some of the temple stuff to him, and kept pausing partway through and told him, "oh my god this is so much more of a cult than I realized." It's insanity! Learning about other cults like scientology, JWs, NXIVM, etc, it's like "wow those are so crazy". And then, you start to see the similarities in the lds church...and the harm caused...and the dependency created...and the stripping of individuality...and the gaslighting...and the manipulation...and it's just like, a mind blowing, and very sad, realization that I was in a group not that far off from those which I already viewed as terrible and corrupt.
    I think one of the more insidious things about the lds church is how it rides the line between cult and a high demand group in some things on the bite model. Some things are more obvious in their extremism, and some things are easier to try and explain away. For example, a cult like NXIVM is a lot more obviously/outright abusive than the Mormon church. However, there is still so much abuse within the church. It's like, how in an emotionally abusive relationship, the victim is so often one of the last people to know that what they're going thru isn't right. Except, they play it down too, bc "oh it isn't that bad", "it could be worse", "they're not hitting me or SAing me, so it doesn't count", "I'm being sensitive, it's fine", etc. So other people don't always notice it either, especially if they're not seeing firsthand the interactions between abuser and victim. Anyway, all forms of abuse are valid and wrong, but a lot of the time emotional/psychological, financial, and spiritual abuse tends to fly under the radar or be seen as less serious. People don't realize how bad things for that person really have gotten. In abusive relationships, people learn to gaslight themselves and do it sometimes without even being prompted by the abuser to do so.
    This is how I view the lds church. It's got enough "good" looking parts that we all overlook the bad ones. And how the bad ones all add up. And how the good parts don't actually negate or make up for the insidious, malicious, and predatory aspects.
    The best lies are lies that are wrapped in truths, right? Similarly, the most convincing (and therefore, hardest to identify) abusers tend to be the ones that don't immediately reveal how shitty they are. Like with a lie - if it's completely outlandish, almost no one will believe it, and will call b.s. But if you half-lie, half-tell the truth, and weave it into a realistic sounding story, you're more likely to be believed. What people like the leaders of Jonestown, Heaven's Gate, NXIVM, etc did were things that were so blatantly wrong that eventually, they were found out. But the lds church continues to hide, to fly under the radar, bc even when it's called out, it's got so many "good things" to hide under. You don't immediately see the abuse and mistreatment and manipulation. And the members are in it so deep that, most of them don't see it either.

  • @stevehornsby7727
    @stevehornsby7727 Год назад +4

    I was going back to the church after being inactive. I did not own a suit but was always smart. The bishop would complain that I was not dressed appropriately. So having a suit is more important than actually attending. I no longer attend. It's like they think more of material things than the spiritual needs for you. Excellent videos

  • @snivelinj7612
    @snivelinj7612 Год назад +1

    As missionaries we used to drop the tithing bomb on our prospective members after all the "discussions" had been given. Tithing was the last thing we taught. The scheme developed by the church was to get them virtually converted, then hit them with tithing. That ended it with many people who were close to believing the whole thing. Most of them were very poor people. What a racket that was. If they wouldn't commit to the "law of tithing" they didn't get baptized. The LDS church is one money grubbing corporation. And it has always criticized the Catholic church history of buying and selling blessings and forgiveness.

  • @hartandsoul8
    @hartandsoul8 Год назад +1

    No wonder the LDS leaders are opposed to taxes: if LDS members pay taxes to the government, it cuts into Church profit. The government, in turn, provides a "safety net" that will help them whether or not they pay tithing to the Church. The Church wants members to be completely reliant upon it - proving your point that the LDS Church fits into the category of "cult."

  • @amytheshihtzumom
    @amytheshihtzumom Год назад +1

    Thanks for the great video and especially for including sources!

  • @2LucidDream
    @2LucidDream Год назад +3

    A family member worked for the church & to keep this person job had to have a temple recommend which required them to pay a full tithe. There were times they couldn't even afford needed medications.

  • @johnsax1445
    @johnsax1445 Год назад +4

    The thing that always puzzled me was the Church’s version of “Heaven”. Like, seriously, that would be my idea of “the other place”.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад +1

      Isn't it wonderful? You get to live with your family forever! (Okay, so what's the other option again???)

  • @onceuponamelody
    @onceuponamelody Год назад +4

    I used to give 10% to a church (a baptist church, not the mormon church) and volunteered my time consistently. It was not required for our salvation so to speak, but was definitely encouraged to "help the needy" etc. I ended up asking them once for help to pay for groceries one month. They gave us a $50 gift card (less than our monthly tithe) and expected us to pay it back... meanwhile, their clergy were living in McMansions. That was one of the first things that "broke my shelf" with that religion. Tithing, whether it is forced through manipulation or not, is definitely a cult tactic.

    • @savannahsmiles1797
      @savannahsmiles1797 Год назад +1

      as a licensed insurance agent in a very Bible belt town for decades. I got to write policies on the toys, the resort homes, the other gems that NONE of their congregations KNEW about. The crying "poor" and special offerings for pastors got UNDER my skin badly, as many gave out of the LACK, thinking they were helping these so underfunded folks. NADA, I couldn't stomach the misrepresentation. It wasn't just one denomination either, it was pretty universal.

  • @lisawyatt1671
    @lisawyatt1671 Год назад +5

    100% destructive cult.

  • @connormorgan6884
    @connormorgan6884 Год назад +1

    So basically if I want to live in heaven I have to pay my way in.
    So paying my tithing is more important than feeding my family? Those guys are evil.

  • @spymaster2455
    @spymaster2455 Год назад +3

    You know the point you said is required to pay tithing even if you're poor and can't feed your family or yourself. Then they turn around and in 2022 and so on they talk about being self reliant and being able to do things on your own. So overturned Tithing. And do you know in the Bible it does not mention tithing at all it only mentioned taxes . And the people who claim that you get on Caesar give on to you .Does not mention you have to give to God himself. it just says that same it is not mentioned in the bible at all tithing does not really exist it is made up by men.

  • @lassie3439
    @lassie3439 Год назад +3

    Growing up I only paid part of tithing bec I didn't agree that I should have to pay 10% if I didn't want too. I found out later my dad was paying the rest so that I could go to the temple. I wouldn't even have been considered "worthy" otherwise. Such bs.

  • @ArcherDiesel1
    @ArcherDiesel1 Год назад +2

    In any other case if a member was told by someone else, “Pay or you won’t see your family again,” they would be calling the police for extortion. But since it’s the church, “It’s ok! The prophet said this is what the Lord said.” 🤦‍♂️

  • @usocrazy6133
    @usocrazy6133 Год назад +1

    Tithing or rent??? Pay your tithing. You will be blessed with an eviction notice.

  • @Indi_Waffle_Girl
    @Indi_Waffle_Girl Год назад +1

    I love this series. Short and sweet, going thru all the points. So ultimately it'll end up being a lot of good content, but digestible in the meantime (:

  • @hdparadis
    @hdparadis Год назад +1

    Don’t forget the fact that tithing is “fire insurance”. Pay it or burn. Lovely, right?

  • @amberwilmoth
    @amberwilmoth Год назад +1

    I did not have enough money to pay but talking to the bishop and he did not care about my bills he only care about me paying 10% of my income

  • @elspethawake4541
    @elspethawake4541 Год назад +23

    The "last straw" for me before actually deciding I needed to mail in a letter to resign was that after over 30 years of no contact "my ward" started sending around youth to ask for fast offerings and then "my bishop" dropped by and even though I stated I wasn't at all I interested in his church, he suggested that I should be paying tithing. He said I made a commitment when I got baptised...at 8 yo. I was shocked.

    • @ExmoLex
      @ExmoLex  Год назад +7

      Yikes!!

    • @jpr9863
      @jpr9863 Год назад +10

      That's the latest push from the Brethren to get members to fall in line. Elder David A. Bednar spoke regarding those baptized into the church do not have free agency, but have "moral agency" to serve, pay tithing and obey the Brethren because they have committed to do so. Even those who were 8 years old when they were baptized are required to uphold their covenants and commitments to the church. Bednar's talk is available on the internet for your examination in all its audaciousness.

    • @boysrus61
      @boysrus61 Год назад +1

      Can you share how long ago this was? I have a theory that the church is hemorrhaging tithe payers and is in a push to get them back. It is no longer tithing settlement but tithing declaration and it starts in October instead of November like last year, which I thought was early anyways.. This might be a tough year for people to scrape together their tithes at the end of the year and provide a holiday meal and presents and pay the electric and gas.

    • @elspethawake4541
      @elspethawake4541 Год назад +1

      @@boysrus61 this happened about 4 years ago. I guess his ward was already desperate back then.

  • @jaquino451
    @jaquino451 Год назад +1

    That's crazy this church is worth 100 plus billion.

  • @bigboithe8th
    @bigboithe8th Год назад +1

    Funny how god managed to get by for trillions of years, but then humans come along and suddenly he’s destitute and needs a handout.

  • @shezzylala
    @shezzylala Год назад +3

    My family had their own business that at some point started to fail while I was growing up. We barely were able to pay the bills & keep food on the table, but yet my parents always paid tithe and fast offerings. I don't understand how my mom kept gaslighting herself into thinking she was receiving blessings when it was asking her mom for help to cover the gap for the food or gas bill, having neighbors that would bring by meals for the family b/c they knew we were running low on food or the relief society being told the situation we were in and a few sisters being asked to take food, hand me downs, school supplies, etc.
    Any help that we got from the church in the form of food, clothes, etc came out of the pockets/wallets of the members who were offering/asked to help as well, they weren't reimbursed or paid by the church, they just had the means and willingness to help. I remember before we hit economic crisis that our family was often asked to provide meals & assistance to other families in need and we never were offered (and my parents would never have asked) reimbursement for what was spent. I've even seen people asked to provide vehicles to other "less fortunate" members at extremely below market value/free to "help them on their feet" while in return "banking future blessings." My step dad drove an extra 40 miles a day for several months because he was asked (by the bishop) to help a member who's car died get to work until they could replace/repair it. He never was given gas money by that member or the church and made to feel that if he did not, he was going to be hurting the member & sacrificing blessings for his own family.
    I also distinctly remember overhearing my parents talking about making sure they were paying their tithing "on time" and putting extra in the fast offerings after me & my siblings started to hit an age to go to the youth temple trips because they didn't want to risk their children not being found worthy to go b/c they hadn't paid their tithing "on time."

  • @iregreteverything360
    @iregreteverything360 Год назад +3

    So I remember when I left the church (due to being trans, deleted my last comment due to it being kinda incoherent). I desperately wanted it to be true for a while, especially because most of my maternal family converted to the LDS faith (though, I've gotten my grandma to leave at least). The one thing the bishop would keep pushing on me is that my interpersonal desires (being bi) and wanting to alter myself according to my gender, would all go away if I started paying tithing and praying (and at the time, I desperately wanted to just be a 'normal' church member). It felt kinda slimy after a while, and I ended up not showing up after a while, and finding ways to stay away (opening my work schedule to Sunday's), especially given that at the time, I was working a minimum wage job. I'm just glad to have rid of this cult, and washed my hands of it, though I find it hard to deprogram some of the purity culture out of myself.

  • @karenyoung2981
    @karenyoung2981 Год назад +4

    I just wanted to thank you for confirmation on so many points about the LDS church! I was always given the guilt trip especially by bishops or other members of the church, even my own parents! In a temple interview I was given the guilt trip and the bishop questioned if I was actually paying my 10%! Mind you, I wasn’t making very good money supporting an entire family of four with two little boys living with my parents temporarily! I was also putting my husband through college! We were poor! Those were hard times for our family.

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад +3

      @@DRT279 Mormons are masters in the art of the guilt-trip. They know how to keep all of its loyal ignorant followers in line (Just look at DTM and all of his non-stop BS all over the Comments!)

  • @tedgarrison8842
    @tedgarrison8842 Год назад +8

    I worked for the cult for three years. When we got paid, the cult made it possible for them to take ten percent back for "tithing".... Guilt and shame forced many cult employees to give it back before even receiving it.

    • @Noxlion28
      @Noxlion28 Год назад +2

      Hey a fellow ex-church employee! I always thought it was stupid that I still had to pay tithing even though I literally worked for it..

    • @tedgarrison8842
      @tedgarrison8842 Год назад +1

      @@Noxlion28 I worked at BYU-I protecting the cult's property and the leaders. I could tell you stories you may or may not believe...

    • @Noxlion28
      @Noxlion28 Год назад +2

      @@tedgarrison8842 oh I believe it. There is probably a lot of things church security hears and sees that would blow people’s minds if they heard about it.

    • @tedgarrison8842
      @tedgarrison8842 Год назад +1

      @@Noxlion28 I was trained to leave the prophet’s wife and family if necessary to protect the prophet in a gun fight
      I have been in the tunnels underneath temple square
      I have been on the 🛩 uses by the prophet
      Etc

    • @Noxlion28
      @Noxlion28 Год назад +3

      @@tedgarrison8842 holy shit that is WILD. Most husbands would give their life for their families…

  • @johnrowley310
    @johnrowley310 Год назад +2

    My father in law paid tithing for one year and was still denied a temple recommend. He left the church and never went back. Years later the bishop came to him and told him how sorry he was for being a tight ass...

  • @pkodani72
    @pkodani72 Год назад +1

    Jesus said to his disciples see that women she gave what she had and when she gets to heaven she will be first.

  • @anitah2404
    @anitah2404 Год назад +1

    Thank you for making this video

  • @goodstory5890
    @goodstory5890 Год назад +2

    It’s interesting that the GA’s get a salary off of this tithing money and I find it just as interesting how, if at all 😳, that THEY pay tithing on the very tithing money they get paid with 😂. Thanks and Aloha 🌺

  • @HaloCache117
    @HaloCache117 Год назад +1

    Hella messed up. I had no idea they said those things. Shame.

  • @boysrus61
    @boysrus61 Год назад +3

    Did you see The Fifth Estate show on The Mormon Church in Canada: Where did more than $1billion go? It aired yesterday but you can watch it on RUclips. Somebody's got some splaining to do!

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад

      Thanks for the recommendation. I just saw it, and it was so good. It's about time the evil cult is exposed. It's just one big money-grubbing corporation, doing whatever they can to build their empire (all in the name of God no less). What a fraud!!!

  • @AsAManFeeleth
    @AsAManFeeleth Год назад +2

    Save 10% or even 5% for yourself and just see how many blessings you will receive

    • @joshd270
      @joshd270 Год назад +2

      Yeah you could afford to provide for yourself instead of the church possibly bringing you one meal in a year 🤣🤣🤣

  • @michellesunshinestar
    @michellesunshinestar Год назад +2

    My ex-husband was low income (so was I, broke college student). We had to pay though to go to the Temple. I always thought he should have been exempt. We were trying to get help. (We didn't know about food stamps or food pantries). He had to have cable though. I honestly thought cable isn't worth it, my family never had cable.

  • @jaredhardy685
    @jaredhardy685 Год назад +2

    Tithing was the breaking point for me! I was so broke that I couldn’t pay rent and got evicted from my apartment but I still wasn’t “worthy” to go to the temple because I couldn’t pay my tithing. It infuriated me so much I left the church. Shortly after I left, I found your videos and am now actively against everything the church stands for!

  • @ryanhall8770
    @ryanhall8770 Год назад +2

    I attended “tithing declaration” with my family last week and contrary to previous years, no one was asked if they were full tithe payers. I’m curious to know if this is the new standard for those meetings, but regardless I’m glad because I haven’t paid in years 😬

  • @charliebertrand6028
    @charliebertrand6028 Год назад +1

    How does the whole "celestial inheritance" thing work if you can't take physical things... like money...with you after you die?

  • @Riverrstone
    @Riverrstone Год назад +1

    Any church that requires a tithe of your gain should be ready to take care of 10 % of your loss. The latter never happens so ELF EM and their money grubbing meglomania.

  • @MaryMorley-k9d
    @MaryMorley-k9d 2 месяца назад

    That’s 10% off the Gross. UNCLE SAM DOSEN’T GET IT OFF THE GROOSS!!!!!! IT’S AFTER DEDUCTIONS!!!!!!

  • @arielgaede3673
    @arielgaede3673 Год назад +2

    There's also a Scipture Mastery in the D&C that says if you don't pay you'll burn 🔥

  • @jackieburelison5546
    @jackieburelison5546 Год назад +1

    Prosperity Church?

  • @herorick1
    @herorick1 Год назад +2

    Still makes me mad, and I've been out for 2 years.

  • @stevehornsby7727
    @stevehornsby7727 Год назад +1

    Thought I would share this link as when I was an active member, I was told that tithing and fast offerings would help those in need. Not as true as they claim. Excellent videos. Keep up this excellent work

  • @flwrpwr5351
    @flwrpwr5351 Год назад +2

    Just like you to know I'm an ex-christian never Mormon bit for some reason I gravitate toward your content the best and you've rllyyyy helped me like seriously Lex

    • @ExmoLex
      @ExmoLex  Год назад +1

      ♥️♥️♥️

  • @joetaylor8687
    @joetaylor8687 Год назад +1

    When the Church talks about how much money it donates to charitable causes, it now includes fast offerings. So it's what headquarters gives + what members pay individually. This results in a much larger amount that what was seen when they only talked about what headquarters donated to charity.

  • @found-in-him
    @found-in-him Год назад +1

    Drink coffee? Sorry, no temple hall pass for you.

    • @jeffs4483
      @jeffs4483 Год назад +1

      Having multiple wives is fine, just no coffee.😂

  • @thiswasthestory
    @thiswasthestory Год назад

    I am one of the member of LDS church here in India, I am very much confused about the church and their ways of worship. They don't sing praise and worship songs, no spiritual messages and nothing spiritual. They always speak about the prophets. They take Sacrament Every week in the remembrance of Crucifixion of Jesus Christ but they don't celebrate Good Friday, I am very much confused. I don't know what to do. Please help me!!

  • @craignorton7070
    @craignorton7070 5 месяцев назад

    Lexi, is tithing a principle or law of god? If it is, then it doesn't matter what christian religion you belong to you pay your tithe. Forget about the Mormon church. Do you pay your 10% to the new church that you belong to, or are you a New Testament Christian only? It's a principle given to all in Malachi 3:10. It doesn't matter if you're Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, or whatever, pay your tithe as commanded by God.

  • @williamexmormon3792
    @williamexmormon3792 Год назад +1

    I'm an ex-mormon myself got criticized made fun of manipulated one particular member was like what you mean you don't want to be married for eternity in the temple and I'm like BS

  • @drtaverner
    @drtaverner 4 месяца назад

    Why do poor Mormons exist? I thought the Law of Consecration meant everyone got an equal basic portion. Originally, I believe, it was pretty close to Communism with people getting houses and farms out of the communal church coffers.

  • @jjhendo
    @jjhendo Год назад +2

    At what point do they start asking for tithing? Forget all the other problems with the Book of Mormon, you’d think the demands for money should be enough of a red flag for members let alone potential converts, but then again there’s those televangelist bastards. At least if you go poor, you might get to recoup a small portion of your money? 🙄 🚩 Your plants look great, btw!

    • @mylesmarkson1686
      @mylesmarkson1686 Год назад

      Under fear of God, you can pretty much get your loyal ignorant followers to do anything.

  • @rogermetzger7335
    @rogermetzger7335 Год назад

    I’m aware of the “instruction” to not refer to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by any abbreviation, not even LdS and especially not “Mormon” but I heard about the Mormon Tabernacle Choir decades ago and, in the 1980s or ‘90s, I read the book, Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie so please understand: When I use those terms, it is not intended as disrespect.
    I’m not LdS and I’m not aware of anyone in our family who is LdS.
    Any organization has a right (or should have a right) to have behavior criteria for certain types of membership, eligibility to hold office, etc. That includes the payment of “dues”. Tithing - even if it is misrepresented as 10% of cash flow - is more “fair” to people at the low end of the socio-economic spectrum than requiring the same amount of money from each member, regardless of economic status.
    Because the headquarters of the LdS Church is in the United States and the percentage of U.S. citizens who profess Christianity has been more than 50% for most of my lifetime, let’s start with that.
    Some Christians consider the Hebrew Bible to be less authoritative than the Gospels and the Epistles. Some Christians don’t consider the Hebrew Bible to be applicable to Christians at all.
    In 1958, I made a conscious decision to adopt what I called “the principle of prior reference” - the principle that anything purported to be special revelation should be evaluated and interpreted by earlier revelation - which would mean, for example, that anyone who considers the teachings of Jesus to be antithetical to the first five books of the Bible (known as the Torah or the Pentateuch) should not consider Jesus to be the Messiah foretold by the Hebrew prophets of antiquity - until or unless an adequate explanation of those differences becomes available.
    Joseph Smith taught the opposite of the principle of prior reference. He represented himself as having the authority to interpret previous revelation. In the seventh century A.D. the prophet, Muhammad, made a similar claim.
    On the other hand, if LdS authorities refer to the Hebrew Bible in support of tithing, it is appropriate to study that reference in its context. The tithing of the ancient Hebrews was a title of their increase (Numbers 18; Deuteronomy 14, especially verse 22; Deuteronomy 26, especially verse 12) what we, today, would call dividends on investment.
    Did someone - or taxpayers - invest in your education? If that education gave you marketable skills such as literacy or the ability to make change or operate a digital cash register and if, because of that, you are able to earn more wages than illiterate laborers are being paid, you can consider the difference between what the laborers are paid and what you are paid to be an “increase” and you can tithe that. But to urge the laborer to tithe his wages is simply not biblical.
    Laity who believe the tithe principle is still in effect (including yours truly) should encourage each other to tithe. But for the officers or clergy or general authorities or bishops of a religious organization to urge the laity to tithe is so obviously self-serving, any attempt to do that should be at least questioned.
    Of course, anyone who questions the supposed authority of the officers of a religious organization will, sooner or later, be considered heretical. The principle of prior reference makes me seem heretical to the majority of professed Christians so I know what it is like to have an opinion that differs from the majority in a society or in a subculture within a society.

  • @ghstrdio
    @ghstrdio Год назад

    Christ actually asks for you to give up everything.... Many times he has asked... Yet the widow's might is sufficient enough for now.

  • @christopherhardy8937
    @christopherhardy8937 Год назад +1

    Got to love the hypocrisy and control mechanisms. I loathed collecting fast offerings on Sundays. Even after people pay tithing they may be asked for more! I remember asking my dad why we are doing this and he just told me to not complain about commandments from the prophet....such a crock

  • @andrewreed4216
    @andrewreed4216 4 месяца назад

    if tithing is meant to be private between the lord and you.... how does the bishop know if you're paying 10% by the misleading question ''are you paying an honest tithe?'' (which its not actually 10% when you look into history. its of your increase . which isn't gross income as i was told and did for 22 years)

  • @agirly1503
    @agirly1503 Год назад +2

    Does the Bishop have a way to check your payments made online or do they need to take your word?

    • @anitah2404
      @anitah2404 Год назад

      They have access to your records.