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Tithes - Gross or Net - Page 4

I knew when reading your posts that you had had the same revelation I did while studying tithing. This is an example of why I feel it is so important to study each law and principle and gain our own testimony uninfluenced by the beliefs of others. It is too easy to follow our "beast masters" without question. I am not sure I would have taken on this topic as it flies in the face of what even many of the leaders teach today. (As shown by the various quotes.)

Net Gross Tithes

Maybe Amonhi can tell us the source from that quote of Elder John A. Widtosoe because if done in General Conference, means that every talk is revised and approved by the First Presidency which means that's how the Church viewed the topic at that time?

I just check lds.org which says:

Source 1

Notice it says "income" and not "increase" which are TWO different things. If the Church believes is income then the quote of Elder Witsoe seems accurate with the Church position.


BUT is not what the Scriptures say....

Tithes - Gross or Net Studies Doctrine Mormon

This is getting really interesting! If we compare business increase with ordinary employment salaries I get the following logics:

Business: In order to sell something, we have to invest in what we want to sell. That is an expense which we of course would deduct from our increase. Any sudden expenses connected to the business would be a direct deduction of our increase.

Ordinary employment: In order to be able to go to work, being a carpenter for instance, one has to have a good health, eat and drink to endure the work. Even eat and drink more than usual if the work is hard. Isn't that an investment? Should I deduct such expenses before tithing? What if I get sick and have to pay huge doctor bills? That's almost like a business getting sudden expenses. If we take taxes into consideration too, many of the benefits from paying taxes are things that makes it possible for us to go to work. Public transportation, roads, subsidized medical care, you name it. So, is that also an ivestment to be deducted from your salary?

Many questions, but few answers. I have served as a branch president and know very well the common interpretation of this commandment. In the Norwegian D&C the word interest is actually translated into income. The translation is actually wrong! Still, I am paying my tithes as the mainstream interpretation: 10% before taxes.

Page 4 Net Gross Tithes

Joheri, I agree with your point of the business, this is what I also say, but with the other I do not agree because you as the individual do not act as a 'business' unto yourself. You are given money according to your effort not your investment. Additionally, investment in a business is usually clear cut and answerable. Investment in your health and so forth leaves a lot of room for exceptions and excuses not to pay.

Net Gross Tithes

, I am here, you can talk to me directly...
Years back my wife and I's study of the Law of tithing we came across this quote. Pondering on it we were given the revelation I shared with all of you regarding the in-equality it created from the supposed equal system. I copied the quote from your, LDS_Forever, post. I believe we originally found it in Gospel link.

However, regardless of what is taught in any church meeting, the official church response is,

I got this from the Church Handbook of Instruction (1999) under Tithing, which was taken from a letter to the church from President Hinckley himself. This is how the church currently views this topic today. This is like the WoW saying that "hot Drinks" is interpreted to mean Coffee and tea. Does "interpretation" mean "revelation" or does it refer to non-revelation/ideas of men? Why doesn't it say, By modern revelation the Lord has clarified by saying....

Did previous post in this thread contradict current church doctrine, policy or procedure?

[OFFTOPIC]So does the churches "interpretation" of interest to mean "income" change things? If we were to take this "inspired interpretation" and apply it to businesses what is the result? Businesses now pay on their income which is actually a way to say "Gross" (before all expenses), and not "interest" which is closer to saying "Net" (After all expenses).

My interpretation actually refers to interest meaning your money which comes from your investments. The new money which you did not work for, because God blessed you with it, just as God increased the farmer by having the seeds produce and keeping the crickets away, or the payment to God for multiplying the cattle and blessing with babies. My money also has babies, of which I had little say in creating. If God prospers me by taking care of what is outside my influence, then I give him his cut. He charges a steep cut for an investor, 10 percent of the profits or interest earned. But He is a partner well worth having...

I am surprised that we are having this discussion as few would entertain it because of the common beliefs, we all know the answers why question?
If you look at you "net worth", you fill find a very easy way to calculate the interest or increase you have received each year. Last year my "Net Worth" was $25,000. This year, (after all my hard work, health issues, investing, law suits, gas price increases, etc.), my "Net Worth" is $30,000. After all my efforts and the Lords blessings, I am up $10,000 from last year. Wow! The Lord has returned my efforts and investments with $10,000! My tithing is $1,000. If my net worth goes down, I pay nothing. There are years I have paid nothing and considered myself a full tithe payer. It happens.

Edited: Amonhi on 24th Aug, 2008 - 10:06pm

Tithes - Gross or Net

Amonhi, thanks for your reply. A lot of food for thought. I think if the Church would clarify this with an official statement maybe there will be more members paying tithing but I suppose there are so many technicalities involved that we should really prayerfully decide how we do it.

Tithes Gross Net - Page 4

LDS_Forever, as you said, we should prayerfully decide what the Lord expects of us. As always, I express my opinions, which are at best the philosophies of a man mingled with scripture. I encourage all to study the laws and receive their own revelations.

If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, not other men...

Tithes Gross Net Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 4

When I was a salaried worker I would pay tithing on my base salary before taxes. I saw taxes as just another bill that I had to pay like transportation, electricity, etc. All may factor into my getting my slaried work done, but I never felt that it should be done that way.

Now that I am a business owner I calculate investment because there are certain things that unless they are paid the business would literally shut down - a definite expense.

Rather off topic, but... Amohni, you really need to get yourself LDS Mature access. Look in the Contest Board for ways you can earn it if you do not want to Donate. There are Threads there I'm interested in seeing what you have to say.