TO PROSPER

 

“Consider President George Q. Cannon’s approach to tithing when he was an impoverished young man. When his bishop commented on the large amount of tithing poor young George was paying, George said something like: ‘Oh Bishop, I’m not paying tithing on what I MAKE. I’m paying tithing on what I WANT to make!’ And the very next year George earned exactly the amount he had paid tithing on the year before!” (Wendy Watson Nelson, “Becoming the Person You Were Born to Be” BYU-Hawaii Devotional for Young Adults Jan 10, 2016)

President Cannon’s example is not a get rich quick scheme but it is the way of taking faith to the next level when an increase in livelihood is needed.

When I was 17 I read about the Church in a library book. I loved everything I read and didn’t find fault with any principles the members were asked to live by. I accepted everything and yearned to be baptized. One Sunday I made my way to the closest chapel during meeting time. I walked past it several times looking at it longingly thinking I was not allowed in because I was not a member. 

For some reason what came into my mind was the law of tithing. I was working in an office full time by then and earning $100 per week. It was a lot 50 years ago. I felt rich. My response to the thought was: “I would gladly give my entire pay to the Church for the privilege of sitting in that building.”  And so began my Church membership and my testimony of the principle of tithing.

I had no problem paying tithing until I was a struggling single mother following my divorce. I learnt that falling behind in paying it made me feel terribly unworthy and inferior in God’s kingdom. I learnt it was not worth being half-hearted in my obedience. Since then, as part of my penance, I have paid my tithing first and foremost before I paid any bills. I made it my biggest priority.

I cannot tell you that I ended up financially well off but I can tell you that something much greater happened. Even though I had wished at certain times of my life that I was more financially secure, the pursuit of something far greater than temporal blessings became my main focus, and this is what became my focus: “true prosperity is the growth in the knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel…” (“Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Heber J. Grant [2002], 124)

The Book of Mormon prophets talked at great length about ‘prospering in the land’, Alma in particular (1 Nephi 2:20; 2 Nephi 1:9,20,31; Jarom 1:9; Mosiah 1:7; Alma 36:1,30; 37:13; 38:1; 49:30; 50:20). To understand what true prosperity is, it’s imperative to know what it isn’t. In the scriptural sense prosperity means to have the blessing of being close to God, to be in His presence in this life…because to NOT prosper means to be cut off from His presence: 2 Nephi 1:20; 4:4; Mosiah 7:29; Alma 9:13; Mosiah 1:7; 2:22; Omni 1:6; see also The Book of Mormon Student Manual p 234).

I have never forgotten that moment in time when I was 17 when I regarded the Church far greater than the money I was earning. As a result I have never paid tithing throughout my Church membership in expectation of financial blessings in return.

I have paid it because I wanted to be a worthy member of His Church: worthy of having the truth He had blessed me with; worthy of the commandments He had given me so that I would never become lost; worthy of the trust He had in me to live by the covenants I had made with Him; worthy of the spiritual knowledge He was bestowing upon me; worthy of His Spirit which encircled me in the arms of His love many, many times.

I am not negating temporal blessings here as a result of tithe paying. My patriarchal blessing says if I pay my tithing and offerings I will be blessed beyond my fondest dreams. At first glance, anyone would think that would mean I would be rich in this life……but the scriptures are more right than anyone…… I testify true prosperity has exceeded my fondest dreams….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: His Love Fills My Heart by Greg Collins)