WHAT IS THE FINANCIAL LAW OF THE CHURCH?

          It is God's law governing the manner in which the income of the church is to be obtained, the purpose for which it is used, and the channels through which expenditures should be made. The financial law as well as every other law of God is founded upon justice, equity, and righteousness.

TO WHOM SHOULD ONE LOOK FOR EXPLANATION
OF THE LAW RELATING TO FINANCE?

          Revelations to the church make it the duty of the Bishopric to bring to the church an interpretation of the financial law as a result of their mutual study and research in the Word of God.-See Doctrine and Covenants 129: 8. This they have done, and their interpretation has been accepted by General Conference.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE FINANCIAL LAW?

          The purpose is manifold.

1. The first and primary purpose is to build character. Faithful adherence to the principles of this law will leave little room for selfishness. It will help develop ability and skill in the management of one 5 personal and family finances, thus avoiding the adverse effects of mismanagement which usually result in mental distress and financial insecurity.

2. It was instituted to bring members to a higher plane of living and thinking and to a closer relationship with Christ, because to fulfill its requirements one must work with him and in accordance with his divine purpose.

3. It is to enable one to properly determine the annual increase in net worth and furnish a basis for knowing the exact amount due to the Lord as his share of one's financial gains.

4. It is the divine way of procuring funds to pay the costs for the administration of the work of the church.

5. It specifies to whom payment of tithes, etc., should be made.

6. It names the purposes for which the funds are to be expended.

OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW

WHAT STEPS WOULD INVOLVE A FULL COMPLIANCE
WITH THE LAW OF STEWARDSHIP?

          The Order of Bishops has stated the following to be the duty of every member of the church to fully acknowledge his stewardship:

a. Filing his inventory (First financial statement)

b. Paying his tithes

c. Paying his surplus

d. Making his offerings

e. Thereafter giving an account of his stewardship annually as provided in the law of God (Annual financial statement)

HOW DO I PROCEED TO FILE MY INVENTORY?

          A form has been compiled by the Bishopric to assist members in this accounting. This form makes provision for one's total assets to be listed and balanced against one's liabilities and so the net worth is arrived at. The special work of the Bishop or his agent is to assist members in the preparing of this statement. Such officers will be willing to assist when invited to do so.

HOW IS TITHING COMPUTED?

          When making a first accounting, the Lord's share as a tithe will be one tenth of one's net worth. Tithing is computed solely upon increase. Therefore, at the first accounting all that one has is increase from birth. Thereafter when one makes an annual accounting, the increase will be calculated by subtracting the amount required to be spent on necessary living from the total income for the year. Of the remainder, the increase, one tenth is due as a tithe to the Lord.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD ONE FILE HIS INVENTORY?

          An inventory should be filed on recognition of the essential nature of the financial law, thus recognizing the principle of stewardship. Thereafter an annual accounting should be made, usually at the end of the financial year.

WHEN SHOULD ONE PAY TITHES?

          Tithes should be paid regularly while cash is available even though these payments may be made in relatively small amounts. The reasons for this are apparent.

1. To God belong the first fruits of man's effort.

2. When meeting obligations as they fall due, God's blessing may be expected on one's stewardship.

3. To delay payment opens the way to spend what is really God's. At least tithes on luxuries and nonessentials should be tithed as spent.

4. Careful and regular accounting is fundamental in stewardship.

5. Small periodical payments in no way relieve members of their obligation to file an annual statement. Small regular payments ensure that the major part of the debt is met when it falls due.

6. The church is in need of financial assistance regularly to continue its work and cannot wait easily on a year's accumulation before commencing to pay.

IS THE FILING OF A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND
THE PAYMENT OF TITHES COMPULSORY?

          In common with every other law of the church, compliance is a matter of individual obedience. Nevertheless, obedience to the principle of accountability is an aid in the assessing of one's responsibilities to God and of analyzing one's own affairs. To obey the baptismal covenant in its truest sense, one cannot avoid this obligation along with others.

IS ANY MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OR OFFICIAL
EXEMPT FROM THIS LAW?

          No one is exempt from obedience to the law of stewardship and each should render an accounting to God for his stewardship conduct.

DISCUSSION OF TITHING

FOR WHAT PURPOSES IS TITHING USED?

1. Tithing is used primarily for financing the Lord's work which involves such expenditures as the support of missionaries and those engaged in the general work of the church.

2. Tithing is used in maintaining the operation of general church offices.

3. Tithing is used to provide for the administrative expenses incurred in the operation of the church.

4. Tithing is used for the support of the educational program of the church.

DOES PAYMENT OF THE TITHE WORK A HARDSHIP
ON ANYONE?

          To pay one tenth of the increase does not work a hardship on anybody. Those who have a larger increase can afford a proportionately large payment, while those who have prospered less have correspondingly less to pay. However, those who neglect to pay when due, will find a subsequent problem as the debt accumulates. No true steward would repudiate a debt accumulated by his failure to meet the obligations when first due.

ARE THERE NOT SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOO
LITTLE WITH WHICH TO PAY TITHING?

          It is possible, but rarely would there be a steward who has not handled some amount that would not come within the definition of necessary living expenses, and so become regarded as increase.

          The rule in offerings is, "Freely ye have received, freely give." This Church of Jesus Christ is not supported by the surplus donations or bequests of rich folk, but by the consecrated giving of the rank and file members. To pay tithing is merely to discharge a debt. To give offerings generously and liberally to church projects is an expression of our true character and worth, our real love for and gratitude to God.

WHAT IS MEANT BY TITHE, INCREASE, SURPLUS,
AND OFFERINGS?

          TITHE literally means ONE TENTH. A tithe of one's increase actually means one tenth of one's increase.

          INCREASE in relation to one's first accounting would be one's net worth. We came into the world with nothing and all that has accrued to us since birth is an INCREASE from the bounty of the Lord. This is really a generous interpretation, because up to the time of our first recognition of our stewardship much has been in our possession that has gone. However, all that is required is that we recognize our responsibility to our present blessings.

          INCREASE in relation to each subsequent yearly accounting is simply the difference between the total income from all sources for the year less that which, as a steward, one has decided was necessary to a normal healthy life. ONE TENTH of this increase is TITHING.

          SURPLUS is that portion of a man's possessions, whether money or property, of which he has no present need; the word "need" being determined by the man's position, sphere of action, his business, and his dependents. Such payments are to be used in the building up of Zion.

          OFFERINGS are monies given freely from that which is left after tithing has been computed, that is from the nine tenths. They may be given in the spirit of sacrifice from that which may be regarded as one's necessary living expenses. During the year there are frequent opportunities for making offerings to the church.

SHOULD ONE TITHE MONEY COMING INTO ONE'S
POSSESSION IF THAT MONEY HAS PREVIOUSLY
BEEN TITHED BY THE GIVER?

          This problem is clearly answered if we remember that stewardship is not so much concerned with material things as with the attitudes and development of men and women. It is never the amount of money that is tithed but the person who is tithed. It would not absolve a member from his personal obligation to tithe his increase if an amount of money had, because of being a legacy through several generations, been tithed several times. That which is increase is tithable by every person by whom it is possessed. Thus tithed, legacies and gifts are tithable again by the one receiving the same.

TO WHOM IS TITHING PAID?

          Tithing should be paid to the local agent of the Bishop who transmits such monies regularly to the Bishop's office for custody. Each officer who receives money as tithes issues an official receipt stating the amount and purpose for which it is received. Records are kept of all tithing paid over the years of one's membership.

THE OBLATION

          The oblation is a special offering that is received at the Communion service. From these oblations the needs of the poor throughout the church are met. This is done in accordance with the ability of the church to meet such needs. It is a general church offering not to be retained by the local congregations, but to be sent by the local Bishop's solicitor to the Bishop for his distribution.

LOCAL EXPENSE

          The needs of the local church are met from offerings made to the local treasury by methods decided upon in each branch. These offerings are quite separate from those made to the Bishop for general church needs. Local churches do not draw from the general funds for local expenses, therefore it is necessary that each member be mindful of these needs and make regular subscription to such medium of the local plan. Inquiry from the local branch treasurer as to one's local obligations will be welcomed and the local procedure explained.

HELPS

WHAT ACCOUNTING HELPS ARE PROVIDED FOR A
MEMBER DESIROUS OF FULFILLING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE FINANCIAL LAW?

          The church has prepared income and expense record books for the careful and simple accounting of income and expenditure of both adult and young members. The Family Expense Record is particularly compiled for those who have set up a home. The family budget is simply handled, and all the information required at the annual accounting time is thus readily available. Every home should use this help.

          The Youth Income and Expense Record is provided as a special aid to the youth. It is particularly planned for the unmarried young people of the church who wish to account for their financial stewardship in a businesslike way. It provides a means for a regular and consistent payment of the tithe - the share of increase which belongs to the Lord. Young people who have established their homes should use the regular Family Income and Expense Record Book.

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