Tithe the Poor — Reluctant Watchman

I’m not sure exactly how long ago this happened, but I remember reading D&C 119 in an attempt to understand the Law of Tithing better. During that process, there was one word that stuck out to me and I continued to ponder upon it for some time. The word was “interest.” Now, I had always been told that tithing was on your “income”, not your interest. For all I knew these two words were synonymous, but just the fact that they were different led me on a journey of understanding and enlightenment, as well as great sorrow and heartache. Here is D&C 119 for context:

4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

I was unaware that tithing, as outlined by the church, had changed many times since its inception. This was actually a bit shocking to me. In the modern church, it seemed so simple: 10%. How hard is that? The only thing most members would squabble over is whether you paid on “net” vs “gross” income. And my family had always been in a position to pay tithing without too much hardship.

If we study Joseph’s inspired translation of the bible we can learn a great deal more about what “interest” or “increase” means. In Genesis 14:39, we learn of Abram’s payment of tithes, which offers us a clearer definition of tithing: “Wherefore, Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him more than that which he had need." This is the more true definition of increase. Anything beyond what his needs were. Those needs are defined by the individual.

Where things really hit home for me was when I began to see parallel witnesses of Nephi and Moroni condemning future generations in the last days for the inappropriate use of money. But we’ll get into that further on. Let’s first take a look at the LDS church’s definition of tithing:

Church members give one-tenth of their income to the Lord through His Church.
Funds are used for the following: Build and maintain houses of worship, missionary work, schools, and anything that carries on the work of the Lord. Please note this disclaimer on the tithing slip: “Though reasonable efforts will be made to use donations as designated, all donations become the Church's property and will be used at the Church's sole discretion to further the Church's overall mission.”

It also helps to understand how church leaders also interpret the counsel in D&C 119. The following is found on LDS.org and comes from Elder John A. Widtsoe’s talk entitled “What is an honest tithing?”

“Tithing means one-tenth. Those who give less do not really pay tithing; they are lesser contributors to the Latter-day cause of the Lord. Tithing means one-tenth of a person’s income, interest, or increase. The merchant should pay tithing upon the net income of his business, the farmer upon the net income of his farming operations; the wage earner or salaried man upon the wage or salary earned by him. Out of the remaining nine-tenths he pays his current expenses … etc. To deduct living costs … and similar expenses from the income and pay tithing upon the remainder does not conform to the Lord’s commandment. Under such a system most people would show nothing on which to pay tithing. There is really no place for quibbling on this point. Tithing should be given upon the basis of our full earned income. If the nature of a business requires special interpretation, the tithepayer should consult the father of his ward, the bishop.” (Evidences and Reconciliations, 2:86.)

So, it seems pretty clear that “income”, as defined by the church, is on your “full earned income.” But that has not always been the case. In 1837, Elder Partridge and his counselors agreed upon tithing as 2% of net worth. The following year John Corrill recorded that tithing was voluntary and not expected for poor families. A few years later the Quorum of the 12 modified it again to include one-tenth of all you possessed, and then one-tenth of your “increase” annually. This was when Joseph was still alive. Shortly after his death, more drastic changes began. (If you are interested in learning more about historical changes to tithing, check out this wonderful “Timeline of Tithing” from my friends at Hemlock Knots.)

Fast forward to the late 1800s when the church found itself in financial hardship. Around this time, Lorenzo Snow began referring to tithing in relation to “income.” From his 1899 Conference Report:

“I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child who has means shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing…” (Conference Report, October 1899, p.28.)

It is interesting to note a very important phrase here: "who has means.” This request to pay on income was not intended for the poor (i.e. those who were unable to meet their basic standard of living were not required to do so). As a young man, I always remembered the faith-promoting video of President Snow standing at the pulpit, seemingly being overcome with the Spirit, and prophesying that the Saints would be blessed for heeding this counsel.

Ironically, in the “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow” lesson manual, that phrase from the conference report reads: “I plead with you in the name of the Lord, and I pray that every man, woman and child … shall pay one tenth of their income as a tithing”. They intentionally omitted the words “who has means.” In traditional writing ellipses (three dots) are used to significantly shorten a much larger quote or to make the overall message more coherent. It’s quite interesting that ellipses were used in this instance to omit three very important words.

In 1928, it was noted that observing the principle of tithing should be “encouraged.” It was not spelled out as an absolute requirement at this time. Around 1940, significant changes to the temple recommend questions began. The tithing language was solidified to being “an honest tithepayer” or to “undertake to become one.”

Let’s jump back a few years to the 1915 General Conference where Joseph F. Smith stated, “I may be pardoned, perhaps, if I say here, for the benefit of any who do not know the facts, that the law of tithing is a voluntary law; that is, it imposes only a voluntary duty upon the people. No person’s standing as a member of the Church is jeopardized because he doesn’t pay his tithing. There are a good many of us who don’t observe all the laws, and it is a good thing that the Lord does not execute justice and judgment upon a great many of us because of it… for the Church has never made an investment that had not for its object the benefiting of the whole people. [break] I want to tell you that, we will be honest with you; we feel that it is the first duty of Latter-day Saints to take care of themselves, and of their poor; and then, if we can extend it to others…. but first look after the members of our own household. The man who will not provide for his own house, as one of old has said, is worse than an infidel.”

Did you catch that? Your first duty with the finances you’ve been blessed with is to care for yourself and any poor in your family. Why is this significant? The church today teaches the poor that even if they are unable to pay for food or other necessities, they are to pay tithing.

Here are quotes from General Conference and the Ensign magazine:

Elder Lynn Robbins, April 2005: "Is there a level of poverty so low that sacrifice should not be expected or a family so destitute that paying tithing should cease to be required? Like the widow, if a destitute family is faced with the decision of paying their tithing or eating, they should pay their tithing.”

Elder Aaron West, Dec. 2012 Ensign: “If paying tithing means that you can’t pay for water or electricity, pay tithing. If paying tithing means that you can’t pay your rent, pay tithing. Even if paying tithing means that you don’t have enough money to feed your family, pay tithing.”

What in the hell are they teaching? Not only are these statements hypocritical when compared to previous church leaders, but they contradict the doctrinal precedence of caring for the poor. I am ashamed that these words were never retracted. The condemnation of the latter-day church by Moroni is well deserved, “O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God?”

Here’s another way to look at modern tithes. Take a family that makes $32,000 annually and their basic living expenses are $30,000. If they pay on their income that would be $3,200 in tithing. Essentially putting this family in debt to the tune of $1,200 that would need to be made up somewhere. Who does this family turn to? The church welfare system. If this family is unable to lower their overall expenses or increase their income, they will remain in a perpetual cycle of poverty to the church. Now, if they were to pay on their “increase”, as Joseph taught just before he was murdered, this family would pay $200 in tithes and have $1,800 to improve their quality of life, or to give freely to the poor. This would essentially replace dependency for independence.

As noted at the beginning of this essay, both Nephi and Moroni had a few words to say about the use of money by the latter-day churches. This is where a great divide, even a great awakening, happened for me. Let’s compare both scriptures:

2 Nephi 28:12-13 “ Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up. They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.”

Mormon 8:37 “For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.”

Ask yourself these questions: How would a church rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries? Do you remember the first thing listed on the church website about where tithing funds go? Temples and houses of worship. And how are those buildings adorned? They spare no expense. And what must the poor of the church do in order to enter such a fine edifice? They must pay tithing, it is a requirement if you want to enter “The House of the Lord.” A person who is unable to pay rent or put food on the table, yet yearns for salvation, is kept in a perpetual cycle of poverty. Would you call that robbing the poor?

Not only does the church convince the poorest members of the church to pay tithing, but they also preach that paying tithing will bring them more money or prosperity, which was never the intended purpose. Both Russell Nelson and Dale Renlund taught this idea on a recent trip to Africa, where some of the poorest saints live. They insisted that paying money to the church would protect their countries and allow them to prosper. This concept flies in the face of one of the most overriding themes taught in the Book of Mormon. We hear these words over and over again, “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land.” This prosperity comes because of the righteous adherence to God’s will and commandments, even a broken heart and a contrite spirit, not a forced payment to enter the temple for salvation.

While traveling with her husband, Sister Wendy Nelson spoke to the young single adults in a church-wide broadcast. She told them, “When we're desperate to have more money, we eagerly follow the Lord's law of finances. Which is, of course, tithing.” She then related a story of how a young family was paying way more tithing than their income. The bishop asked why and the young father responded, "Oh, I'm not paying on what I make, I'm paying on what I want to make." She concluded the story by stating that the very next year this young man made exactly that amount of money. This is what we call the "Prosperity Gospel” and is a false doctrine because the focus shifts from caring for the poor to financial gain. 2 Nephi 26:31 teaches, “But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.”

Most members are unaware of this, but the Lord condemned the church for not living the principles taught in The Book of Mormon, and that condemnation was never lifted. Here the Lord is speaking to the church in D&C 84:

54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written

One very essential aspect to inject here is the importance of sacrifice by all people, rich or poor. I feel any effort that we freely give for the benefit and blessing of others is rewarded in the eternities. The positive vibrations (Spirit if you will) that are put out will eventually come back and you will be blessed. In some volumes of scripture, this is referred to as The Universal Law of Restoration. Any action on our part, for good or for bad, will return in greater measure. That’s a wonderful topic for another day.

So where does the church stand as far as its finances today? It is estimated that the church is one of the largest landowners in the United States and one of the wealthiest churches in the world. They also have between $100–130 billion dollars in surplus. And yet they’ve convinced many members of the church who can’t even provide for their families, that they should pay because of the “blessings” they will receive. The church uses the true doctrine of sacrifice to convince poor members to continue to pay, and they require it to receive salvation. To be fair, over the past 35 years, the church has paid out an estimated $2.3 billion in humanitarian aid and welfare projects. That is 1.8% when compared to the current church surplus.

Scriptural Precedence in Caring for the Poor

I think it’s important to not only expose the false traditions of our fathers but also to present a more accurate picture of doctrinal precedent. Let’s begin with the words from Christ Himself.

Matthew 25 In the 25th chapter of Mathew we are taught about the separation that will happen at His Second Coming. The sheep and the goats are separated to his left and right based on how well they cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and even the poorest among them. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Malachi 2-3 One of the most quoted scriptures on tithing is found in the last book of the Old Testament. From a church perspective, it is often used as a method of leverage with the saints. We are encouraged to not “rob God” because we do want the windows of heaven opened unto us. But one aspect we are never taught within the church is who is actually robbing God. The Lord begins chapter 2 by rebuking the priests for not keeping their covenants and not teaching the people. He continues that rebuke in chapter 3. Upon careful study, we realize that it was the priests themselves who were robbing the storehouse reserved for the poor. Ironic, isn’t it? And to be fair, the rebuke of the Lord is also upon any nation or people who choose to neglect the poor.

Mosiah 4:24-26 Chapters 2-5 are a fascinating sermon by King Benjamin. (verse 24) “I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your heart that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.” This counsel is what early church leaders taught. The people referred to in this verse don’t have excess (increase), yet do have sufficient to meet their basic needs. They are not required to give, but they are free to care for others in any other way they choose. (e.g. service or personal sacrifice) The church today teaches the poor they must pay tithing even though they do not have sufficient for their needs. We continue in verse 26 where King Benjamin teaches that caring for the poor is essential to receiving a remission of one’s sins. “And now, … for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.” Think back to D&C 84 and the Lord’s condemnation of the church for not heeding the teachings of the Book of Mormon. The church is harming the poor, not caring for them.

Mosiah 18:27-28 In this chapter we are taught the perfect system of caring for one another. After Alma had fled from the courts of King Noah, he gathered righteous people to the Waters of Mormon. Here they made baptismal covenants to serve God. Toward the end of chapter 18, he sets for the manner of caring for one another. “And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given. And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.” This is a wonderful description of a consecrated society, giving of their “own free will” and not as a requirement for salvation.

Alma 31-32 These chapters are particularly interesting given that they are taught within the main canon of LDS scripture. Alma went to reclaim the Zoramites and found that they had built up fine sanctuaries upon the sweat and effort of the poor. Even creating a high place in the center (the Rameumptom) upon which they spewed vain repetitions. Alma is cast out by the rich but finds success among the poor people of the city. These people had been rejected by the High Priests and were prevented from entering the temple because of their exceeding poverty, they felt they had no place to worship. Alma then teaches them how they are to worship. “Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only? And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?” He continues his sermon expounding upon the virtues of humility, mercy, and enduring to the end. Oh, what irony! The parallels to the LDS church and rejecting temple admittance to the poor couldn’t be more apparent.

———

Caring for the poor and helping those in need is “pure religion.” It is the foundation upon which we turn our hearts to one another, and in turn, our hearts are drawn out to God. As we care for the poor, we are loving Him in a perfect way. By following the path of the Master Healer, even Jesus Christ, we will find that our capacity to love and care for others will be increased. I would encourage each of you to ask God who you can help lift and bless through your own personal sacrifice and offerings, and I witness that He will guide you to those in need.

Shalom

Update / Oct. 2023: I know this happened earlier this year and I should probably do an entire write-up on this, but the SEC fined the LDS church for illegally hiding $32 Billion from the government. They paid a $5 Million fine, and the kicker… the reason they gave for hiding the money is that they were afraid the members would stop paying tithing if they knew how filthy rich the church was. Read the SEC filing, it’s in there. These decisions were approved by the first presidency and spanned nearly 20 years, or at minimum the past three presidents of the church. They even had some of the Managers of these shell companies leave because they knew it was unethical. And how did the church respond? “We affirm our commitment to comply with the law, regret mistakes made, and now consider this matter closed.” At a minimum, the LDS leaders do not trust the members of the church. At worst, they are “they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” (Isaiah 56:11)

You can read the SEC report here: https://www.sec.gov/files/litigation/admin/2023/34-96951.pdf

Update Feb. 2025: I've become quite familiar with Mormon 8 over the years. There's one part in Moroni's prophecy about the use of money that I always attributed to the Catholics and their implementation of indulgences (paying money to be forgiven of your sins)... BUT, the Gospel Principles manual just made me realize that the LDS church fits this prophecy perfectly, just as the Catholics do.

Here's the language from the LDS Gospel Principles manual, ch.19 on "Repentance":
"We are not fully repentant if we do not pay tithes.."

And here's Moroni's prophecy:
"32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins."

I'm shocked, actually. Moroni is condemning the LDS church. Money should never be used as leverage for forgiveness. 🤯🤯🤯

Disclaimer: Only a small portion of my thoughts and feelings are contained within this essay. It is nearly impossible to condense a lifetime of study, thoughts, and impressions, into a few paragraphs. I value and encourage the need for altering perspective as new light and knowledge is acquired. One of the best ways to know a person’s heart is to sit down and talk face-to-face, perhaps while consuming a mild barley drink.

Here is some additional reading material not included in the original essay:

76) And behold, the shepherds of the church, yea, the High Priest and the Priests, the Elders even down to the least of their Teachers, shall in one voice declare and agree that none shall come unto salvation except by and through them, for the Peacemaker shall have chosen them over all the earth and they shall esteem themselves the Elect of the Peacemaker because of that little Priesthood which the Peacemaker shall have given them as an help-mete and as a schooling ground.
77) And where is there greater pride than this, that man shall extol his own virtue and call himself elect in all the world? Yet, in the day whereof I speak, there shall be hunger in their country. And behold, there shall be they among them who suffer with the cold and are destitute. And they shall judge them and give unto them a little, but in the main, they shall look upon the suffering of the people and esteem themselves the more blessed because of their riches. And they shall declare in their hearts that the poor are not as blessed because of sin. Behold, this is the pride of they who shall call themselves Saints in the latter days.
78) And behold, they shall claim to have charity, but it shall be by extortion. And they shall claim to have the love of the Peacemaker, but it shall be meted out sparingly and upon conditions. It shall not be freely given, but shall be doled out by practice and by policy that does grind the face of the poor and bring about a division between them and the rich. They shall have not all things in common and all things shall be dictated unto them. Yea, they shall know nothing of the Common Consent. And this shall they call righteousness. Yea, because of this they shall call themselves the very Elect of the Peacemaker.
79) They shall love themselves and spare themselves no luxury. And for the poor they shall dole out unto the shepherds but a little here and a little there. And the shepherds shall exercise dominion over the poor and their lives shall they dictate, exhorting them to bend their backs so that they too might rise up in stature and in wealth, that they might walk among the elect. Is this the Law of the Tithe? Is this the Law of Consecration? You and I may decry such practices, but behold, they who call themselves elect in the latter days shall believe it to be so.
80) And even they shall teach that the one may be lived without the other. And this thing is part of that wherein they do sin against the gospel. Yea, they shall reject even the fullness of the gospel. And is this not according as the Peacemaker prophesied unto the survivors of the overturning of all things in the land Northward, and even unto your forefathers in Mentinah? I say unto you, Yea. This is the thing which He foretold.

(THE BOOK OF TSIHOHNAYAH AHKEHKTHIHM, Ch. 14)
Richard Savary wrote a letter to Joseph Smith inquiring about the requirements for membership in the church. Joseph reprinted the letter and his response in the Times & Season on March 15, 1842 (pp. 731-732)

I now wish to know through you the laws and regulations of your church—what is required of its members—how much (if a man of property,) must he contribute annually for its support. In short what is required to constitute good membership?
If you will please answer those questions comprehensively you will confer a favor on one who with pleasure subscribes himself your friend, and humble servant:
RICHARD SAVARY.

Joseph replied that a person must repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost, and then, with regards to how much is to be given annually, responded with this beautifully succinct instruction:

”Respecting how much a man of property shall give annually we have no special instructions to give; he is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all, wherever he finds them, to believe and obey all that God has revealed, does reveal, or will reveal, to do good unto all men, to be a member in good standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”
Within a few months after the Smith brothers were killed, the Quorum of the Twelve issued a proclamation to all saints, which was technically their very first "epistle" and item of business since the martyrdom. The primary subject of importance to the grieving saints? Tithing.
August 1844 - The proclamation stated that effective immediately, all members must pay tithing, defined FOR THE FIRST TIME as 10% of “income” instead of “increase.” The Twelve wrote: “Let every member proceed immediately to tithe himself or herself, a tenth of all their property and money… and then let them continue to pay in a tenth of their income from that time forth… And let this law or ordinance be henceforth taught to all who present themselves for admission into this church.” (1)
Fall, 1844 – All saints who had already payed tithing at the time of their conversion were required to pay tithing again, costing them in excess of 20% of their net worth (many of which were immigrants who had left the majority of their lands, homes and properties behind when joining the saints). (1)
1845, Jan 14– The Quorum of the Twelve reemphasize tithing in a 2nd epistle to the saints: “the duty of all saints to tithe themselves one-tenth of all they possess when they enter into the new and everlasting covenant: and then one-tenth of their interest, or income, yearly afterward” (2)
When reading this 2nd epistle, it seems to lay on thick the "trust us" rhetoric, which makes it seem like the trustworthiness of the tithing collectors was being questioned: "Those men that we shall select for agents will be men of honor, men of integrity and respectability, in whom we can confide, and who are responsible, and able, and willing to enter into bonds for the faithful performance of their duty. This course will prevent those many impositions which have heretofore been practiced by villains wearing the garb of saints, and place the churches in a situation that they can forward their tithings with safety.” (2)
1845, Jan 29 – 2 weeks after the 2nd "epistle" the Quorum of the Twelve voted to exempt themselves from the obligation of paying tithing, along with the general bishops (then Newel K. Whitney and George Miller) and the Nauvoo Temple Committee. (3)
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1 - LDS HC 7:251; Arrington, “Great Basin Kingdom” p.18
2 - LDS HC 7:358-9
3 - Heber C. Kimball diary, January 29, 1845; “Nauvoo Trustee-in-Trust Tithing and Donation Record”, p.220-222 [29 Jan. 1845], LDS archives
“The celestial law requires one-tenth part of all a man's substance which he possesses at the time he comes into the church, and one-tenth part of his annual increase ever after. If it requires all man can earn to support himself and his family, he is not tithed at all. The celestial law does not take the mother’s and children’s bread, neither ought else which they really need for their comfort. The poor that have not of this world’s good to spare, but serve and honor God according to the best of their abilities in every other way, shall have a celestial crown in the Eternal Kingdom of our Father.” (Millennial Star 9:12, 1 January 1847)
“Before going further I want to stop and consider the question asked by some, what He means where the Lord requires the surplus property of His people as the beginning of their tithing. Let us consider for a moment this word ‘surplus.’ What does it mean when applied to a man and his property? Surplus cannot mean that which is indispensably necessary for any given purpose, but what remains after supplying what is needed for that purpose. Is not the first and most necessary use of a man’s property that he feed, clothe and provide a home for himself and family? This appears to be the great leading objects for which we labor to acquire means, and as, until the time that this revelation was given, all public works and raising of all public funds had been by consecration, was not ‘surplus property,’ that which was over and above a comfortable and necessary subsistence? In the light of what had transpired and of subsequent events, what else could it mean? Can we take any other view of it when we consider the circumstances under which it was given in Far West in July, 1838? I have been unable in studying this subject to find any other definition of the term surplus, as used in this revelation, than the one I have just given. I find that it was so understood and recorded by the Bishops and people in those days, as well as by the Prophet Joseph himself, who was unquestionably the ablest and best exponent of this revelation.” (JD 23:313, 6 November 1882)
“At last we are in a position that we can pay as we go. We do not have to borrow any more, and we wont have to if the Latter-day Saints continue to live their religion and observe this law of tithing, It is the law of revenue to the Church. Furthermore, I want to say to you, we may not be able to reach it right away, but we expect to see the day when we will not have to ask you for one dollar of donation for any purpose, except that which you volunteer to give of your own accord, because we will have tithes sufficient in the storehouse of the Lord to pay everything that is needful for the advancement of the kingdom of God. I want to live to see that day, if the Lord will spare my life. It does not make any difference, though, so far as that is concerned, whether I live or not. That is the true policy, the true purpose of the Lord in the management of the affairs of His Church.“ (April 1907 LDS General Conference)
“Paying tithing helps to qualify us to receive the higher ordinances of the priesthood. To gain eternal life a man must receive his endowments and be sealed with his wife in the house of the Lord. Tithing is one of the basic standards of judgment by which it is determined whether a man is worthy to receive these higher ordinances of the gospel.”
Can you imagine Christ or a Book of Mormon prophet teaching this?
President Hinckley was once asked by a reporter about the lack of public financial transparency in the church. He responded by saying, "We simply think that that information belongs to those who made the contribution and not to the world."
He is implying that the church's books are not opened to the public, but are opened to the members who make contributions. This is not true. Members are given no detailed accounting of how their donations are being spent beyond generic platitudes.
Video of Hinckley lying about church transparency
“We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation. That same poverty continues from generation to another, until people pay their tithing.”
…we have been given help through the teachings of God’s prophets and the scriptures. Here is one example: “Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm.” To rephrase that in today’s terms, if you trust only in your 401(k)s or IRAs, your retirement plans may be disappointing. But your investments in tithing will continue to pay rich dividends—here and hereafter. Indeed, the nest egg of tithing will never be eroded.
Oaks: (via Renlund): “The faithful payment of tithes by citizens of a country will bless the nation.”
Renlund: “So if I wanted to be a patriot, and bless my land, I would faithfully pay my tithing because God will then help pour out blessings upon my country. This will be like the yeast or the leaven that will bless the whole country.”
This is how tithing was even taught in the ‘60s. Don’t care for your family, pay your tithes to the church:

"John H. Vandenberg tells a General Conference story of a young girl (16) asking permission to give her tithing money directly to help her parents so they can meet bills and stay together: “’We have family prayer but not very often any more because Mom and Dad are always fighting about money. We have lots of bills to pay each month, and my dad is working two jobs to make more money. I am wondering if it is all right for me, since I have a job at a drive-in, to give my money to my mother and skip tithing for a while?’ The young lady should be commended for her desires to help her parents, but the matter would not be helped by diverting her tithing to the cause.”

Improvement Era, Dec. 1966
The following is a prophecy from the Prophet Mahnti (Manti) in the Nemenhah Records: (2nd Edition, pp.187-188)

”38) How wondrous and strange it is that they who would truly labor to live completely the Pillar of Consecration shall be they upon whom shall fall the condemnation of they who claim the oracles of The Elohim.
39) Woe unto the shepherds of the church in that day! For, the persecution of the disciples of the Peacemaker shall not be covered nor erased because they do it in the capacity of apostles and prophets.
40) Believe me when I tell you that they shall have the Law of the Tithe in that day, but the more part of the people shall shun the Pillar of Consecration. How absurd this must sound, and how far from sound reason, I must admit. Nevertheless, thus shall be the state of affairs in the church in the day that the Peacemaker moves upon the hearts of the remnant of your descendants left in the land.
41) And behold! Because of this Law of the Tithe, which shall be the concentration of the people, the Peacemaker shall fully tithe His people. Yea, one in ten shall abide the day, but they that are left shall be those who shall have exercised to live the Pillar of Consecration.
42) Behold, all others shall consider themselves the servants of the Peacemaker, but He shall turn His face from them for a season and shall give the councils up unto the administration of them who shall have been driven and persecuted for their integrity in following His counsel above the teachings of the world.
43) Now, the things I say unto you concerning the Pillar of Consecration should in no wise dissuade you from offering a tithe of your surplus to the church for its support, for, the Law of the Tithe is an ancient law and is also ordained of the Creator.
44) But it is not the Pillar of Consecration, whereby the Peacemaker has ordained that His people should bare each other’s burdens, but it is a law by which they who have the church but no communities do sustain and uphold the body of Savior and His work.
45) But where Zion is established among the children of men, the Pillar of Consecration shall also be established such that there shall be no need for the Law of the Tithe to support the church.
46) Know this, oh House of Israel! When the Law of the Tithe shall be esteemed greater and more praiseworthy than the removal of the People from the bondage of Babylon, it shall be a sign unto you that all is not well.
47) But, in that day, men shall cry, “Peace and Safety! Peace and Safety!” Then speedily shall come the destruction of all they esteem, and all that shall remain to them shall be the books out of which the Remnant of the Peacemaker’s House shall teach. Let them repent then of the sin they shall have committed against the gospel and be adopted in and numbered among the Remnant left in the land.”
The following prophecy in the Nemenhah Records clearly depicts the fallen state in which we find ourselves today. (2nd Edition, pp.420)
6) And behold, the shepherds of the church, yea, the High Priest and the Priests, the Elders even down to the least of their Teachers, shall in one voice declare and agree that none shall come unto salvation except by and through them, for the Peacemaker shall have chosen them over all the earth and they shall esteem themselves the Elect of the Peacemaker because of that little Priesthood which the Peacemaker shall have given them as an help-mete and as a schooling ground.
77) And where is there greater pride than this, that man shall extol his own virtue and call himself elect in all the world? Yet, in the day whereof I speak, there shall be hunger in their country. And behold, there shall be they among them who suffer with the cold and are destitute. And they shall judge them and give unto them a little, but in the main, they shall look upon the suffering of the people and esteem themselves the more blessed because of their riches. And they shall declare in their hearts that the poor are not as blessed because of sin. Behold, this is the pride of they who shall call themselves Saints in the latter days.
78) And behold, they shall claim to have charity, but it shall be by extortion. And they shall claim to have the love of the Peacemaker, but it shall be meted out sparingly and upon conditions. It shall not be freely given, but shall be doled out by practice and by policy that does grind the face of the poor and bring about a division between them and the rich. They shall have not all things in common and all things shall be dictated unto them. Yea, they shall know nothing of the Common Consent. And this shall they call righteousness. Yea, because of this they shall call themselves the very Elect of the Peacemaker.
79) They shall love themselves and spare themselves no luxury. And for the poor they shall dole out unto the shepherds but a little here and a little there. And the shepherds shall exercise dominion over the poor and their lives shall they dictate, exhorting them to bend their backs so that they too might rise up in stature and in wealth, that they might walk among the elect. Is this the Law of the Tithe? Is this the Law of Consecration? You and I may decry such practices, but behold, they who call themselves elect in the latter days shall believe it to be so.
80) And even they shall teach that the one may be lived without the other. And this thing is part of that wherein they do sin against the gospel. Yea, they shall reject even the fullness of the gospel. And is this not according as the Peacemaker prophesied unto the survivors of the overturning of all things in the Land Southward (Nephites), and even unto your forefathers in Mentinah? I say unto you, Yea. This is the thing which He foretold.”

This next video is well done, but the audio is extremely slow. I’d suggest listening to it at twice the speed. It clearly shows how early church leaders understood “interest” to mean surplus.

I couldn’t help but include this next video. This makes it apparently clear how closely the LDS church teaches the prosperity gospel. The difficulty here is that churches are banking on an eternal principle, which is the law of sacrifice. Any time we strive to sacrifice for others, we receive more in return. We receive a blessing. What people don't realize is that helping those who are truly in need is what God intended. I doubt he wanted us to stuff the pockets and large financial investments of a corporate church.

If you’d like to explore this topic further please see the linked resources below.

Disclaimer #2: I may agree with all, some, or maybe just a few words of the content listed below. I may also strongly disagree with elements that are shared. Take the Spirit as your guide as you study all things.

Hemlock Knots: Tithing–Timeline of Events

Pay Your tithes

Pure Mormonism: Are we paying too much tithing?

Face2Face Renlund: National Prosperity Gospel of Tithing?

April 2005 General Conference: Tithing, even a commandment for the destitute

Mormon Think: Tithing

Modern Mormon Men: Financial Transparency and the LDS Church

Tithing: Gospel of Mormon Prosperity

Elder Johnson: Essential obligations of paying tithing (Part 1) (Part 2)

Elder Nelson - Help Argentinas economic disaster by Teaching Tithing

Elder Faust: Get out of poverty by paying tithing

Elder Oaks: Pay tithing, or else