LDS Freedom Forum

Thinker wrote:Col Flagg,
If someone paid their tithing according to the Good Samaritan parable & Jesus' command to "go and do likewise"... by paying tithes directly to help those in need (like the almost 1,000,000,000 starving)... would they still be considered "unworthy"?

The commandment is to "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house"
(Malachi 3:10‎)‎.

If we bring the tithes somewhere else, we are paying tithing in "some other way" (D&C 50:18)

Having been a financial clerk twice, and a counselor in the bishopric, I have had many opportunity to count tithing on Sunday afternoon. Having the name is important for at least two reasons: 1. Taxes (in the USA). The church is required by law to give receipts, and for some people, it is their only deduction. 2. When tithing is counted, it is compared to what is on the slip, and if they don't match the counters have to call the member to find out what to do.

YES. The questions is "Are you a full tithe payer", not "Did you pay 10% of your gross income to your local bishop."

When I wanted to donate some stock certificates, the Bishop couldn't help me. He referred me to the "Donations in Kind" office in Salt Lake and they were able to accept the stock, and provided me a receipt. There are some donations that can not be handled by the local leaders.
I also do the double up every year plan, and take the standard tax deduction on odd years.

Eddie Lyle wrote:So if folks paid directly to HQ bypassing local leaders would they still declare to the bishop their status? I believe they would.

Col. Flagg wrote:

ithink wrote:

Col. Flagg wrote:A few weeks ago as I was preparing my tithing donation, I noticed on the white slip that goes along with the check/cash that the address line has been replaced with 'record number' and it no longer asks the donator to distinguish between currency, coin or check. I thought it was odd that they would require your record number now when donating because few members know their record number (even though it is easily accessible in the clerk's office or even on your temple recommend). Does anyone know why they made the change?

That just makes it easier to fill in now, since my record number is: ANO-NYM-OUS.

=)) This is mere speculation on my part, but I'm guessing you probably don't have tithing settlement do you?

Why not? It goes like this:

BISHOP: Are you a full tithe payer?

ANO-NYM-OUS: Yes

BISHOP: But we have no records of that.

ANO-NYM-OUS: That is nice. May I go now?

BISHOP: Have a nice day.

ANO-NYM-OUS: I will, I'm going home to re-read The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyk.

You see: keeping secrets from even the bishop can be fun. And it's doctrinal.

7cylon7 wrote:

A Random Phrase wrote:

ithink wrote: That just makes it easier to fill in now, since my record number is: ANO-NYM-OUS.

Oh, I so love this! :ymapplause:

And it's in keeping with the admonition of Jesus to not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (I mean, if we're really giving to the Lord, why do they need to know who gave, and why do we need the gov't to reimburse us for the tithing paid?)

That is an excellent point. Why do they need to know? I guess it is easy to get a tax summary at the end but each slip on its own can do that.

Right on. I believe, if you get it all back by taxes, the how much have you given? Yep: 0%.

The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyk. It's a good read.

ithink wrote:The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyk. It's a good read.

Available here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/704

It's pretty short: Thirteen pages of actual reading, when I downloaded it (I haven't read it yet; going to do that now).

Just FYI- this is the response from tech.lds.org:

The Tithing and Other Offerings Form is different whether the intended geography is US/Canada, outside US/Canada, the Pacific area, or Australia. So , there were 4 types of donations forms. The ones with membership numbers are not intended for the US/Canada areas.

However, the latest response from that forum is that there ARE new forms for worldwide distribution:

new tithing slips that were recently approved for world-wide distribution. The first shipments did not include cash, coin, and check fields which are important to help clerks and leaders as they process donations. Use up the current stocks and when you order more, you will get the newest ones with the cash, coin, and check fields on the slips again.

Also, donations other than Tithing, Fast offering, General missionary, Ward missionary, and Humanitarian aid are to be included in the Other category. Tax deductible categories will still be tax deductible while pass through funds will not be tax deductible. ....Church accounting systems, including MLS will be able to identify those that are tax deductible and those that are not.

A notice will soon be sent to priesthood leaders worldwide.

However the last response on the thread was that they are already being revised, again.

If indeed the current forms stay as is, the missing categories can be paid by the members through LDS philanthropies website and include:

Current Giving Opportunities



Institutions and Programs: Information and Donation Forms

Church History

FamilySearch

Latter-day Saint Charities

Perpetual Education Fund

Missionary

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Temple

CES: Elementary and Secondary Schools

Show me all available funds

Colleges and Universities

Brigham Young University (BYU)
Colleges
Departments and Other Units
Donate to multiple university-wide priorities
Donate to multiple colleges, departments, and other units
Show me all available funds at BYU Provo

BYU-Hawaii

BYU-Idaho

LDS Business College

Polynesian Cultural Center