Week 38: Tithing

Song: I'm Glad to Pay a Tithing (CS. 150)

Thought: Tithing has been established in these latter days as an essential law for members of the Lord’s restored Church. It is one of the basic ways we witness our faith in Him and our obedience to His laws and commandments. Tithing is one of the commandments that qualifies us, by our faith, to enter the temple—the house of the Lord. (Robert D. Hales)

Object Lesson: M&M's and Tithing

Video: Tithing

Lesson Activity: Prepare for the following activity by doing the following: Ask your family to search Malachi 3:8–10 and D&C 64:23 and share the promises made to tithe payers. Ask them to find out what the Lord expects us to pay in tithes by reading D&C 119 (explain that “interest” is our annual “income”). Hand out tithing receipts, and let them explain to each other how to use them. Share how you have been blessed for paying tithing.

Materials Needed: 3 buckets or containers, 3 beanbags or rolled socks to toss into the buckets.  You'll also need  pretend money denominations, blank tithing slips. Each bucket should have a money piece in the bottom to indicate the value of the bucket. Keep secret the value of each bucket.

Play: Give the player three beanbags to toss. When he or she has tossed the three beanbags, total up the dollar value.  At the end of their turn, give that person the amount earned and have them figure out how much tithing they need to pay.  (HINT:  It's best to give the earned amount in things easily divisible by ten, i.e. ten dimes for a dollar, etc., so they can count out ten on their own to figure out which part is owed to tithing.)  Change the money pieces after each turn so that each buckets value remains a secret.  At the end of the game, help each person practice filling out a tithing slip with their amount of tithing. Tithing Toss

This Week's Challenge: Discuss the individual circumstances of your family/family members as far as income is concerned. Identify ways to make it easier to live the law of tithing both individually and as a family. Encourage and support each other to not only be full tithe payers, but to find ways to contribute to the other offerings.