In his commentary “In LDS scandal, spare a thought for the victims,” Andrew L. Seidel uses the word “demand” five times in explaining how the LDS Church extracts tithing from its members.
As an active member for over 70 years, I’ve not once had anyone demand that I pay my tithing. It is totally a voluntary act. Nor have I ever been threatened with “eternal torture and torment.”
Tithing is not about money; it’s about obeying a law of the Lord. The law does not vary from rich to poor, any more than the commandment “Thou shalt not steal” varies from the rich to the poor. The law is the same for everyone.
Because the law of tithing is a doctrine of the Lord and not a policy, the church cannot alter it. I pay my tithing to the Lord and leave the administration of it to the church, which I trust implicitly.
I do not see the leaders of the church living extravagant lifestyles, nor do I see waste, but I do see an expansion of the kingdom of God on earth and a lot of humanitarian aid. I will do my part and let the church do its part. If the church chooses to flush my money down the drain, for my part I will still obey the law.
Fred Johnsen, Murray
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