Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Forty-One

Tithing and the Temple

The importance of tithing and the temple – Because Malachi lived nearly 200 years after Lehi left Jerusalem the brass plates did not contain the teachings of Malachi on tithing and on the temple.  Therefore, as Jesus concluded his resurrected ministry among the Nephites “he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them.  And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them” (3 Nephi 24:1).  He then quoted Malachi 3 on tithing as recorded in 3 Nephi 24 and Malachi 4 on the temple as recorded in 3 Nephi 25, and explained:

“These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations” (3 Nephi 26:2).  

Tithing and the temple must be very important to future generations in our dispensation because we have both Malachi’s witness in the Old Testament, and the witness of the Lord Himself in the Book of Mormon as to their importance.      

 

Tithing

“Will a man rob God?”  The Lord answers his own question.  “Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say:  Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings (3 Nephi 24:8).  The Lord is reminding us that “every man [is] accountable as a steward over earthly blessings…. for all things are mine” (D&C 104:13-15).  If we don’t pay our tithing and give back to him the tenth of all things that are his anyway, we are robbing God.

“Open you the windows of heaven” – The Lord proposes that we test his promise: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (3 Nephi 14:10).

President Harold B. Lee said: “the promise following obedience to this principle [the law of tithing] is that the windows of heaven would be open and blessings would be poured out that we would hardly be able to contain.  The opening of the windows of heaven, of course, means revelations from God to him who is willing thus to sacrifice” (Ensign, Nov. 1971, p. 16). Faithfulness in tithing will bring additional personal revelation and knowledge from God.

These blessings, which are spiritual, include the blessings of the temple as only full tithe payers are worthy to attend the temple.  These blessings will come in many marvelous ways including the daily receipt of the “tender mercies” and the “loving kindness” of the Lord.

“I will rebuke the devourer” – The Lord also promises temporal blessings: “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts” (3 Nephi 24:11).  We will be prospered in our temporal pursuits if we are full tithe payers.  President Hinckley asked: “May not that rebuke of the devourer apply to various of our personal efforts and concerns” (Ensign, May 1982, p. 40).

This does not mean we will be rich as the world defines riches, but it does mean that we will have enough to meet our needs.  When visiting the Philippines President Hinckley observed the poverty that was so prevalent.  He was impressed by the Spirit to know that tithing was the answer to the world’s poverty.  He then promised the members there that if they would pay a full tithing that they would have enough food to eat, clothes to wear, and an adequate place to live. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer to poverty and other problems that plague this world.

 

Temples

An improved version of prophesy concerning Elijah – In D&C 2:1-3 Angel Moroni gave Joseph Smith an improved rendering of the prophesy found in Malachi 4:5-6 and in 3 Nephi 25:5-6.  Both versions of the prophecy about the return of Elijah prior to the Second Coming are correct, but the improved version taught by Moroni has two additional phrases which, if properly understood and lived, will qualify us for exaltation in the celestial kingdom.

Our daughter Sarah Bradley with our granddaughters Kayla and Kiera at the Ghana Temple

“Behold, I will reveal unto you the priesthood by the hand of Elijah the Prophet” (D&C 2:1).  Peter, James and John restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to Joseph Smith in June 1829.  Joseph was given the keys of the kingdom, the keys of this dispensation, and the apostleship.  Elijah came in April 1836 and brought the keys of the sealing power, and the Lord thus revealed the fullness of the priesthood or the total and complete use of the priesthood.  The priesthood could now bind families together on earth and seal them eternally in heaven. 

The Prophet Elijah restored the sealing power “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers…” (D&C 110:13-15).   Because the sealing power has been restored and is being exercised in temples today all gospel covenants and ordinances, including celestial marriage, are bound on earth and sealed everlastingly in heaven for both the living and the dead.  (See D&C 132:7)

“And [Elijah] shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers” (D&C 2:2) – Who are the children?  Who are the fathers?  What are the promises?

  • The fathers are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
  • The promises are found in the Abrahamic covenant.  “Abraham first received the gospel by baptism (which is the covenant of salvation).  Then he had conferred upon him the higher priesthood, and he entered celestial marriage (which is the covenant of exaltation), gaining insurance thereby that he would have eternal increase” (LDS Bible Dictionary, Abraham, Covenant of).
  • The children are those who enter and keep the same gospel covenants as did Abraham. 

“And the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers” (D&C 2:2 emphasis mine) – In recent years, as children’s hearts have turned to their fathers, there has been a great increase in family history and temple work on behalf of ancestors who have passed on.

The great blessings of the temple are given to those believe the Book of Mormon –
“And when they shall receive this (the teaching of the Book of Mormon), which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things (the teachings of the temple) be made manifest unto them.

“And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation” (3 Nephi 26:9-10).

Testimony – The blessings of tithing and of the temple are available to every faithful member the Church.  These blessings are not conditioned on our Church calling or our status in society.  These marvelous blessings are based only on personal righteousness.

We should not live beneath our privileges, but we should do all that is necessary to enjoy the blessings promised to those who live the law of tithing and worthily attend the temple.