Could a person be an active member of the Mormon Church if he did not pay his tithing?

Question

Dear Gramps

Please tell me if you can, are Mormons required to pay tithe in order to remain in “active member” status?

Bobbi

Answer

Dear Bobbi,

Whenever the Church of God has been on the earth tithing has been one of the gospel principles that the members of the Church were enjoined to observe. We first hear of tithing in the Old Testament in Gen.14:20 where it is told that Abraham paid tithes to the great High Priest, Melchizedek. The concept of tithing is brought up sixteen times in the Old Testament, the last time it is found in Malachi 3:8, where the Lord proposes the following question:

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

.But your question is whether or not a Mormon can have “active” status if he or she does not pay an honest tithing. If non-payment of tithing is a form of robbery of the Lord, it would seem to be obvious that it is a requirement of the gospel, and one who would violate that basic commandment could not be considered to be worthily living the gospel.

Now we must try to understand what you mean by an “active member.” A person who does not pay his tithing is not prohibited from attending the many activities of the Mormon Church, and, in fact, is encouraged to participate to the extent possible and to be and to feel accepted by the other members of the Mormon Church.

However, since the person is not compliant with such a fundamental principle of the gospel as tithing, there are certain blessings that indeed are denied him/her. A person who does not pay his tithing would be considered unworthy to hold major priesthood responsibilities that involve presiding over and directing the activities of other members. In addition, in order to obtain a recommend to enter one of the holy temples of the Lord, a person must be a full tithe payer, as well as to be in compliance with all the other laws and covenants of the gospel.

Gramps