Help to Get out of Debt

In January of 1999, we came a sobering realization- without overtime money we could not pay our bills!  We rechecked the figures many times, but there was no denying the seriousness of our situation.  We were thousands of dollars in debt, without any savings, or enough regular income to cover our monthly expenses.

We started asking ourselves questions.  Mainly, how did we get into this predicament?  That was easy- we’d been raising several children and there had been many medical bills which even our good health insurance hadn’t covered.  Yes, there had been considerable expenses, but this really didn’t justify our debt.  We took a closer look at our spending habits.  Soon, it became apparent how we became so far in debt.  It really was easy.  We had been basing our financial decisions on emotion.  Our criteria was simply whether one of us “deserved” something, or with our income we “should” be able to afford it, or it was a “sale too good to pass up”.  “Get it if you really need it, but don’t buy it if you don’t really need it”, was our nebulous creed for managing finances.  We each bought what we thought we needed.  We spent money when we had it and charged when we didn’t.  We were amazed that we weren’t even deeper in debt!

Tithing Helps Us Get Out of Debt

We had only been married a few years when we sold our trailer and bought our first home. Though we were thrilled to have a real home, there were many unexpected expenses, and we quickly became overwhelmed by our debt. Consequently, my husband began juggling paying bills. Tithing* was viewed as just another bill and often paid a month or two late when we felt we could afford it.

Soon, to our dismay, we discovered that all we were paying each month was the interest on our debt. We tried everything we could think of to get out of debt, but nothing changed. Finally, we decided to trust the Lord’s promises and pay our tithing first. Though we never fully understood how it happened, several months later we found ourselves out of debt. We were now a humble and grateful young couple who had learned that we would receive help beyond our abilities if we would just keep the Lord’s commandments.

I wrote more about our experience in getting out of debt in this article  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/07/climbing-out-of-debt?lang=eng

*As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we covenant to return 10% of  our income to the Lord.
https://www.lds.org/topics/tithing?lang=eng

Tithing Protected Us

We had heard that if you paid your *tithing the windows of heaven would be opened and the devourer would not destroy your fruit, but we never understood what that meant until then. It was 1982 and we were on our way to my parents’ home to spend Christmas with them when a blizzard blew in. After fighting icy roads for a few miles, we decided to turn back. Disappointed, but grateful to be safely home, we called and told my parents that we were unable to come, then checked on the Cambodian family who were staying with us in our basement. We had agreed to sponsor this family of seven, with the help of our community, so that they would not be shot in the refugee camp purges which were occurring at that time.

They seemed fine, but showed us how some lights were not working. My husband checked the circuit, only to discover that some old wiring had come loose and electricity was arcing in our attic. In a short time, there would have been a fire. Stunned, we sat there as the realization came to us that not only could our home and all our possessions have been destroyed if we hadn’t returned home at that moment, but this family of seven might have been killed.  We felt a strong sense that it had been our payment of tithing which had protected us and this family, and we will always be grateful that the Lord kept “the devourer” away.

*As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we covenant to return 10% of  our income to the Lord.
https://www.lds.org/topics/tithing?lang=eng

Blessed by Paying Tithing

In 1972  I was a young coed at Brigham Young University; far from home, and very lonely. My grandparents’ home was only four hours away by bus, and I longed to be with someone I knew, someplace like home. There was only one problem- it cost ten dollars for the ticket. I had ten dollars, but it was my tithing* money. Since I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints two years before, I had conscientiously paid my tithing. Maybe, I could wait a couple of weeks to pay my tithing and visit my Grandparents now. After all, I reasoned, it was good to nurture family relationships, and I was even going to get some family history information from my grandmother. Perhaps, this visit could even count as missionary work since my grandparents weren’t members of The Church. My justified dreams faded  away in the bright knowledge that there was no excuse for not paying my tithing. This money was the Lord’s, not mine.

Why Won't the Church Let Her Be Baptized?

A friend told me that she had seen a "reality" show on TV where a young woman wanted to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but wasn't being allowed to join. She wanted to know why. Here is my answer. 


I have no idea what is really going on with that show, but I am very suspicious of emotional pleas on "reality" shows. As long as this is a publicity item, it probably won't happen. 

Also, you can not join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just because you "are willing". You have to take a series of lessons which teach you about the principles of the Gospel. 

Next, you must have an interview with a Church leader to make sure you understand the principles and are willing to live these principles which include such things as the Word of Wisdom (laws of health) https://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng, Chastity https://www.lds.org/topics/chastity?lang=eng, and Tithing https://www.lds.org/topics/tithing?lang=eng. 

Only after you demonstrate that you understand what you are committing to and have sincerely repented of all you have done which is wrong, are you allowed to be baptized. When you are baptized you commit with all your heart to keep all the commandments of God. You are not baptized to be a member of The Church, but as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, you can be confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 


Here is a good place to learn more about the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
https://www.mormon.org/

Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a Cult?

Some people think The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a cult. I don't know about you, but doesn't the word "cult" sound scary? I think of crazed charismatic leaders who mind control their followers to make them do horrible things. I associate things like kidnapping, abuse, and mass suicide with cults. I certainly wouldn't want to be a part of a group like that!

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are known throughout the world as great humanitarians. We are some of the first people there to help after disasters and the last to leave. How could such a church with over 15 million members around the world be considered a "cult"?