Did Tithing Replace Consecration?

Title

Did Tithing Replace Consecration?

Publication Type

Podcast

Publication Date

January 30, 2024

Authors

Griffiths, Casey Paul (Primary), and Woodward, Scott (Primary)

URL

https://churchhistorymatters.podbean.com/e/did-tithing-replace-consecration/

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

In the aftermath of the significant 1837 failure of the church’s banking business in Kirtland, Ohio, and the subsequent fallout with several church leaders, including death threats, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon fled Ohio to be with church members in Far West, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, in April 1838, the Lord commanded the saints to build the Far West temple, but charged them to not go into more debt to do so. Church leaders were then already steeped in debts from Kirtland as it was. So, in response to Joseph’s prayerful plea in July of that year as to how to fund the various needs of the church, the Lord revealed what we now know as the Law of Tithing. In this episode of Church History Matters, we discuss several of the fascinating details from this history and grapple with a few fundamental and slightly controversial questions about tithing.