Enr. Act. 6

My Heav’nly Father gives me My Heav’nly Father gives me all good and lovely things:all good and lovely things:The sun that shines, the rain The sun that shines, the rain that falls, the meadowlark that falls, the meadowlark that sings.that sings.I’m glad to pay a tithing, I’m glad to pay a tithing, one-tenth of all I earn;one-tenth of all I earn;It’s little when I think of all It’s little when I think of all God gives me in return.God gives me in return.Words and music: Ruth Benson Lehenbauer, b. 1933. © 1969 IRIWords and music: Ruth Benson Lehenbauer, b. 1933. © 1969 IRI

““Lesson 24: The Widow’s Mite,” Lesson 24: The Widow’s Mite,” Primary 7: New Testament, Primary 7: New Testament, 7878

Who would Who would like to have like to have these coins?these coins?

If I gave you all these If I gave you all these coins, would you be coins, would you be willing to give willing to give oneone back back to me? to me?

Why? Why?

Would you be Would you be willing to willing to give give twotwo or or threethree back to back to me or maybe me or maybe even even allall of of them?them?

Heavenly Father has Heavenly Father has commanded us to pay commanded us to pay tithing, which is giving tithing, which is giving back to him one-tenth of back to him one-tenth of whatever we earn. whatever we earn.

He has also asked us to He has also asked us to give other donations, such give other donations, such as fast offerings and as fast offerings and contributions to the contributions to the missionary fund, to help missionary fund, to help further His work here on further His work here on earth.earth.

Everything on Everything on the earth was the earth was created by created by Heavenly Heavenly Father and Father and Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father blessed Heavenly Father blessed us with our bodies and us with our bodies and our minds so we can our minds so we can work and think. work and think.

All that All that we earn or we earn or receive on receive on the earth the earth is a gift is a gift from Him. from Him.

Heavenly Father wants us Heavenly Father wants us to show our gratitude, to show our gratitude, faith, and obedience by faith, and obedience by paying tithing and giving paying tithing and giving other offerings to the other offerings to the Church.Church.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Heavenly Father and Jesus have always commanded have always commanded people to pay tithing and people to pay tithing and also asked them to make also asked them to make other donations to help other donations to help supply the needs of the supply the needs of the Church.Church.

WWhile Jesus was near the hile Jesus was near the temple in Jerusalem, He temple in Jerusalem, He watched people put money watched people put money for the Church into big boxes. for the Church into big boxes.

MMany rich men put any rich men put a lot of money a lot of money into the boxes.into the boxes.

AA poor widow, a woman whose poor widow, a woman whose husband had died, went to the husband had died, went to the boxes and put in two pieces of boxes and put in two pieces of money called mites. money called mites.

IIt was not very t was not very much money, much money, but it was but it was allall the money the money she had.she had.

JJesus saw the esus saw the widow and told widow and told the disciples what the disciples what she had done.she had done.

JJesus said the rich esus said the rich people had given people had given a greater amount a greater amount of money than of money than she had, but they she had, but they had more at had more at home.home.

TThe widow he widow had no had no more more money at money at home.home.

IIn a way, she had given more n a way, she had given more to the Church than all the rich to the Church than all the rich men, because she had given men, because she had given all that she had.all that she had.

WWhat did the rich people cast into the hat did the rich people cast into the church treasury? church treasury?

LLet’s read Mark 12:41et’s read Mark 12:41

WWhat did the widow put in the hat did the widow put in the treasury? treasury?

LLet’s read Mark 12:42et’s read Mark 12:42

AA mite was a very mite was a very small amount of small amount of

money.money.

WWhy was Jesus hy was Jesus more pleased more pleased with the with the widow’s widow’s offering than offering than that of the that of the rich people? rich people?

LLet’s read Mark et’s read Mark

12:43–4412:43–44

HHow much does Heavenly Father ow much does Heavenly Father command us to pay in tithing? command us to pay in tithing?

LLet’s read D&C 119:4et’s read D&C 119:4

““Interest” means whatever money Interest” means whatever money we earn. we earn.

DDo you know how to figure out tithing o you know how to figure out tithing amounts?amounts?

WWhat does it mean to pay an honest hat does it mean to pay an honest tithe?tithe?

HHow much has ow much has Heavenly Father Heavenly Father asked us to pay in asked us to pay in fast offerings? fast offerings?

HHow much does He ow much does He ask us to pay to ask us to pay to the missionary the missionary fund? fund?

UUnlike the set nlike the set amount of tithing amount of tithing we have been we have been commanded to pay, commanded to pay, we decide how we decide how much we contribute much we contribute to fast offerings to fast offerings and the missionary and the missionary fund based on what fund based on what we have and what we have and what our needs are. our needs are.

HHeavenly Father eavenly Father has asked only has asked only that we be that we be generous, generous, because the because the more we give, more we give, the more we are the more we are showing that we showing that we are committed are committed to doing to doing Heavenly Heavenly Father’s work.Father’s work.

IIn what other way can we help n what other way can we help further Heavenly Father’s work?further Heavenly Father’s work?

LLet’s read Exodus 25:1–8 & D&C et’s read Exodus 25:1–8 & D&C

124:26–27 124:26–27

MMembers throughout the ages embers throughout the ages have been asked to contribute have been asked to contribute to building temples. to building temples.

TToday temples are being oday temples are being constructed all over the world, constructed all over the world, and we can receive great and we can receive great blessings by contributing if we blessings by contributing if we are in a district where a new are in a district where a new temple is being built.temple is being built.

WWhy does the Lord ask us to pay hy does the Lord ask us to pay tithing? tithing?

WWhat blessings do we receive when hat blessings do we receive when we pay a full tithing? we pay a full tithing?

LLet’s read 3 Nephi 24:10et’s read 3 Nephi 24:10 WW

hat does it mean hat does it mean to have the to have the windows of heaven windows of heaven opened to us? opened to us?

WWhat kinds hat kinds of of blessings blessings do we do we receive receive when we when we pay other pay other offerings?offerings?

PPresident Spencer W. Kimball said:resident Spencer W. Kimball said:

““The Lord has promised that He will The Lord has promised that He will open the windows of heaven when open the windows of heaven when we are obedient to His law. we are obedient to His law.

““He can give us better salaries, He He can give us better salaries, He can give us more judgment in the can give us more judgment in the spending of our money. He can give spending of our money. He can give us better health, He can give us us better health, He can give us greater understanding so that we greater understanding so that we can get better positions. can get better positions.

““He can help us so that we can do the He can help us so that we can do the things we want to do” things we want to do” ((The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 212). p. 212).

TThe greatest blessings we he greatest blessings we receive from paying tithing receive from paying tithing and other offerings are and other offerings are spiritual. spiritual.

OOur faith grows stronger each ur faith grows stronger each time we choose to obey the time we choose to obey the law of tithing and be law of tithing and be generous in our generous in our contributions to fast contributions to fast offerings and the missionary offerings and the missionary fund.fund.

HHow have you ow have you or someone or someone

you know you know been blessed been blessed

by paying by paying tithing or tithing or

other other offerings? offerings?

WWhen should we pay our tithing? hen should we pay our tithing? We can pay tithing any time We can pay tithing any time during the year, but it is best during the year, but it is best to pay as soon as we receive to pay as soon as we receive any income. any income.

TTo whom do we give our tithing o whom do we give our tithing and other offerings? and other offerings? To the bishop or his To the bishop or his counselors. counselors.

TThe bishop sends tithing money he bishop sends tithing money to Church headquarters, to Church headquarters, where Church leaders where Church leaders determine how best to spend determine how best to spend it to carry out the Lord’s work. it to carry out the Lord’s work.

FFast offerings and missionary ast offerings and missionary funds are used locally; excess funds are used locally; excess funds are sent to Church funds are sent to Church headquarters.headquarters.

HHow is our tithing money ow is our tithing money used? used?

Some ways are:Some ways are:Building meetinghouses, Building meetinghouses, temples, seminaries and temples, seminaries and institutes of religion, institutes of religion, mission training centers, mission training centers, and family history centers. and family history centers.

Enr. Act. 2

HHow is our tithing money ow is our tithing money used? used?

Some ways are:Some ways are:Paying for ward and stake Paying for ward and stake activities and teaching activities and teaching manuals and supplies. manuals and supplies.

Paying for meetinghouse Paying for meetinghouse maintenance and utilities. maintenance and utilities.

Enr. Act. 2

HHow is our tithing money used? ow is our tithing money used?

Some ways are:Some ways are:Paying travel expenses and Paying travel expenses and supplies for missionaries. supplies for missionaries.

Paying travel and other Paying travel and other expenses for General expenses for General Authorities. Authorities.

Providing computers for use in Providing computers for use in temple and family history work.temple and family history work.

Enr. Act. 2

HHow is our tithing money ow is our tithing money used? used?

Some ways are:Some ways are:Helping publish Church Helping publish Church magazines. magazines.

Paying for Church satellite Paying for Church satellite broadcasts. broadcasts.

Paying for translation and Paying for translation and publication of the scriptures.publication of the scriptures.

Enr. Act. 2

WWhat is tithing settlement? hat is tithing settlement? A meeting we have once each A meeting we have once each year with the bishop. year with the bishop.

We review the records of the We review the records of the tithing and other contributions tithing and other contributions we have paid and tell him if we we have paid and tell him if we are a full-tithe payer. are a full-tithe payer.

We can declare that we are full-We can declare that we are full-tithe payers if we have paid tithe payers if we have paid one-tenth of all our income to one-tenth of all our income to the Lord.the Lord.

HHow are fast offerings used? ow are fast offerings used?

Fast Fast offerings offerings support the support the welfare welfare program of program of the Church.the Church.

WWhy do you think it is important hy do you think it is important that we pay tithing willingly? that we pay tithing willingly?

LLet’s read Moroni 7:6–8et’s read Moroni 7:6–8

IIf our incomes are small, are f our incomes are small, are we still expected to pay we still expected to pay tithing? tithing?

WWhy?hy?

PPresident Spencer W. Kimball resident Spencer W. Kimball said:said:

““There are people who say There are people who say they cannot afford to pay they cannot afford to pay tithing because their tithing because their incomes are small… No one is incomes are small… No one is ever too poor to pay tithing” ever too poor to pay tithing” ((The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 212). p. 212).

WWhy is it important to pay other hy is it important to pay other offerings? offerings?

HHow can we use ow can we use the widow’s the widow’s contribution as contribution as an example of an example of making making donations to the donations to the Church? Church?

IIn the future we may be n the future we may be asked to give everything asked to give everything we have to the Church. we have to the Church.

BBut right now we are asked ut right now we are asked to give only what we are to give only what we are able to donate and still able to donate and still meet our own needs.meet our own needs.

Enr. Act. 1

LLet’s use this play money for a game!et’s use this play money for a game!

PPretend to be a family and make a retend to be a family and make a budget for the amount of money I give budget for the amount of money I give you. Make a budget for food, rent, you. Make a budget for food, rent, utilities, clothing, and recreation. utilities, clothing, and recreation.

AAdd tithing and other offerings to your dd tithing and other offerings to your budget by placing them first on the budget by placing them first on the list. list.

WWe should always pay our tithing first e should always pay our tithing first because that is the Lord’s tenth.because that is the Lord’s tenth.

Enr. Act. 3

II have a piece of paper and a pencil for have a piece of paper and a pencil for each of you. each of you.

WWe are going to look outside. e are going to look outside.

QQuietly write uietly write down as many down as many things as you things as you can see in a few can see in a few minutes. minutes.

Enr. Act. 3

WWhat did you see?hat did you see?

HHeavenly Father has given us eavenly Father has given us everything we have, and everything we have, and paying tithing and offerings paying tithing and offerings is one way we can show our is one way we can show our love and gratitude to him.love and gratitude to him.

TThe following story is by President he following story is by President Ezra Taft Benson:Ezra Taft Benson:

““On one occasion when I was a On one occasion when I was a teenager, I overheard Father and teenager, I overheard Father and Mother talking about their Mother talking about their finances in preparation for tithing finances in preparation for tithing settlement the following day. settlement the following day.

““Father [owed] twenty-five dollars Father [owed] twenty-five dollars at the bank, which was due during at the bank, which was due during the week. In figuring their tithing, the week. In figuring their tithing, he owed twenty-five dollars more. he owed twenty-five dollars more. Enr. Act. 4

““He also had a hay derrick He also had a hay derrick [something used to lift [something used to lift hay onto a haystack] hay onto a haystack] which he had built. He … which he had built. He … was trying to sell it, but was trying to sell it, but had met with no success.had met with no success.

Enr. Act. 4

““What were they to do—[pay] What were they to do—[pay] the bank, pay their tithing the bank, pay their tithing later, or pay their tithing and later, or pay their tithing and hope that they could [pay the hope that they could [pay the bank] in just a few days? bank] in just a few days?

““After discussing the matter, and I After discussing the matter, and I am sure praying together before am sure praying together before they retired, Father decided next they retired, Father decided next day to go to tithing settlement day to go to tithing settlement and pay the twenty-five dollars, and pay the twenty-five dollars, which would make him a full-tithe which would make him a full-tithe payer. payer.

““As he rode home by horseback, As he rode home by horseback, one of his neighbors stopped him one of his neighbors stopped him and said, ‘George, I understand and said, ‘George, I understand you have a derrick for sale. How you have a derrick for sale. How much are you asking for it?’much are you asking for it?’ Enr. Act. 4

““Father said, ‘Twenty-five Father said, ‘Twenty-five dollars.’ The neighbor said, ‘I dollars.’ The neighbor said, ‘I haven’t seen it, but knowing haven’t seen it, but knowing the way you build, I am sure it the way you build, I am sure it is worth twenty-five dollars. is worth twenty-five dollars.

““Just a minute and I will go in Just a minute and I will go in the house and make out a the house and make out a check for it. I need it.’ This is a check for it. I need it.’ This is a lesson I have not forgotten” lesson I have not forgotten” ((The The

Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson,Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 471–72). pp. 471–72).Enr. Act. 4

Enr. Act. 5

““When I was about five or six When I was about five or six years old, I sat at the dinner table years old, I sat at the dinner table with my large family and listened with my large family and listened as the others discussed tithing. as the others discussed tithing.

““They told me that tithing is one-They told me that tithing is one-tenth of all we earn and that it is tenth of all we earn and that it is paid to the Lord by those who paid to the Lord by those who love him. love him.

Enr. Act. 5

““After dinner I got out the small After dinner I got out the small amount of money I had saved amount of money I had saved and figured what I owed the and figured what I owed the Lord as tithing. Lord as tithing.

““I then went to the only room in I then went to the only room in the house with a lock on the the house with a lock on the door—the bathroom—and door—the bathroom—and there knelt by the bathtub. there knelt by the bathtub.

Enr. Act. 5

““Holding the three or four coins in Holding the three or four coins in my upturned hands, I asked the my upturned hands, I asked the Lord to accept them—certain that Lord to accept them—certain that he would do so. he would do so.

““I pleaded with the Lord for some I pleaded with the Lord for some time, but the money remained in time, but the money remained in my hands. my hands.

““No little boy could have felt No little boy could have felt more rejected than I did. more rejected than I did.

Enr. Act. 5

““The Lord had accepted tithing The Lord had accepted tithing from my parents and from all from my parents and from all of my older brothers. of my older brothers.

““Why not from me? As I rose Why not from me? As I rose from my knees, I felt so from my knees, I felt so unworthy that I could not tell unworthy that I could not tell anyone what had happened. anyone what had happened. Only the Lord knew. Only the Lord knew.

Enr. Act. 5

““A few days later at Primary the A few days later at Primary the teacher said she felt impressed teacher said she felt impressed to talk about something that to talk about something that was not in the lesson. was not in the lesson.

““I sat amazed as she then I sat amazed as she then taught us how to pay tithing. taught us how to pay tithing. But what I learned was far But what I learned was far more important than how to more important than how to pay tithing. pay tithing.

Enr. Act. 5

““I learned that the I learned that the Lord had heard Lord had heard and answered my and answered my prayer, that He prayer, that He loved me, and loved me, and that I was that I was important to important to Him” Him” (Artel Ricks, “Coins for the Lord,” (Artel Ricks, “Coins for the Lord,” Ensign,Ensign,

Dec. 1990, p. 47).Dec. 1990, p. 47).

II bear testimony of the bear testimony of the importance of paying tithing. importance of paying tithing. Paying our tithing is a way to Paying our tithing is a way to express our gratitude to express our gratitude to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

FFaith that is needed to pay tithing aith that is needed to pay tithing and blessings come from being and blessings come from being obedient to the law of tithing.obedient to the law of tithing.

HHere is a donation ere is a donation receipt and receipt and envelope for envelope for each of you. each of you.

II challenge you to challenge you to pay an honest pay an honest tithe whenever tithe whenever you receive any you receive any income.income.

TThe hymn, lesson and scripture story are from he hymn, lesson and scripture story are from lds.org.lds.org.

IImages and clipart are from lds.org, mages and clipart are from lds.org, sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other sugardoodle.net, Microsoft Office, and other websites indicating the images were in the public websites indicating the images were in the public domain or permitted for church and home use. domain or permitted for church and home use.

PPlease do not use this presentation for commercial lease do not use this presentation for commercial use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in use. Feel free to alter the presentation for use in church or home to suit personal preference.church or home to suit personal preference.

TThis presentation is intended to supplement, not his presentation is intended to supplement, not replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. replace, the lesson manual and scriptures. Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures Teachers should refer to the manual, scriptures and other resources when preparing and and other resources when preparing and conducting the lesson.conducting the lesson.