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Church History Matters

052 Q&R! On Early Church Finance w/ Drs. Elizabeth Kuehn & Jeffrey Mahas

Church History Matters

Scripture Central

Religion & Spirituality:christianity, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.92K Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2024

⏱️ 77 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Doctrine & Covenants 119 directs Church members to pay essentially two tithings—the first tithing being a one-time donation of all of their surplus property (meaning whatever they don’t have immediate need of), and the second tithing being an ongoing payment of one-tenth of what they would make in interest annually if they invested their total net worth at 6%. So, when did we shift in the Church away from the payment of tithing in that two-part way to the more general approach today of really only one type of tithe as 10% of our income? Also, who are the Danites and what role did they play in early tithing collection in Far West? Furthermore, how is it okay for some full-time Church leaders today to receive a financial stipend or allowance? Is that historically justified in the revelations and early practice of the Church? Also—related question—is it considered priestcraft for people to receive money for their efforts to build Zion?   Finally, after Joseph Smith’s martyrdom, was there significant disagreement between Brigham Young and Emma Smith regarding Church financial assets? If so, what role did that play in their turbulent relationship over the next decades?  All of these questions and more coming your way on this episode of Church History Matters with Dr. Elizabeth Kuehn and a surprise guest we brought on last minute (we think you'll like him). For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hi, this is Scott from Church History Matters.

0:02.6

After today's episode, we've only got one more to go to wrap this series up,

0:06.9

and we want to hear more of your questions.

0:09.3

Next week we will be pleased to have as our special guest Dr. Aaron Miller to help us respond to your

0:14.8

questions about current or modern church finances. Dr. Miller teaches nonprofit management and

0:20.9

ethics in the Romney Institute at BYU has co-authored the Business Ethics and the send your

0:35.0

and time before February 29, 2024, to podcasts at scripturecentral.org.

0:37.0

Let us know your name, where you're from,

0:40.0

and try to keep each question as concise as possible

0:42.0

when you email them in.

0:43.6

That helps out a lot.

0:45.1

Okay, now on to the episode.

0:47.0

The

0:50.0

Doctrine and covenants 119 directs church members to pay essentially two tithings.

0:59.0

The first tithing being a one-time donation of all of their surplus property,

1:03.6

meaning whatever they don't have immediate need of.

1:06.6

And the second tithing being an ongoing payment

1:09.2

of one-tenth of what they would make in interest annually

1:12.4

if they invested their total net worth at 6%.

1:15.9

So when did we shift in the church away from the payment of tithing in that two-part way to the more

1:21.4

general approach today of really only one type of tithe as 10% of our income.

1:27.0

Also, who are the Danites, and what role did they play in early tithing collection in Far West?

...

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