Thursday, October 14, 2010
Temporal laws or spiritual laws?
This morning I was studying the following questions. In D&C 29:34 the Lord says that not at any time has He given unto us a law which was temporal. What does that mean? What are some examples of this?
The first thing that I thought of was the law of tithing. Tithing is an example of a law that would appear to be a temporal law, yet really is a spiritual law. We are asked to give 1/10 of our income to the Lord in the form of tithing. For some people this is a temporal "sacrifice." In a talk titled "Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings," Elder Hales says the following:
"To those who faithfully and honestly live the law of tithing, the Lord promises an abundance of blessings. Some of these blessings are temporal, just as tithes are temporal. But like the outward physical ordinances of baptism and the sacrament, the commandment to pay tithing requires temporal sacrifice, which ultimately yields great spiritual blessings.
The temporal and spiritual blessings of tithing are specifically tailored to us and our families, according to the Lord’s will. But to receive them, we must obey the law upon which they are predicated.11 In the case of tithing, the Lord has said, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
http://new.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/tithing-a-test-of-faith-with-eternal-blessings?lang=eng
We are told that if we struggle with the law of tithe, to basically test the Lord and see if he won't pour out the blessings that he promises us if we faithfully pay our tithes. If we don't pay our tithes, we are unworthy to enter the temple and receive the great spiritual blessings that come from attending the temple.
I know that the our family has been greatly blessed by following the law of tithing. It has never really been something that I have struggled with, because I have always been so blessed by paying my tithing. We have never been wealthy, but we have always had enough for our needs and then a little. Sometimes in our lives, I don't know how that was. When my husband was in school and we were just starting our family, it seemed like we were never going to get our bills paid and have enough to buy groceries. Somehow, we always did. I am so grateful for the blessings that come from paying our tithing.
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Looks great Hali! I am proud of you. Thanks for teaching our family these simple principles of the gospel.
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