Inactive tithe payers

[DU Ute]

Beyond insurance, maybe they dont believe in the church, but believe that the church does a good job with its social programs, so contribute for that.

Or maybe they just like having a nice place to shop downtown.

[risicam]

Two of my assistants have parents that are the same. Rarely if ever attend church but pay a full tithe.

That, to me, seems to be the oddest of relationships with the LDS church. It's really an admission that you believe in the authority of the Church, it's doctrines and saving ordinances. If you believe, then why not go?

That is far more curious to me than an "active" member that doesn't pay, which would seem to indicate a lack of belief/faith that the Church is the sole path to heaven but they engage out of social/familial/other pressures.

I think they are equally curious! Glad they are doing SOMETHING, however!

[mUUser]

Two of my assistants have parents that are the same. Rarely if ever attend church but pay a full tithe.

That, to me, seems to be the oddest of relationships with the LDS church. It's really an admission that you believe in the authority of the Church, it's doctrines and saving ordinances. If you believe, then why not go?

That is far more curious to me than an "active" member that doesn't pay, which would seem to indicate a lack of belief/faith that the Church is the sole path to heaven but they engage out of social/familial/other pressures.

We're full tithe payers, observe the WoW, don't curse, follow most of the commandments (save Sabbath Day activities during baseball season), have a testimony of the Atonement and that which is related to it (such as eternal families), believe more than not of what's taught (technically speaking, I guess that's at least 51% of its teachings) etc........and even though I attend church weekly.......I hate it. I really hate it. I hate attending church for a variety of reasons, but have made myself believe that attending church every week is my primary challenge of enduring to the end.

[Paperback Writer]

We're full tithe payers, observe the WoW, don't curse, follow most of the commandments (save Sabbath Day activities during baseball season), have a testimony of the Atonement and that which is related to it (such as eternal families), believe more than not of what's taught (technically speaking, I guess that's at least 51% of its teachings) etc........and even though I attend church weekly.......I hate it. I really hate it. I hate attending church for a variety of reasons, but have made myself believe that attending church every week is my primary challenge of enduring to the end.

Consider moving to Texas where the baseball (softball for girls) season is much longer (March - November).

On the subject of inactivity and tithing, many people feel good about contributing to charity - what they see as a good cause. If they were raised LDS and think the church continues to do good work, then it's no surprise to me that they would continue to pay tithing. Although I am somewhat surprised that such individuals continue to pay a full tithing (that probably says more about me than those individuals).

[FMCoug]

People are fascinating.

The truest words ever spoken on CUF.

[SoonerCoug]

I just found out that both of my nurses today are completely inactive, drink coffee and alcohol, but pay a full tithe every year. I wonder how common this is.

People are fascinating.

This is what I do.

[Blueintheface]

My two non-practicing siblings have each independently suggested that tithing might be the final impediment to their reactivation. Both make good money and give generously to various charities but find the "clandestine" nature of the church's finances disturbing.

People really are fascinating.

[Portland Ute]

Maybe with contributions of tithing, these people believe they are helping build the greatest mall in the history of the Beehive state and they want to contribute to the greater good of better shopping!

[Uncle Ted]

Maybe with contributions of tithing, these people believe they are helping build the greatest mall in the history of the Beehive state and they want to contribute to the greater good of better shopping!

LOL. So if we down here Texas step up our tithe paying then could we get a mall with a sun roof too? They could build it over there by Jerry World.

[Moliere]

LOL. So if we down here Texas step up our tithe paying then could we get a mall with a sun roof too? They could build it over there by Jerry World.

We don't need churches to build malls. This is Texas! People actually have money down here.

[NorthwestUteFan]

I think you might be right. I suppose if you didn't feel accepted because of WoW issues, then you might not go but still pay tithing. But that would seem to circle right around to your thought that they consider the monetary aspect to be the most important.

My great uncle didn't set foot into a church in the last 50 years of his life except to attend funerals because he smoked heavily. But he and his wife loved the missionary program and would purchase two suits for every missionary leaving from their ward (and in later years, one for ever missionary from their stake). IIRC they paid tithing too.

I remember speaking with him about Hartman Rector's (?) talk about wishing all sins had an 'odor' as does tobacco (because we see that everybody else has flaws but deserves to be in church). He still didn't want to go because he was too ashamed for for dragging his oxygen bottle around. IIRC he smoked through his tracheostomy for the last several years of his life.

Ironically my grandfather (great uncle's brother) was a temple recommend-carrying High Priest up to the day he died, who drank coffee and sometimes made it 'Irish'. His Danish roots almost demanded daily coffee consumption (and historically the church turned a blind eye to coffee drinkers from Denmark/Sweden/Norway).

[SoonerCoug]

I think I just figured out why inactive Mormons (including me) sometimes still pay tithing.

Does one have to believe in Greek Gods to appreciate and love Greek culture and temples?

I pay tithing because I value many of the byproducts of Mormonism without actually believing in God. I don't believe everything that Mormons believe, but I am cheering for Mormons--especially the ones that struggle. I am also grateful for my Mormon upbringing. My tithe is my way of saying thank you.

[myboynoah]

Ironically my grandfather (great uncle's brother) was a temple recommend-carrying High Priest up to the day he died, who drank coffee and sometimes made it 'Irish'. His Danish roots almost demanded daily coffee consumption (and historically the church turned a blind eye to coffee drinkers from Denmark/Sweden/Norway).

What's your source for the coffe-drinking Scandanavians? Was it a local practice, or pretty much throughout the Intermountain region? My grandmother, a daughter of Danish immigrants, drank coffee as well, but I'd always thought it stemmed from having married a non-Mormon Okie (who later joined The Church and gave up of his WoW violations) and taking on his habits. My grandmother and grandfather we semi-active, so I assumed the coffee-drinking was a product of being half-in and half-out after he was baptized.