Can a Mormon reach salvation if they do not pay tithes?
score:4
First, the word salvation needs to be defined. In the LDS church, salvation "means to be saved from physical and spiritual death." (See Salvation and Exaltation by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.) In the LDS church, members strive for exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom, which is the highest glory one can obtain in the next life, and is usually also considered part of "being saved" in LDS rhetoric. In order to be saved, you have to have lived "a life of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel and service to Christ." (See: The Guide to the Scriptures: Salvation.)
In order to receive full celestial glory (or exaltation) after this life, you must receive the ordinances of the temple: "The principal purpose of temples is to provide the ordinances necessary for our exaltation in the celestial kingdom." (See True to the Faith: Temples.)
One of the questions in the interview to receive a temple recommend asks if you are a full tithe payer. Therefore, to enter the temple, "The person must certify that he or she is . . . paying a full tithing." (See: Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple).
In the temple you make sacred covenants that require you to live worthily to enter the temple. "The ordinance consists of a series of instructions and includes covenants we make to live righteously and comply with the requirements of the gospel." (See: True to the Faith: Temples.) Therefore, one must keep the commandments, one of which is tithing, in order to be saved and exalted. See Tithing.
(All links are to www.lds.org: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)
Upvote:2
The short answer (partly) is yes, they cannot visit the temple. My husband and I lost our temple recommends for not paying tithing (for one year, we paid tithe for around 15 years at this time) and my 16 year old at the time was also questioned about his tithing.
Whether they would definitively say that you can or cannot receive salvation is another story since mormons believe that many will have other chances in life and after death to receive the gospel and ultimately fulfill all ordinances and promises to enter the Celestial Kingdom (top level of heaven). However, if in this life a person has the access and has learned about the gospel, rejects it and doesn't fulfill temple ordinance, they theoretically will not make it to heaven. (That would be me)
After losing my temple recommend for failure to provide the church with funds I was so hurt. Something I have given a large portion of my life to and was raised in was taken away because we live paycheck to paycheck and didn't for one year pay tithing. I wasn't excommunicated but not being able to participate in what was suppose to be the most important ordinances, was such a rejection.
After this, I allowed all the questions I had bubbling under the surface for 40 years of my life to come up. I knew and still know that it was all wrong. There were many more issues I found I didn't support, but because I wouldn't give money to a church that then found it necessary to build a luxury shopping center in SLC, I couldn't go to the temple? That is insane.
Upvote:3
Your question is a good one but I don't think there's a clear black or white answer. For instance, the doctrine in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints states that children who die before "the age of accountability" which is age eight are "automatically saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven" (Doctrine & Covenants 137)...even if they didn't pay tithing. ultimately, we'll be judged with love and fairness by our Savior.
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