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News: Tithes - Gross or Net

I just realized it has gone 2 years since the last time I wrote something in this thread. I think it might be because of the direction in which the discussion was heading. Anyway, I have studied this topic, among others, much lately, since I am in Afghanistan right now, and time allows me to spend more time studying. It seems the understanding of the law of tithing have changed during the history of the Church. As now it is widely understood that a full tithe is 10% of your gross income. Oposed to earlier where it seems that a full tithe was understood as 10% of your surplus/interest - similar to what D&C 119 says. In vers 1 the Lord requires all their surplus property, and after that in verses 4-5 the lord requires 10% of all their interest annually. I think this sheds a completely different light on the law than what is commonly understood today. If I were to start paying tithes for the first time from now on, I would pay 10% from my interest which would be everything after expences nessesary to maintain a minimum of life standard. (Food, clothes, shelter etc.) Apostle James Talmage published a brochure entitled “The Lord’s Tenth”. Here are som qoutes from that: "You have need of many things in this world-food, clothing, and shelter for your family AND YOURSELF, the common comforts of life, AND THE THINGS THAT SHALL BE CONDUCIVE TO REFINEMENT, TO DEVELOPMENT, TO RIGHTEOUS ENJOYMENT. YOU DESIRE MATERIAL POSSESSIONS TO USE FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHERS AND THEREBY GAIN GREATER BLESSINGS FOR YOURSELF AND YOURS. NOW, you shall have the means of acquiring these things; but remember they are mine, and I require of you the payment of a rental upon that which I give into your hands. However, your life will not be one of uniform increase IN SUBSTANCE AND POSSESSIONS; YOU WILL HAVE YOUR LOSSES, AS WELL AS YOUR GAIN; YOU WILL HAVE YOUR PERIODS OF TROUBLE AS WELL AS YOUR TIMES OF PEACE. SOME YEARS WILL BE YEARS OF PLENTY UNTO YOU, AND OTHERS WILL BE YEARS OF SCARCITY. AND, NOW, instead of doing as mortal landlords do-require you to CONTRACT WITH THEM to pay in advance, whatever your fortunes or your prospects may be-you shall pay me NOT IN ADVANCE, BUT when you have received; and you shall pay me in accordance with what you receive. If it so be that in one year your income is abundant, then YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY ME a little more; and if it be so that the next year is one of distress and your income is not what it was, then YOU SHALL PAY ME LESS; AND SHOULD IT BE THAT YOU ARE REDUCED TO THE UTMOST PENURY SO THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING COMING IN, YOU WILL PAY ME NOTHING. Have you ever found a landlord of earth who was willing to make that kind of a contract with you? When I consider the liberality of it all, and the consideration that my Lord has had for me, I feel in my heart that I could scarcely raise my countenance to his heaven above if I tried to defraud him out of that just rental." Sorry for the lengthy qoute, I just thought it was nice. [See Similar Topics]