Tithing and Other Offerings, Our Choice

Isn’t it interesting how this little slip allows each one, individually, to live the Law of Consecration?
It is simply between you and the Lord.

I believe that initially when the Law of Consecration was given that the Lord provided a way that the Saints could live it during their time of pre-temple ordinances. This “way” was called the United Order.

When a person entered into the “Law” they did so by negotiating their financial standing with the Great High Priest, who acted as a mediator between the participant and the Lord. This system was very similar to the one used during the time period of the “tabernacle”. Once the individual could “enter in” to the Temple for himself, and become a “priest”, the system or “way” of consecration changed drastically. The Bishop no longer became the one who facilitated the conditions of the “Law”; it became the responsibility of the individual, through the “way” of the offering slip, to decide his portion and the Lords.

In other words, I believe the United Order has been replaced by the “Tithing and Other Offerings” slip, and the decision or accountability with the Lord rests on each individual personally. It is a wonderful way for each Saint to live the “Law” to the fullest, by their own choice. This allows each to live the Celestial Law, and enter in, one person at a time.

The United Order and The Law of Consecration

My friend John, who is the Gospel Doctrine teacher in his ward, and I were chatting about the lesson he was soon to give on The Law of Consecration and the United Order. Among other things, we came to the conclusion that there were simply too many misconceptions, even among the members of the Church, being taught simply due to some “traditional” ways of thinking. These misconceptions can only be cleared up by teaching correct principles and doctrine on the subject.

I have been fascinated with the Celestial Law, meaning the Law of Consecration, since the first time I was privileged to teach it in Seminary. I remember asking my students to go home and ask their parents to share with them what they knew about the Law of Consecration. Some of the responses they returned with are similar to the ones that I found in an incredible post by Bryce Haymond on his Blog Temple Study.

“Some day we will live the law of consecration again, but until then we must be ‘willing’ to live it.”

“It is Church doctrine that the full Law of Consecration was suspended by the Lord through the Prophet in 1834.”

“My belief is that things will get progressively worse until the actual Second Coming when Christ will institute the law of consecration.”

These are simply common myths that can only be cleared up by correct teachings.

Rather than “re-invent the wheel” I have decided to give you the links to two posts in the Temple Study Blog that do a wonderful job teaching and addressing this issue in depth. Please visit this post and this post, and let me know what you think!