Ode to Tithing Settlement

​"Excuse Me, is my [Tithing] Slip Showing?"

Yes, it's that time of year again ― time for tithing settlement!

Since tithing is a dead law, it's sorta like we're living in the movie Weekend at Bernie's, trying to prop up tithing to fool others.

For those wondering what I am talking about, feel free to re-read the following posts, including my all-time favorite, "The True Hollywood Story of Tithing" in Part 1 (guest starring Keanu Reeves):

Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 1
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 2
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 3
​Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 4
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 5
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 6
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 7
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 8
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 9
Thou Hast Made an End of Tithing: Part 10

Lesser Laws are Problematic

What's wrong with lesser laws?  Well, following lesser laws becomes problematic for two reasons:

   1.  When we are so busy keeping all these carnal commandments we may never get to actually live the gospel law; and

   2.  Keeping lesser laws makes us feel pretty good about ourselves.  All this busy work may keep us from the "weightier matters of the law."

Oh, how I wish we would learn this valuable truth:

"Rules and regulations cannot empower us. The potential for sin can be clarified by the law, but not eliminated by it. That is why the law can only be a schoolmaster to teach us of our plight and to encourage us to look for the remedy. The remedy is not the law. Redemption comes in and through the Holy Messiah."

("No Other Way," Blogpost, Given by the Finger of God, October 17, 2021, https://fingerofgod.blogspot.com/2021/10/no-other-way.html)​

Nephi, Please
​
Do you remember when the risen Lord appeared to the Nephites and inaugurated a Zion-like era among the people and told them to keep paying their tithing? 

   Nope.  Me neither. 

Because it never happened.

Have we replaced the gospel of love, the true gospel of repentance . . . with the gospel of performance?

One of my early poems tried to address the legalism of tithing settlement among those of us who have covenanted to be witnesses of Christ, who commanded us to "no more" offer up our sacrifices and burnt offerings (i.e., tithing) and instead sacrifice "a broken heart and a contrite spirit" (3 Nephi 9:19-20).

   Oh well.  I guess we like keeping it "old school."

​Tithing Settlement

And a wire basket piled high with chicken eggs:
little ones not much bigger than a robin’s
treasure.  Average ones, too, spotted brown
coated with fine feather down.  So many shells
have cracked from the weight.
Shall I deduct those?

And alfalfa left too long in the field,
cut just before a late wash in the rain
making a poor yield.  Tried leaving the wilted
leaves in the sun to dry out the mold
but it was all in vain. 

And my family’s horse, which pulled
faithfully all these years.  He is spavined
and mostly lame now.  The grandchildren
learned to ride on his sturdy back, fifteen hands
tall.  Take the saddle, tack: you may have it all
to satisfy the law.  

I won’t be needing a receipt.
Only
leave a little grain, some wheat
to plant in yonder plot where I can grow
old, and thresh upon Araunah’s floor
as my eyes close, feeling the seed
fall between my fingers.
If you take even this
I will have
nothing
left to
sow.

  ********

. . . I just hope there isn't a sequel.