Latter-day Saint tithing and temple financing history

Historical analyses of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints examine the evolution of tithing practices and temple financing.

One investigation explores the shift from the 1838 revelation, which instructed members to give a tenth of their ‘surplus’ property and ‘interest,’ to the modern requirement of paying 10% of total income. This discussion considers how interpretations of ‘surplus’ and ‘interest’ have changed through various Church leaders and whether modern expectations create financial hardship for members.

Another study focuses on the 1840s financing of the Nauvoo Temple. To avoid the massive debts incurred during the construction of the Kirtland Temple, early Saints utilized a grassroots financial model. This included labor tithing, where men worked on construction one out of every ten days, and in-kind donations of livestock and produce. Additionally, women led independent financial campaigns and received crucial cash infusions from British converts to fund the project.