As Latter-day Saints, this season is a reminder of the love and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is a time to reflect on the blessings we have received in our lives. It is a time to ponder on the small or mighty miracles we can attribute to our relationship with the Lord. It is also a time of worldly pressures. December gets filled with finding enough time to make or buy treats for our friends, neighbors, co-workers, school friends, and so on. Often it can be a month filled with errands, and attending parties or gatherings. Finally, Christmas comes, and after all the presents are unwrapped we are able to slow down and reflect once again on the true meaning of Christmas. So how do we slow down during this season and help our family understand that when Christmas comes, it’s not just about the presents?
We can all admit that giving and receiving gifts is a lot of fun. And while there’s nothing wrong with it, we can too easily make that the focus. There are many experiences we can share with our children that could help them understand how important keeping the right focus is. Doing a special Family Home Evening during the month of December can help prepare the family for tithing settlement, for example. A child or spouse who hears a lesson and testimony on tithing can only grow and learn from such a lesson. Helping our children fill out the tithing slip as the activity and placing the money in the envelope until tithing settlement can help them understand the process of preparing for tithing settlement.
I was surprised as a new member long ago, when my husband reminded my four-year-old to pay tithing on his small allowance. We went to the bishop, and my son paid $3.00 in tithing, making him a full tithe-payer. For children, tithing teaches that every dollar earned is a blessing from the Lord. A child’s awareness of this important principle can begin at a young age. Each year as a family, we attend tithing settlement and each child fills out their own tithing paper if they owe some at the time. Afterwards we have a tithing settlement treat. It is a sort of celebration, confirming we have faithfully kept a commandment from the Lord and have taken part in the great mission in building up the Lord’s kingdom on the earth.
A simple story shared in primary a few years ago touched my heart. A little boy was asked to give a talk. He shared a story about how he was Christmas shopping and had money to spend on his family. At the store he told his mom he did not pay his tithing yet and that he and his mom had to stop shopping a moment and figure out what he owed.
This holiday season, may we all take a little time out of our busy schedule and teach our children the principles of tithing and demonstrate an unconquerable spirit against the worldly pressures of the season. As stated in Genesis 28:22, Jacob covenants to pay tithing to the Lords by stating, “of all that thou shalt give me, I shall surely give the tenth onto thee.” May we show gratitude for our blessings – remembering where they came from.
Wendy M. Johnson