Tithing is a financial principle that has existed since ancient times! Melchizedek and Abraham were asked by the Lord to pay tithing, and this commandment has continued in our day. The payment of tithes is a blessing. We are better able to remember that all we have belongs to God. We are able to help move the work of the kingdom of God forward, and we are blessed beyond measure in our own personal lives as we pay tithing. We hope this lesson will strengthen testimonies about the law of tithing as you family studies this week!
LESSON BUNDLE DOWNLOADS:
➤ L E S S O N
Open the lesson with a song and a prayer.
🎶 O P E N I N G S O N G : "Keep the Commandments"
➤ P R E P A R A T I O N
You will need a small cup, a bag of rice, and a large bowl.
➤ I N T R O D U C T I O N
Invite one of the children to hold the cup to receive God’s “blessings” in the cup. Invite everyone to take turns naming specific blessings that they have received from Heavenly Father. Each time someone names a blessing, drop a single grain of rice into the cup. After everyone has had a turn to name a few blessings, read the following verse.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Emphasis added.)
-3 Nephi 24:10
Now ask the following question:
1) What do you think it would look like if Heavenly Father gave us blessings so great that we didn’t have enough room to receive it? (Discuss.)
2) Does Heavenly Father ever break a promise? (No.)
3) Ask “Do you know what the law of tithing is?” (Discuss. If needed, explain that tithing is when we offer one tenth of our increase to God.)
Now place the bowl under the cup (to catch the excess) and slowly pour all of the rice into the cup so that the children can watch the cup fill and continuously overflow.
Explain: Today we are going to learn about God’s law of tithing! When we are baptized, the law of tithing is one of the commandments that we promise to keep. And God has promised us great blessings when we keep this law.
🎥 V I D E O : "What is Tithing? | Animated Scripture Lessons for Kids"
Say: “Now we are going to watch a video about tithing! See if you can remember some of the things that our tithing money is used for.”
[Watch Video: “What is Tithing? | Animated Scripture Lesson for Kids”]
Discuss the following questions after watching the video:
1) What does the word tithing mean? (It means one tenth, or one out of ten.)
2) Do you remember any of the things that our tithing funds will be used for? (Discuss examples from the video.)
3) Do you think it will always be easy for us to pay our tithing? (No, sometimes it will be a sacrifice.)
4) Do you think Heavenly Father will take our tithing from us, or do you think He will let us choose? (He will let us choose.)
5) Why do you think He will let us choose? (Discuss.)
➤ S C R I P T U R E
Read the following scriptures and discuss the questions that follow.
And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people. And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.
1) How much has the Lord commanded us to pay in tithing? (One tenth, or one out of ten.)
2) What does the word “interest” mean? (Discuss.)
And it was this same Melchizedek to whom Abraham paid tithes; yea, even our father Abraham paid tithes of one-tenth part of all he possessed.
1) Who paid tithing in this verse? (Abraham paid his tithes.)
2) How much did Abraham give to God? (One tenth.)
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
1) Does the Lord break His promises? Or does He keep His promises? (He always keeps His promises.)
2) What did the Lord promise in this verse? (He promised to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing.)
3) If we pay our tithing, what does that mean? (It means that we can have faith in that promise!)
➤ A C T I V I T Y
[Pass out the Coloring Page]
Invite the children to color and cut out the pretend money. Have them practice calculating one tenth using the pretend money. You could also have children fill the cup (from the activity at the beginning of the lesson) to represent blessings from Heavenly Father. Then take the tithing back out of the cup!
➤ T E S T I M O N Y
Bear testimony of the truths found in the scriptures.
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'Come, Follow Me' is a resource offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is designed to be used in the home to support personal and family scripture study to build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Come, Follow Me is self-contained and adequate, when used properly. Products and materials designed to supplement this resource, though they may be helpful in some instances, are not necessary for a successful home study program.