From the time I was little I can remember lessons on tithing. Often these lessons are accompanied with examples of dramatic blessings that came when a person decided to pay their tithing. I remember many times thinking to myself, "I've never had money show up in my account." I have always paid my tithing, as taught by my parents, and have known of it's importance. There have been times in our marriage when money has been tight and we have made sacrifices to make due with what we have. These have never really been very difficult decisions. I have never found myself questioning whether I should or shouldn't pay my tithing. At various points in my life, however, I have found myself thinking, "will I ever see great blessings from paying my tithing?"
A couple years ago, Elder Bednar, gave a conference talk entitled, "
The Windows of Heaven." This talk spoke to my heart. It spoke of the subtle blessings that come to tithe payers. I felt the questions of my heart all those years were answered in this talk. In his address Elder Bednar relates the following story:
Sister Bednar’s mother is a faithful woman and an inspired homemaker. From the earliest days of her marriage, she carefully has kept the household financial records. For decades she has accounted conscientiously for the family income and expenditures using very simple ledgers. The information she has collected over the years is comprehensive and informative.
When Sister Bednar was a young woman, her mother used the data in the ledgers to emphasize basic principles of provident living and prudent home management. One day as they reviewed together various categories of expenses, her mother noted an interesting pattern. The costs for doctor visits and medicines for their family were far lower than might have been expected. She then related this finding to the gospel of Jesus Christ and explained to her daughter a powerful truth: as we live the law of tithing, we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not always what we expect and easily can be overlooked. The family had not received any sudden or obvious additions to the household income. Instead, a loving Heavenly Father had bestowed simple blessings in seemingly ordinary ways. Sister Bednar always has remembered this important lesson from her mother about the help that comes to us through the windows of heaven, as promised by Malachi in the Old Testament (see Malachi 3:10).
I have thought of this story many times as I have tried to more diligently look for the subtle blessings of paying a full tithe. We had an experience this week that has strengthened my testimony. Joel was talking to a friend of our's that is a mechanic about our 1997 Ford Escort. This is the car I bought my last year of college and we quickly paid off shortly after being married. It has over 180,000 miles on it. Our friend was asking him if he has had any major problems with the front end of the car or with the engine. Joel replied that we have not. He has done minor repairs through the years but nothing significant. That came as a big surprise to our friend. Then, in conversation, it came out that the car still has the original clutch in it. That about blew the mechanic's mind. He said that is unheard of for this type of car and for the age and amount of miles on the car. He wanted to look at the car and after doing so told us that it is in remarkable condition.
As Joel was telling me of this experience, I could hear Elder Bednar's words in my mind. We have been blessed by our obedience to the law of the tithe. Not in a remarkable and dramatic fashion, but in a fashion that was perfect and timely for our family. I'm so grateful for this tender mercy given to me by our Father in Heaven to see the hand of the Lord in our life. Paying tithing truly does bring miracles and blessings into our lives through the windows of heaven.
Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. We might plead for prosperity, and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience. (Elder Bednar)
