Ntsáo Áłah Aleeh
Tithing: Diyin Bich’į́ nináhalyé’ígíí
Ghąąjį’ 2023 Ntsaago Áłahaleehígíí


14:12

Tithing: Diyin Bich’į́ nináhalyé’ígíí

Ya’ą́ą́shdę́ę́ ei tsésǫ́’ t’óó’ahayoigo ą́ą́’át’é. Diyin bá’ íínoĺí, Diyin nii‘k’íjíłíí’ígíí ei bééniłniih.

T’áá’áániidigo, sháádi’́áájigo ei keya, South Americago niseya. aadi bother Roger Parra ei Venezueladi bighan.

“2019 kad dį́į́ naahai yę́ę́dą́ą́ ei ’átsinltl’ish altso daniiztsiis, ‘ako t’oo ‘tłeehgo ashdlaa yiską́.

Tłoodi ei t’ǫ́ǫ́ áhayoi’ą́hat’i, tłéégo doo’ááhozinda, Ch’iyan nidahoniih yę́ę́go ei diné t’óó ch’į́da’íį́ją́ą́’.

Lá diné t’óó táádoolé’é nidayiłláá, łá t’óó nidayił chǫ́ǫ́’į́.

Nihi ei t’áá’ałts’į́į́go baah ’adeel’į́ dóó baah niha ndahaniih. Hoghandi hadadiini baa yadeełt’į́, T’áá’ániit’é éi t’óó bááh nidadiiní dadíímiid.

Tłéégo diné t’óó’ahayoi naanajaah. Shé’adzaa’ dóó sha’ałchiní ei baa nitsekess.

Ha’yiiłką́ą́go nihi baah bahooghango niya. Naalyé badahooghan ałtso dayiichǫ́’í la. Nihi baah al’į́ bahoghan ei t’áá doo ’adzaada la. T’áá nizhonigo si’ą́. ShiTáá yaa’ą́ą́di ’ahéehee bidishní.

Hoghandi nanidzáágo sha’ałchini bił holnégo ’ádishné.

T’áá’aniit’é ei yeigo ’ahééh danizin.

Shiyé ’alą́ą́jį́ naaghaa’ígíí ’Rogelio naakitsadah binaahai, ei ani, Shizhé’é Diyin niha’ahayanigii shił beehozin ní. Ní dóó Shimá ei t’áá’áłaajį́ tithes, Diyin bich’į́ ninaahalye naaholę́ ni.

Brother Parra aní, Malachi adiiniid bénaashniih. Dóó na’ałtseedii níwohádi nahá bidideeshniił, dóó ni’ bikáá’ k’idoołáhígíí doo yidoołchxǫǫł da [Malachi 3:11]. Nítsiidaniigo, nihiTáá ya’aashdi holǫ́nii ’ahéehee’ dabidiinííd.1

Parra bighandoo diné

Nishinitáá

T’áá bee ’aniit’é’ígíí, Taą nihee holǫ́shį́į́ ei Diyin bits’ą́ą́doo hazlį́į́’ígíí ’at’é. Diyin Christ bá siizį́į́go diné naanałágo bika’ádiiwoł niizin.

Diyin t’áá’altsoni nihaa yiláá, nihá’ni deel’igii ei neeznago ałts’áádzohgo, t’aałá haadzohgo éí Diyin baa nídidíít’ááł, ’áko nahasdzaan bikaago Diyin bi ná’anish naasingo yit’į́ doo. Nizhonigo tithes Diyin bich’i nina’áyííłyéégo ei ya’ą́ą́dę́ę́ tsésǫ́ nihi ch’į́ ’ą́ą́ ’át’éégo nihi’ijídlí doo. doo báhaz’ą́ da doo.2 Diyin ei doo yá’át’ééh ei naajį́ nihá’ashį́į́ doo ni.3 Diyin bidziłgo haadziihgo ani, Nishiinitą́ą́’ ni,4 Díí saad ei t’ááłago béé há’aadziih ei Malachi yaa halné.5

Ya’ą́ą́shdę́ę́ ei tsésǫ́ t’óó,áhayoi ’ą́á ’ádáát’é. Łá ei daat’į́ , naana łá ei diyingo. Łá ei t’áá badahozini, Naana łá ei hozhǫ́ baa nitsekeesgo inda. Diyin ei bił beehozin haho nihik’ijodlii dooleeł niha ya’at’ééh doo,

Diné bich’į́ nidahwiinanigii ei baa danihiní. Díí Sodizin Bahooghandoo ei Ashdlaa diin dóó bi’ąąn dį́į́di’milltso ei ’ádhwii’ááhgo’ałchiní dóó ’amá bich’i indahazt’į́ baadiit’ą́.6 Náhizíídgo łá’ájį́ doó’adą́ą́nigii bibéeso ei bishops bich’į́ naahalyé ’áko t’óó tsxííłgo diné bich’i ’ánahot’į́’gíí bee biká’ádoowoł. Diné bich’i’ánidhaztį́’ígíí bee łá dooniił’ígíí ei Jesus Christ binanitin.7

Nihé’odlą́ą́’.

Diyin ya siziinigii Apostle Paul aní, Dine ei diné bee iina bił danit’į́gíí ei bił beehozin, Diyin God bił nit’į́’ígíí ei bá nanitłah.8 Diné tithing béesogo yaa nitsekess, Diyingo baa ntsekess ei haiyit’oa Diyin yinidlaa. Tithes ei t’áá biighaa nijiilé, ná’adló bą́ą́’ádingo, Diyin Ałtsé go baanitsekess. Diyin bá’į́į́nílíígo, ei nik’íjidlíídoo. Yaa’aashdę́ę́ nihihojodlį́į́ doo.

Jesus ’ani “Caesar bí’į́gii ei Caesar ba nidoolééł, naana Diyin God bidadiit’į́’ígíí ei Diyin God bííh.9 yida’íiníilii ei Nephites diné ííłní Dii saad naadahadzo yaahalné’ígíí Malachi biih yidzoh ní.10 Dííjį́į́di, Diyin bich’į́ nina’íílyé yee nihił nahoolné: “Díí tithing beehazą́nigii ei shi diné nidayiiléé’ doo ní. Nináhalyéł’ígíí neeznaago ałts’áá dzohgo ei t’áálá’i hadzoh’ígii ei Diyin bich’i nináhalyé. Díí ei hool’áágo Diyin bibeehaz’ą́ą́nii ’at’é”.11

Tiithing bich’į́ ninahalyé’ígíí éí haayit’oa nahalyé doo, Diyin aní, “tithes Diyin bich’í niinaahalyé’ígíí ei bahaz’ą́ goné yaa’ádahajáá ní. K’ad báhazą́nigii ei Jesus Christ Bisodizin Bahooghan dóó Ákeedi yoołkáádi Diné bikéé naazinigii.1213 T’áá Diyin bik’ehgo ei Diyin bich’i ninaahalyé choo’į́. Diyin Bisodizin Bahooghanjí diné ałtsé Diyin ya danahaztą́ą́nigii dóó Hastoi naakitsaada yiłt’oa Diyin ya naaziinigii, áádóó diné Bishop danilį́nigii ya danahaztą́ą́nigii ei hayit’oa Diyin bich’i ninahalye’ígíí choo’į́į́ doo éí ’ałtsé bá sohodoozin. 14

Diyin yee ’aká’analwo’ígíí ei diyingo sinil.

Diyin bibéeso ei doo Diyin ya naaziinii bi da. Éí Diyin bí. Diyin bííh yaa’dahalyanigii ei diyingo bá’sohonizingo haiyit’oa choo’į́į́ doo.

President Gordon B. Hinckley ani, ałchiní nilį́ yę́ę́dą́ą́ shizhé’é Diyin Bisodizin bahooghanji naa’iiyé’ígíí. Diyin bich’į́ naahalé’ígíí ei beenoholį́ shił ni. Diyin baa yiniláá’igii ei doo ní da sil’į́į́. Éí Diyin bí silį́į́’. Sodizin Bahoghanjį́ yiyeeł yee naalnish ei t’áádoo bá ninii’í. Éí Diyin bidíít’í.15

Diyin ’ánínígíí ei bik’eh dahonił’į́.

Nizhonigo bich’į́ ninada’hodlé’ígíí.

Haala Diyin bich’į́ ninaahalyé nizhongo ’ádaalyaa’ígíí binaaji ei milltso biláágo ei diné bich’į́ indahazt’ígíí bika’ołwod.16

Haala Diyin binanitin nizhonigo hadilyaa’igii ei diné naana łá’go bá niizin biniinaa ei dine’adahwii’ááhgo nidanitin’igii tsosts’idiin dóó ba’ąą t’ááłá’í milltso diné nidanitinigii. Nanitin bił nahaz’ą́ą́nigii dį́į́di neeznadiin dóó ba’ąą dį́į́’ts’áadahgo naahaz’ą́’.17 Haala Diyin bich’į́ ninaahalyé tithe nahaalé’ígíí biniina diné t’ááłą́go nidanitin azha bighandi t’áá indahazt’í ndi.

Adahwii’ááhgo ałdo Temple, Diyin Bighan lą́’į́ nidaanił. K’ad T’ááłádi neeznádiin dóó ba’ąą tsosts’idiin dóó ba’ąą tsosts’id ei bííh nidá’ánish. ashdladiin dóóba’ąą náhást’éí hasht’éédaalné., tsosts’idiin dóó ba’ąąnáhát’éí ba hasht’é dahalneeh.118 Diyin bich’i ninahalyé’ígíí, nizhonigo naahalé’ígíí bee Diyin bighan nizhongo naaznił, Diyin ei’ną́ą́sd ’ahoot’eh’ígíí dooleeł’igii bił beehozin.

Tádiindi mill Sodizin ba dahoghan, dóó diné ’ałá niidaadleeh ba náhaz’ą́. ei k’ad tááłáhídi neeznádiin dóó ba’ą́ą́ náhást’éídiin dóó ba’ąą ashdla’keya naasniłgo.19 Haala Diyin bich’į́ ninahalyé’ígíí nahalyé bininaa ei haadishii danizaadi ei Sodizin bahoghan ndaanił, áádi diné Diyin dayodlaanigii Diyin Bisodzin bahoghan goné yaa’ana’já.

Diyin binanitin bohoo’aahji k’ad hoodago da’ołtáji ’ashdláágo bił haz’ą́.20 K’ad ei T’ááládi neeznadiin dóó ba’ąąn`dízdiin doo ba’ąą ashldla’. T’ááłádi neeznádiin dóó ba’ąą neeznáádi mill ei dá’ołtá’ígíí nanitin.21

Diyin bich’į́ ninahalyé’ígíí ei łágo naalnish indahozt’igo, áád́óó diné t’áá’ałtso yiká’ánaalwó. ’ániid dóó lą́’í beedaahai’igii da.

Diyin bich́’í ninahalyé’ígíí ei doo haaniilą́ą́ naahalye doo bee yoołtá’ da. Éí nihaa’ádił’ígíí, éí neeznago ałts’áádzohgo, niizna haadzohigii, t’ááłá haadzohgo ei Diyin bich’i niidił yeeł.22 Diyin bitsą́ą́doo bee’adzííł holǫ́.nigii yiniidlą́ą́’.23

Haala Diyin bich’į́ nina’áyidlégo éí Diyin ná’anish’ígo ’aká’analwod. Diyin binaanish’igíí naasgo yit’į́, ei haadą́ą́ da doo’ako nééda ńt’éé. Diyin ei t’áá’ałtsoni bił beehozin, ’áájį́ ’áhoozííhgo diyin ’at’ééh nihił beehodoozį́į́ł.24

Ał’ą́ą́ ’át’oa éí nihik’íhojodlį’.

Diyin bich’į́ ninahalyé’ígíí bee nikihojodlį́į́ ei doo t’áálá’igii ’át’ééh da. k’ad naadin asdla’ naahai yę́ę́dą́ą́, 1998 yihai’íígíi ntsaago ’ała’azlį́į́go Henry B. Eyring ei t’áádoolé’é nibeediyitį́į́go cho’idaa’i’nigii baa honit’į́. ei Silicon Slopes wosyé. Lą́go t’áádooĺ’é ’ániidigii háyinideeh, Elder Eyring Diyin dayoozdlą́ą́nigii ííłní, Baahonosin há’át’į́ nozinnigii; Diyin bich’í ninahalyé’ígíí nizhonigo naaholégo ei t’áá doolé’é t’óó nosin wi doo lą́da doo ni. Naaki naahaigo ’aniidi bee naadiistą́ą́’igii ei t’óóhayoi. Béédadiistą́ą́ biniinaa łá diné binaanish bits’ą́ą́ ’ádaadį́į́ndi áádóó beeso nanidéé’ígíí ałdo łágo ’adzaa. Diné Elder Eyring ’adiinííd yik’égo ’adzaa yę́ę́ ei bik’ihojodlį́.

Łágo ’ahodzaago ałdo bénashniih. 1990 yę́ę́dą́ą́ ei nlei Carcassonne Francedi, Diyin bá nanitinígii baa ’áhashyą́’ Charlotte Hlimi ei naakitsaadah binaahaigo beehasosį́į́d. Diné Hlimis daayé’igii ei nizhonigo Diyin dayodlą́ą́’ bá’áłchini tseebíí, hoghan ’aná’át’áá goné dabighan. Jesus dóó Diyin ya yalt’į́ ei bighan dasinił. Charlotte ei ’ák’íhojodlí’hááyilyé (patriachal blessing) yiniyé niya. nabídishkidgo ’abidishni nizhonigo Diyin bich’i ninahayé naahalé ? bidisní. ’Aoo’ President Andersen ní. Shimá ei nanihi nitingo ’ani, T’áá doolé’é daat’į́nigii baahozingo bee nikihojodlį́ ni, Diyingo bee nihik’íhojodlí’ígíí ei doo yiit’į́į́ da. Shimá nanitingo ’ani, Diyin bich’i ninahalyé naahiiyégo éí doo bik’eh t’áádoolé’é niizin da. President Anderson doo niizin da.

Hlimi Hoghan doo.

Charlotte ei k’ad dízdiin binaahai, ei t’áá daats’í bił áko baa hane baa hashnégo. K’ad templedi ’ahaabidiiniił, dóó bidziłgo diyin yikéeh naazí. Díí diyin bibéé hazą́ą́nii baa ’aheenizin. “Díí Diyin bibeehaz’ą́ą́nii ei bik’eh honish’į́į́go ei nizhonigo shi k’íhojídlí.”25

Nagoshį́į́ nahasdzaan bikáádoo dánídíídaał. Naadiin asdlaa naahai yę́ę́dą́ą́ ei baadaané nishłini Martha Willian danidíídzaa’.naałdzid bidoonágo. Naaltsoos ła baa nałwod la. T’áá ałts’íígo check baa naalwod la. T’áá iidą́ą́ ei Diyin yich’į́ ninadlá. Naa’ádzohígíí doo yighaago naahalingo Kathy ́ani naashį́į́ asłééh ní. Bimá “nida Kathy ni. T’áá shí ashlééh ni” T’áá hozhǫ́ǫ́go ’aní, Diyin bidáádishaał nisin. Kathy bimá Diyin ninahayé bishop yee niłtsoos.

Diyin God binanish ’áláádi ’át’éígíí.

Shik’is dóó shilahkeeh, Jesus Christ Bisodizin Bahooghan dóó Ákéédi yoołkaałdi diné bikéé naazinigii ei k’ad beehodizin. nahasdzan bikaago beehozhǫ́.26 Diné ei niha dadiwosh doo. Naanałą́ ei nihits’ą́ą́ danilį́ doo. Diné hoyanigii Gamaliel saad yee haadziih yee baa nitsekééz. Apostles Peter dóó John éí baa hané, T’áá bitséédi diné Jerusalem danahaztą́ą́nigii yíł holnégo aní.

“Díí hastoi t’á́á doo baa nidaat’į́ní, haala ei nik’íjį́ nidoodleeł.

nidi Diyin God bits’ą́ą́dóogo, ts’ídá doo bik’eh dadoohdle’ át’ée da. Diyin God bits’ą́ą́jí danohłį́įgo nihéédahodoozįįłgo da’át’é!27

Naahasdzan bikaa’ígí ei ní dóó shi Diyin God bił neilnish. Diyin nidoodaał’igii bá hast’é ’diilnééh.nahasdzan bikaago ei łágo ’ádahoniił. President Nelson díí yee nihich’į’ haadzíí’: “Bich’į’ yoołkááł, deidiiltsééł aláhdi ádaat’eiYisda’iiníiłii bibee adziilii nahasdzáán bikáá’góó t’ahdooyiiltséhígíí. K’ad dóó Diyin naadzaajį́, Diné bikeeh naazinigii ei yeigo bik’ihojodlííh doo.28

Díí ei sháá ’o’į́į́nigii ’át’é. Jesus éí Christ nilį́ Díí ei diyingo binaanish’ígíí ’át’é. Nihaa naadoodaał. Jesus Christ bízhi’ binahjį’, amen.

Nda’asdzoh

  1. Personal correspondence from Roger Parra, Aug. 4, 2023.

  2. Malachi 3:10.

  3. See Malachi 3:11. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: “In my life, for example, I have seen God’s promise fulfilled that He would ‘rebuke the devourer for [my sake]’ [Malachi 3:11]. That blessing of protection against evil has been poured out upon me and on my loved ones beyond any capacity I have to adequately acknowledge. But I believe that divine safety has come, at least in part, because of our determination, individually and as a family, to pay tithing” (“Like a Watered Garden,” Liahona, Jan. 2002, 38).

  4. The Lord will open the windows of heaven according to our need, and not according to our greed. If we are paying tithing to get rich, we are doing it for the wrong reason. … The blessing to the giver … may not be always in the form of financial or material benefit” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [1997], 657).

  5. Malachi 3:10; 3 Nephi 24:10.

  6. See “The Church of Jesus Christ Is Helping Alleviate Global Malnutrition,” Aug. 11, 2023, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also “How the Church of Jesus Christ and UNICEF Are Keeping Mothers and Children Healthy and Safe,” Aug. 17, 2023, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

  7. “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18).

  8. See 1 Corinthians 2:14. The logic of man does not always align with the wisdom of God. In Malachi’s day, many had become distant from the Lord. The Lord implored His covenant people, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” What follows this tender invitation is a deeply important question for each of us: “But ye said, Wherein shall we return?” (Malachi 3:7). Or in other words, “What am I to change? How do I draw closer to Thee?” The Lord answers by teaching the importance of tithing, not simply as a financial law but a tangible way to turn the desires of our hearts to Him.

    We observed this in our own family. Kathy’s mother joined the Church at age 22. Martha and Bernard Williams attended church for a brief period, but after a move to another state, they became less active. Bernard received a military deployment overseas, and Martha moved home to Tampa, Florida, where she accepted the generous invitation to live with her aunt and uncle, who were opposed to the Church. While living in very humble circumstances, expecting her first child and not attending church, Martha Williams made the decision to start sending her tithing check to the bishop. Later in her life, when asked why, she said that she remembered something the missionaries had taught her about tithing and God’s blessings: “We desperately needed God’s blessings in our lives, and so I began sending our tithing check to the bishop.” Martha and Bernard Williams returned to the Church. Their greatest blessing—six generations have been blessed because of her decision to pay her tithing when she had nothing but faith in God and hope in His promises.

  9. Matthew 22:21.

  10. See 3 Nephi 24.

  11. Doctrine and Covenants 119:3–4. “Tithing is the donation of one-tenth of one’s income to God’s Church (see Doctrine and Covenants 119:3–4; interest is understood to mean income). All members who have income should pay tithing” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 34.3.1, Gospel Library).

  12. Malachi 3:10.

  13. “We pay tithing, as the Savior taught, by bringing the tithes ‘into the storehouse’ [Malachi 3:10; 3 Nephi 24:10]. We do this by paying our tithing to our bishop or branch president. We do not pay tithing by contributing to our favorite charities. The contributions we should make to charities come from our own funds, not from the tithes we are commanded to pay to the storehouse of the Lord” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Tithing,” Ensign, May 1994, 35).

  14. Doctrine and Covenants 120:1.

  15. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work,” Ensign, May 1990, 96.

  16. See “The 2022 Report on How the Church of Jesus Christ Cared for Those in Need,” Mar. 22, 2023, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

  17. Received via email from the Missionary Department, Sept. 14, 2023.

  18. See “Temple List,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org/temples/list.

  19. Received via email from Member and Statistical Records, July 28, 2023.

  20. This includes Brigham Young University, Brigham Young University–Idaho, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, Ensign College, and BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

  21. Received via email from Seminaries and Institutes, July 28, 2023.

  22. See General Handbook, 34.3.1.

  23. President Dallin H. Oaks shared this story about trusting in the Lord: “My widowed mother supported her three young children on a [meager] salary. … I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing’” (“Tithing,” 33).

  24. “That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:14).

  25. Personal correspondence from Charlotte Hlimi Martin, Aug. 30, 2023.

  26. Doctrine and Covenants 1:30.

  27. Acts 5:38–39.

  28. Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 95.