Tithing

The Best Choice

By Elder Sheldon F. Child

Served as a member of the Seventy from 1996 to 2008

From a general conference talk given in April 2008.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (3 Nephi 24:10).

1. When I was young, a neighbor gave me a newborn calf.

2. Raising a calf was hard work. I took care of it and fed it.

3. The day Dad sold the calf was a day of mixed feelings. I was going to miss the calf, but I looked forward to being rewarded for my hard work.

4. When Dad came home, he dropped 20 silver dollars into my hands. I felt like I had all the money in the world.

5. I counted, polished, and admired each coin.

6. On Sunday I put two of the silver dollars into my pocket before I went to church so I could pay my tithing.

7. It was hard for me to give my tithing to the bishop, but it felt good to be obedient to the Lord.

8. My mother told me she was proud of me. She told me I would be blessed for paying tithing and that it was the best investment I could ever make.

Helps for Parents

We are blessed when we pay tithing (see 3 Nephi 24:10–12). You can use the activities in this section to help teach about tithing.

• You can tell the story about Elder Child or an experience of your own to teach how we feel when we live the Lord’s law of tithing.

• You can use the hidden picture on the next page or an activity of your own to help teach how much to pay for tithing.

• You can use the tithing jar craft idea on the next page or one of your own to encourage children to begin paying tithing now.

• You can use the maze on page 73 to teach where tithing goes.

Illustrations by David Habben