My Lesson on Christ's Sacrifice

The greatest lesson Heavenly Father gave me about Easter and the Savior's gift to us of the Atonement happened while I was a missionary serving in the small city of Yeo-su, South Korea. It revolved around an inter-city (go-sok) bus and English classes.

While serving in Yeo-su, my companion and I decided we'd try teaching an English class as a way of getting the name of the Church and the Book of Mormon into the community. We found a company that would do it. I forget its name, but they actually agreed to our proposal with one catch: they insisted on paying us to teach the class. Then they paid us up front for the classes! My district leader called the mission home on what to do with the money. I forget the amount, but it was a lot, especially for two American missionaries used to living on $120 a month.

The mission home wouldn't take it. They suggested we use it instead to do something for the branch. After some brainstorming we came up with the idea of chartering a bus. District conference was coming in a month or so. Since most of the members wouldn't go because they couldn't afford the bus fare, we decided to charter a bus so they could. 

After we got the bus, there was just enough money left over to buy some ice cream to share amongst ourselves. (There were six missionaries working in Yeo-su at the time.) We then announced at the next branch Sacrament meeting a bus was available to whomever wanted to use it to attend conference.

I remember thinking of what we were offering to the members in the days leading up to conference. Would they appreciate that two missionaries were going to be teaching English for one night a week for three months to pay for their trip? Would they care? Would the bus be full? I wanted that bus full! I got so caught up in my "great sacrifice for them," that I felt I'd be angry if they didn't take full advantage of it.

And then the lesson came.

While praying and pondering about the situation, the Holy Ghost touched my mind and pointed out the similarities between that bus and the Atonement. I realized then, I'd never fully appreciate what the Savior did that night and day as He bled and died for me (us.) And then I was shown that just as I wanted that bus full (so our gift to them would not be wasted,) in a much more perfect and holier way, the Savior wanted the same for us.

He wants us to repent! He wants us to have every advantage we can of His marvelous gift. When I contemplate it even today, more than 40 years later, I am filled with awe and gratitude. I think of a silly young missionary and the parallels between that small gift to a few dozen Korean saints and the Savior's unspeakably wonderful gift to us all. While I see the parallel, there is no real comparison. The lesson has remained with me to this day.

Oh, and the bus? While my companion and I filled the last two seats on the way to conference, the bus was completely full of branch members on the return trip. We missionaries had to ride home on a different bus.

Insights into the Proper Use of Tithing

I was surprised to read Numbers 18 gives some insights into what the Lord considers proper use of tithing. Consequently, I thought I'd share this with you.

I did not expect to find such clear counsel tucked away in the Old Testament. Yet, the whole chapter deals with the role Aaron and his sons have to minister in the priest’s office and how the Levites are to have no lands of inheritance. It lays out how they are to be supported instead: from the tithes of the people.

“And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.” Numbers 18:20

Here the Lord tells Moses, the Tribe of Levi will be given no land for their lands of inheritance. In the Book of Mormon, lands of inheritance are linked to people’s liberty and represents their means of providing for their needs and wants. The Levites were to have none of this. Knowing they still had to feed, shelter and clothe their families like the rest of the tribes, the Lord had something different in mind for them.

“But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.” Numbers 18:24 

Their “inheritance” was to be the tithing of the offerings the rest of the children of Israel made to the Lord. There were a couple of conditions attached to the receipt of these offerings. One, is their receipt of the offerings was contingent upon their “cleanliness” before the Lord. Or to use today’s vernacular: it was dependent upon their adherence to the “Covenant Path” which the Lord had given to them through Moses.

“11 And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.

13 And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.” Numbers 18:11, 13

The other condition is they were to tithe what they received back to the Lord too.

“Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.” Numbers 18:29

There are the passages in the Doctrine and Covenants which lay out how tithes and offerings are to be used today, but that is beside the point I’m trying to make. That being, as far back as in Old Testament times, the Lord knew those who gave their full-time service to Him in the kingdom, still had the material needs of us all. They had to eat, care for their families and a place to live. This passage shows, the Lord saw nothing wrong with using the tithes of the people to support those who gave their full-time service to Him (and by corollary the people). 

We should therefore not take offense if the Lord sees fit to do the same thing today. Nor should we take offense at the amount they are given. As we read in Numbers 18:13-14, the Lord intended that the best of the offerings which the people gave, were to be for the Levite’s use.

“All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the first fruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord, them have I given thee. And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it. Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.” Numbers 18:12-14

So, if you read about how terrible it is that General Authorities, Mission Presidents and Temple Presidents, “live off” the efforts of the members of the church, ignore the complaint. Instead, keep in mind, it’s the Lord’s way of providing for those who work full-time ministering in His kingdom. It justifies using tithing funds to pay the wages and salaries of people who work full time for the church: a church that is also a multi-national organization.