Two lawsuits against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints… both recently dismissed—have reignited a conversation that many members have quietly carried for years. While the legal challenges failed in court, they brought into sharp focus a growing concern among everyday believers. The way tithing is taught, enforced, and lived today is leaving some behind, not in faith, but in feasibility.
One case was brought by James Huntsman, who sought a $5 million refund, alleging his tithing had been used for commercial ventures rather than charitable purposes. Another, filed by nine former members, claimed deception over how their donations—accumulated over 25 years—were being managed. Both lawsuits cited the 2019 whistleblower report that claimed the Church had built a reserve of over $100 billion through Ensign Peak Advisors, raising questions about transparency.
The courts dismissed both cases. The federal judge in the latest ruling said the lawsuit was filed too late and lacked sufficient legal grounds to establish fraud. In Huntsman’s case, the court found there was not enough evidence to show that the Church had made misrepresentations about how the funds would be used.
The law may have spoken. But the concerns these cases raised are not going away.
From Covenant to Compliance
Tithing is, at its root, a principle of faith. The scriptures describe it as a spiritual offering—a token of trust in God. In Doctrine and Covenants 119, it is defined as one-tenth of a person’s “interest,” a word understood historically to mean increase—what remains after needs are met.
But for many members today, the teaching has shifted from principle to policy. Tithing has become a gatekeeper to the temple, to blessings, to worthiness. In temple recommend interviews, members are asked, “Are you a full tithe payer?” It’s a simple question with complex implications.
In practice, many church leaders interpret “full tithe” as 10% of gross income—not net, and certainly not what remains after taxes, rent, or food. This strict interpretation may contradict the very scripture it claims to enforce.
The Weight of 10%
In New Zealand and across the world, everyday life is getting harder. Rents in some places take up 80 to 90 percent of a household’s income. Food costs are rising. Fuel, power, and basic survival are squeezing families.
On top of this, members are taught that they must pay 10% of their gross income or be considered unworthy. The effect is not just financial—it’s spiritual. It places members in a moral bind, not of their own making. Those who can’t meet the 10% target often feel guilt, shame, and unworthiness—not because of their faith, but because of their finances.
This pressure doesn’t reflect the example of the Savior. When Christ observed the poor widow giving her last coin, He praised her not for the amount she gave, but for the spirit in which she gave it. That was faith. That was worship.
Reclaiming the Spirit of Tithing
Yes, tithing helps fund temples. Yes, it helps build the kingdom. Yes, it prepares the Church for the Second Coming of Christ. But tithing is not meant to be a law enforced with guilt and precision accounting. It is a principle meant to be lived from the heart.
Instead of asking “Did you pay a full tithe?” we should ask, “Did you give in faith, according to your ability?” That is the spirit of increase. That is the principle behind the doctrine. And that is the space where true discipleship grows.
This Isn’t About Rebellion
This isn’t an attack on the Church. It’s not a call to stop giving. It’s a call to remember what tithing really is—and what it isn’t. Faithful members are not asking to be excused from sacrifice. They are asking to not be crushed by it. They are asking that we trust them to live the gospel with integrity, even when the numbers don’t look perfect on paper.
The lawsuits may be over. But the conversation they’ve sparked is not. And maybe it’s time we all took a closer look—not at our income, but at our increase. Not at what others give, but at how we give. With faith. With freedom. And without fear.
