David A. Bednar

(black text is the original talk; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker or the church.)

The Windows of Heaven

By Elder David A. Bednar
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing.Raise your hand if you would like spiritual and temporal blessings. It's not rocket science...

I want to describe two important lessons I have learned about the law of tithing. The first lesson focuses upon the blessings that come blessings are great motivators...we all need blessings...but listen carefully. The lesson isn't THAT blessings come, it's HOW they come...to individuals and families as they faithfully obey  not hit and miss, not kind of, but even when it's hard, even when you need the money for something else.. this commandment. The second lesson emphasizes the importance of tithing in the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in all of the world. I pray the Holy Ghost will confirm to each of us the truthfulness of the principles I discuss.He just asked you to pray for a witness of all that he is saying. If you already pay tithing, pray for a witness of the blessings he will talk about and the importance of tithing to the growth of the Church and the faith to keep paying it when things get harder.

Lesson Number 1—Significant but Subtle Blessings Most talks on tithing that I can remember talk about blessings, most of them significant sounding...but they leave the subtle blessings unnamed. Here they will be identified.

Sister Bednar’s mother is a faithful woman and an inspired homemaker. I love that phrase. I would like to have been known as "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. That does sound inspired! I don't know that I've done too many things related to homemaking that I can say I've done from the earliest days of my marriage and then on for decades!

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. "All things are spiritual to the Lord"...and Sister Bednar's mother... One day as they reviewed together various categories of expenses, her mother noted an interesting pattern. Looking for patterns seems to be something Elder Bednar loves to do as well. I've heard him mention it in many talks. The costs for doctor visits and medicines for their family were far lower than might have been expected. For those of us who have only major medical plans...this is HUGE! 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. Important lesson #1: blessings come, but maybe not in the way we were hoping or looking for so we discount them or overlook them altogether. The family had not received any sudden or obvious additions to the household income.This is the blessing we usually hope for... More. Instead, a loving Heavenly Father had bestowed simple blessings in seemingly ordinary ways. No one got sick or hurt. Now if someone was sick or hurt, you would notice that, but we "expect" to be healthy so we take it for granted that actually being healthy and accident free is really a blessing related to paying tithing. Sister Bednar always has remembered this important lesson from her mother moms.....about the help that comes to us through the windows of heaven, as promised by Malachi in the Old Testament (see Malachi 3:10).

Often as we teach and testify about the law of tithing, we emphasize the immediate, dramatic, and readily recognizable temporal blessings that we receive. And surely such blessings do occur. Yet some of the diverse blessings we obtain as we are obedient to this commandment are significant but subtle. Such blessings can be discerned only if we are both spiritually attentive and observant (see 1 Corinthians 2:14)....not a "natural man" ability. You have to spiritually see and watch for them.

The imagery of the “windows” of heaven used by Malachi is most instructive. Look for imagery in the scriptures....Windows allow natural light to enter he chose to say "natural" light which is a great representation of things "real" or "true"into a building. In like manner, spiritual illumination and perspective are poured means "continuously, rapidly, steadily, in great quantity" out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing. The Spirit pushes out the darkness of our beliefs. With an eternal perspective things "look" different. We are being taught here that we can expect LOTS of these subtle but significant blessings by obeying this law!!

For example, a subtle but significant blessing we receive is the spiritual gift of gratitude that enables our appreciation for what we have to constrain desires for what we want. This is different than begrudgingly going without because we don't have enough money. Want less and you will "need" less...A grateful person is rich in contentment. An ungrateful person suffers in the poverty of endless discontentment (see Luke 12:15).That statement has nothing to do with "rich" and "poor" people with regards to money. Only in one's attitude...gratitude or ingratitude.

We may need and pray for help to find suitable employment.So many, many people are praying this prayer right now! Eyes and ears of faith (see Ether 12:19) are needed, what is an "eye of faith". I think it is believing in things you can't see as if you had seen them. however, to recognize the spiritual gift of enhanced discernment that can empower us to identify job opportunities that many other people might overlook—there's what you pray for...not just "help me find a job" but help me to discern and identify what jobs I should look at. Now, Elder Bednar is a seer. What has he "seen"? What are the jobs others are tempted to overlook? Is he talking about meanial labor? Are people turning down jobs because they don't "look" a certain way? Do you have the faith to take a job others are overlooking if the Spirit prompts you to?  What kind of jobs would you need to be "empowered" to identify? or the blessing of greater personal determination to search harder and longer for a position than other people may be able or willing to do. Is he speaking to those who are to willing to look just to meet the requirements to stay on welfare? What might searching harder and longer than others are able to or willing to, look like? We might want and expect a job offer, to those who have the interview, but don't get the job offer and don't understand why...but the blessing that comes to us through heavenly windows may be greater capacity to act and change our own circumstances rather than expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else.So you didn't get the job. Pray to know how to change your circumstance. Maybe you should move to a less expensive house? Drive a less expensive car? Not go on that vacation? Sell that investment? Get that degree? Learn that skill? Start that business? 

We may appropriately desire and work to receive a pay raise in our employment to better provide the necessities of life.Notice he carefully qualifies this. You can "inappropriately" desire and work for a pay raise. And what makes it inappropriate? Perhaps it is desiring it for things other than the necessities of life - power, prestige, more stuff... Eyes and ears of faith are required, however, to notice in us an increased spiritual and temporal capacity (see Luke 2:52) to do more with less, notice it can have both spiritual and temporal components. This is a simple example, but sometimes if I just rearrange the furniture, I am just as content as if I had gone out and bought something new. a keener ability to prioritize and simplify, "unencumber your life" (a phrase from one of my all time favorite conference talks) and an enhanced ability to take proper care of the material possessions we already have  change the oil in your car...acquired. 

We might want and expect a larger paycheck, again... we all want it, but have the hardest time when we expect it but don't get it. but the blessing that comes to us through heavenly windows may be greater capacity to change our own circumstances rather than expecting our circumstances to be changed by someone or something else. wow! He has said this exact thing TWICE!!! What is the message here? One that comes to mind is the dependance so many have on the government to fix their problems. We think others owe it to us to see that we have all the things we want in life. NOT straight thinking!! (to borrow Elder Ballard's phrase)

The stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 53; 56–58) prayed earnestly that God would strengthen and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. I remind you again, Elder Bednar is a seer; that these talks are given to forewarn us. I believe this is a prayer we will soon find ourselves praying. Interestingly, the answers to these prayers did not produce additional weapons or an increased number of troops.We will want the same thing the Jews did in Jesus day. Someone or something to come deliver us from our enemies. Instead, God granted these faithful warriors assurance that He would deliver them, peace to their souls, and great faith and hope for their deliverance in Him (see Alma 58:11). Thus, the sons of Helaman did take courage, were fixed with a determination to conquer, and did go forth with all of their might against the Lamanites (see Alma 58:12–13). Assurance, peace, faith, and hope initially might not seem like the blessings warriors in battle might want, but they were precisely the blessings these valiant young men needed to press forward and prevail physically and spiritually. Click on the scripture references for this passage. Notice the Lord visited them; spoke to them; gave them faith; caused them to hope. We will receive the same, but we must first be like them. For they"did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them." We must keep our covenants...with exactness!! We must obey and observe to perform every word of command from the prophet(s)...with exactness!!

Sometimes we may ask God for success, and He gives us physical and mental stamina. instead of success...we get to struggle on...but with His help. We might plead for prosperity, we are tired of being poor...and we receive enlarged perspective and increased patience, this goes back to gratitude or we petition for growth and are blessed with the gift of grace. I am not real sure about what he is saying here, but See this talk to understand more about grace. He may bestow upon us conviction and confidence as we strive to achieve worthy goals. for we are too often discouraged and give up on our goals And when we plead for relief from physical, mental, and spiritual difficulties, He may increase our resolve and resilience.In other words, He may increase our determination to find or implement answers to improve our condition, or increase our ability to recover from those conditions. We may have to suffer through them instead of having them taken from us, but we need to see that He is still blessing us in ways that are best for us.

I promise Same as a promise from the Lord that as you and I observe and keep"pay attention to and follow" the law of tithing, indeed the windows of heaven will be opened not "might" be opened, but "will" be opened and spiritual and temporal blessings will be poured out such that there shall not be room enough to receive them This is not some small, trite expression. These blessing will be POURED out, so much that you won't be able to receive all of them!  Now, that sounds like we'll be overcome by how blessed we are, but perhaps one interpretation is that there will be so many that we'll be tempted to discount them, to not receive them all, or recognize them all, for many of them will be subtle. Never thought of that before...(see Malachi 3:10). We also will remember the Lord’s declaration:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9). We should always be looking for this in our lives. When we say "what would Jesus do"...expect that the answer may not be "what you would do"...unless you have aligned your will, your thinking, with that of the Savior's...

I testify that as we are spiritually attentive and observant, we will be blessed with eyes that see more clearly, ears that hear more consistently, and hearts that understand more fully the significance and subtlety of His ways, His thoughts, and His blessings in our lives. That would be the summary statement for Lesson number 1.

Lesson Number 2—the Simplicity of the Lord’s Way

Before my call to serve as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, I read many times in the Doctrine and Covenants about the council appointed to oversee and disburse sacred tithing funds. The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes was established by revelation  not men...and consists of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric (see D&C 120). As I prepared in December of 2004 to attend my first meeting of this council, I eagerly anticipated a most remarkable learning opportunity.You will see in a minute why it was so remarkable...

I still remember the things I experienced and felt we don't forget "remarkable" things...in that council. I gained a greater appreciation and reverence for the Lord’s laws of finance for individuals, for families, and for His Church. The basic financial program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—for both income and disbursement—is defined in sections 119 and 120 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Two statements found in these revelations provide the foundation for the fiscal affairs of the Church.

Section 119 simply states that all members “shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, … saith the Lord” (verse 4).

Then, concerning the authorized disbursement of the tithes, the Lord said, “It shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord” (D&C 120:1). The “bishop and his council” and “my high council” referred to in this revelation are known today as the Presiding Bishopric and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, respectively. These sacred funds are used in a rapidly growing church to spiritually bless individuals and families by constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, supporting missionary work, translating and publishing scriptures, fostering family history research, funding schools and religious education, and accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed by the Lord’s ordained servants.

I marvel at the clarity and brevity of these two revelations in comparison to the complicated financial guidelines and administrative procedures used in so many organizations and governments around the world. Clearly, "God's ways are not man's ways, neither are man's thoughts His thoughts"! How can the temporal affairs of an organization as large as the restored Church of Jesus Christ possibly operate throughout the entire world using such succinct instructions? To me the answer is quite straightforward: this is the Lord’s work, He is able to do His own work (see 2 Nephi 27:20), and the Savior inspires and directs His servants as they apply His directions and labor in His cause. Government Lesson 101

In that first council meeting I was impressed by the simplicity of the principles that guided our deliberations and decisions.How many pages is the Affordable Care Act again??? In the financial operations of the Church, two basic and fixed principles are observed. First, the Church lives within its means and does not spend more than it receives. Second, a portion of the annual income is set aside as a reserve for contingencies and unanticipated needs.Here it comes, people....you think they don't talk about food storage anymore because it's not important. Guess what...they talked about it. Not only that, he's going to remind you that they have talked about it FOR DECADES. For decades the Church has taught its membership the principle It's a PRINCIPLE of setting aside additional food, fuel, and money to take care of emergencies that might arise. Read Revelations; Matthew 24; just to name a few...do you think there might be any "emergencies" coming? (sorry...I'm ranting...)The Church as an institution simply follows the same principles that are taught repeatedly to the members. Taught repeatedly. Does your ward/stake teach this repeatedly? Do new converts understand this principle? Is it taught along with tithing? Are these TWO principles BASIC and FIXED in your family?

As the meeting progressed, I found myself wishing that all members because we don't...of the Church could observe the simplicity, the clarity, the orderliness, the charity, and the power of the Lord’s own way (see D&C 104:16) for conducting the temporal affairs of His Church.So repent...and do it... I have now participated in the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes for many years. My gratitude and reverence for the Lord’s pattern has grown each year, and the lessons learned have become even more profound. He's repeating a lot of his phrases in this talk. Ask yourself why...

My heart swells with love and admiration for the faithful and obedient members of this Church from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. As I travel the earth, I learn about your hopes and dreams, your varied living conditions and circumstances, and your struggles. I have attended Church meetings with you and visited in some of your homes. Your faith strengthens my faith. Your devotion makes me more devoted. And your goodness and willing obedience to the law of tithing inspires me to be a better man, husband, father, and Church leader. I remember and think of you each time I participate in the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes. Thank you for your goodness and faithfulness as you honor your covenants. Praise before reproof...

The leaders of the Lord’s restored Church feel a tremendous responsibility to care appropriately for the consecrated offerings of Church members. We are keenly aware of the sacred nature of the widow’s mite. Perhaps we would benefit by looking at our our funds as sacred. We also have a tremendous responsibility to appropriately care for what the Lord gives us as stewards.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

“And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

“And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” (Mark 12:41–44). What perspective, testimony, faith did this poor widow have that the Lord so admired that he would call his disciples together to learn from her? Is not this the attitude that we have covenanted to take upon ourselves with the law of consecration?

I know from firsthand experience that the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is vigilant in caring for the widow’s mite.This the exact opposite of how the present government views its stewardship in the disposition of our "taxes".  I express appreciation to President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors for their effective leadership in discharging this holy stewardship. they are carrying out their responsibility within the bounds the Lord has set And I acknowledge the voice (see D&C 120:1) sounds pretty literal to me...and hand of the Lord that sustain His ordained servants in fulfilling the duty to represent Him.I think he is saying that it is the voice and hand of the Lord Himself that supports this council and helps them to carry out their duties as He would himself.

An Invitation and a Testimony

The honest payment of tithing is much more than a duty; but it IS a duty...it is an important step in the process of personal sanctification. personal sanctification is one of the really big "does anybody really understand it" kind of topics. But if tithing is an important step in the process, it sounds like the process is important too...I should probably try to understand it better. Here is a talk that is a good start... simply put it is: "The process of becoming free from sin, pure, clean, and holy through the atonement of Jesus Christ"(Moses 6:59–60). To those of you who pay your tithing, I commend you.You have taken an important step...what is next?

To those of you who presently are not obeying the law of tithing, I invite you to consider your ways and repent.  No yelling, no threats, no scare tactics, no fist-pounding. Just an invitation; "consider your ways" (read this talk too. Seriously....take any phrase you want to know more about and enter into the search bar on lds.org. You'll be amazed at what you learn!) then after you do that, you should feel a desire to repent. I testify that by your obedience to this law of the Lord, the windows of heaven will be opened to you. And you're gonna need 'em to! Please do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. For in the words of Elder Holland, April 2012 (1 1/2 years ago...)

"So if you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them. It is never too late so long as the Master of the vineyard says there is time. Please listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit telling you right now, this very moment, that you should accept the atoning gift of the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoy the fellowship of His labor. Don’t delay. It’s getting late. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I testify spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing. I bear witness that such blessings often are significant but subtle. I also declare that the simplicity of the Lord’s way that is so evident in the temporal affairs of His Church provides patterns that can guide us as individuals and as families. "we thank thee, O God, for a prophet(s) to guide us in these latter days"....we just received guidance for these last days of the latter days....follow the Lord's pattern for your temporal affairs. Have faith in the promises. Recognize the blessings.I pray each of us may learn and benefit from these important lessons, Can't benefit from the lessons if you don't live them. in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

    IMPERATIVES 

• Faithfully live the law of tithing - one tenth of your interest (income) annually
• Significant but subtle blessings may be: 
• gratitude
• spiritual illumination and perspective
• a greater capacity to act and change your own circumstances rather than expecting your circumstances to be changed by someone or something else
• an increased spiritual and temporal capacity to do more with less
• a keener ability to prioritize and simplify
• an enhanced ability to take proper care of material possessions
• assurance, peace, faith and hope to press forward and prevail physically and spiritually
• When you pray for success, prosperity, growth, help in achieving worthy goals, relief from physical , mental, and spiritual difficulties - look for these answers: 
• physical and mental stamina
• enlarged perspective
• increased patience
• grace
• conviction
• confidence
• resolve 
• resilience
• Pray for a confirmation of the principles of this law
• Emphasize basic principles of provident living and prudent home management
• Do not overlook significant but subtle blessings from living this law, that are not always what you expect
• Recognize blessings can come in simple and ordinary ways.
• Be spiritually attentive (ears of faith) and observant(eyes of faith) to discern diverse blessings that may be significant, but subtle
• Seek the spiritual gift of gratitude so that you can appreciate what you have, constraining your desires for what you want. This is "rich contentment"
• Remember the Lord’s declaration:“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
• Gain a greater appreciation and reverence for the Lord’s laws of finance for individuals, for families, and for His Church
• Observe the simplicity, the clarity, the orderliness, the charity, and the power of the Lord's own way for conducting your temporal affairs when making decisions.
• Make these two principles basic and fixed in your family: 
• live within your means; do not spend more than you receive
• set aside a portion of your annual income as a reserve for contingencies and unanticipated needs
•  Set aside additional food, fuel, and money to take care of emergencies that might arise
• Learn and benefit from the profound and important lessons of following the Lord's pattern
• Honor your covenants willingly and faithfully
• If you are not paying tithing; consider your ways and repent. Do not procrastinate

         DOCTRINAL INSIGHTS

• Tithing is important to the growth of the church in all of the world.
• 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 stripling warriors prayed for strength and deliverance but received assurance that God would deliver them, peace, and great faith and hope for their deliverance in Him. Thus, they took courage, were fixed with a determination to conquer and went with all their might and they prevailed physically and spiritually.
• The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes was established by revelation and consists of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric  
• The basic financial program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—for both income and disbursement—is defined clearly and briefly in sections 119 and 120 of the Doctrine and Covenants.  
• income comes from tithing  - 10% of interest annually
• expenses are for:
• constructing and maintaining temples and houses of worship, 
• supporting missionary work, 
• translating and publishing scriptures, 
• fostering family history research, 
• funding schools and religious education,  
• accomplishing many other Church purposes as directed  
• This is the Lord's work. He is able to do His own work. 
• The Savior inspires and directs His servants as they apply His directions and labor in His cause.
    PROMISES

• Spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing.
• Spiritual illumination and perspective and help are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives, as promised by Malachi, as we honor the law of tithing
• I promise that as you and I observe and keep the law of tithing, indeed the windows of heaven will be opened and spiritual and temporal blessings will be poured out such that there shall not be room enough to receive them 
• I testify that as we are spiritually attentive and observant, we will be blessed with eyes that see more clearly, ears that hear more consistently, and hearts that understand more fully the significance and subtlety of His ways, His thoughts, and His blessings in our lives.  
• The simplicity of the Lord’s way that is so evident in the temporal affairs of His Church provides patterns that can guide us as individuals and as families.  
• The Savior will inspire and direct you as you apply His direction and labor in His cause.

       WARNINGS

• Avoid the poverty of endless discontentment
• We are warriors in a battle. We need the blessings of assurance, peace, faith and hope to press forward and prevail physically and spiritually
• Set aside additional food, fuel, and money to take care of emergencies that might arise. These principles have been taught repeatedly to you for decades. 
• Live within your means and do not spend more than you receive
• Set aside a portion of your annual income as a reserve for contingencies and unanticipated needs
• To those of you who presently are not obeying the law of tithing, consider your ways and repent
• Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance