Does Tithing Break the Poverty Cycle?

The cycle of poverty is a vicious trap where a parent’s poverty affects the lives of their children. Families in poverty often have limited resources, which makes it difficult to escape. Some examples of self-reinforcing disadvantages that can trap families in poverty include: Lack of financial capital, Lack of education, Lack of connections, Poor health, and Low working capacity.

President Russell M. Nelson visited Africa in 2018 and preached tithing to those trapped in the poverty cycle. He even proposed that their poverty cycle would continue unless they paid their tithing.

“We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation. That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing.” - President Russell M. Nelson | Special Devotional, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, April 16, 2018 | wasmormon.org — “We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation. That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing.” – President Russell M. Nelson | Special Devotional, Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, April 16, 2018

He also said tithing can break cycles of poverty in poor nations and families.
“We preach tithing to the poor people of the world because the poor people of the world have had cycles of poverty, generation after generation,” he said. “That same poverty continues from one generation to another, until people pay their tithing.”
President Russell M. Nelson, Special Devotional in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, April 16, 2018
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/london-and-nairobi-stops-of-president-nelsons-world-tour-highlight-churchs-cultural-diversity?lang=eng

Nelson promises those in poverty financial prosperity if they give the church money. This is not new for the church, they repeatedly preach that even (or especially) destitute families should pay tithing. They even go as far as preaching that the destitute and poverty stricken should pay the church before feeding their own children. These church leaders omit key facts in their claims.

“If a destitute family is faced with the decision of paying their tithing or eating, they should pay their tithing.” - Lynn G. Robbins, LDS Seventy, General Conference April 2005 | wasmormon.org — “If a destitute family is faced with the decision of paying their tithing or eating, they should pay their tithing.” – Lynn G. Robbins, LDS Seventy, General Conference April 2005

The do not share that they are personally paid by the church, and despite their statements their paycheck is not modest, especially relative to the destitute or those trapped in poverty cycles. They twist quotes from past leaders who stated tithing should only be paid by those who have means by removing this exception from their teaching. They omit the fact that the church has hundreds of billions of dollars set aside at Ensign Peak Advisors just for a rainy day as well as the fact that previous leaders have promised that as soon as the church needs are met, tithing would be done away with.

“I answered that the Church is not wealthy but that we follow the ancient biblical principle of tithing, which principle is reemphasized in our modern scripture. I explained also that our Church has no paid ministry” - Thomas S. Monson, LDS Church President, General Conference 2004 Received $97,201 "living allowance" paychecks in 2004 | wasmormon.org — “I answered that the Church is not wealthy but that we follow the ancient biblical principle of tithing, which principle is reemphasized in our modern scripture. I explained also that our Church has no paid ministry” – Thomas S. Monson, LDS Church President, General Conference 2004 Received $97,201 “living allowance” paychecks in 2004

The message on tithing has shifted from providing for the church to testing obedience of the members. Paying a full tithing, or at least 10% of one’s income is required to receive a temple recommend and visit the most sacred places in the church, and make eternal covenants with God. Those who do not pay the church money, are not welcome in the House of the Lord, or the celestial kingdom. Besides promising tithe payers celestial glory, what is the church doing to help them out of poverty?

The church teaches that tithing breaks the cycle of poverty. However, a 2024 study finds no evidence that the presence of a Mormon temple in a county reduces poverty rates.

Employing several difference-in-differences models on county-level data from 2010-2018, this paper finds no statistically significant evidence that temples reduce poverty rates. The results suggest that the presence of a temple has no effect on county-level economic outcomes, contrary to Mormon doctrinal claims about the power of tithing to alleviate poverty. This finding is likely attributable to the way in which the church allocates tithing revenues, a highly centralized and hierarchical affair with no clear mechanism to reduce poverty in the communities from which funds are sourced.
Dallin Overstreet, The Elusive Economic Blessings of Tithing: Mormon Temples and County Poverty, Journal of Economics, Theology and Religion, vol. 4, no. 1 (2024)
https://j-etr.org/2024/04/03/the-elusive-economic-blessings-of-tithing-mormon-temples-and-county-poverty/

Paying tithing does not break the cycle of poverty. While the church teaches that tithing brings blessings and prosperity, which implies material and financial improvements, the immediate impact of paying 10% of one’s income is challenging for families already struggling financially.

The concept of tithing is viewed as a faith-building practice, where blessings may come in various forms—such as spiritual peace, a sense of community, or unexpected help—but rarely are financial returns guaranteed. In practice, especially for those in poverty, paying tithing depletes resources that could otherwise be used for essentials, such as food, rent, or healthcare.

How is it that these leaders who are paid well by the church for their service, can ask the impoverished to pay the church. How can they promise that they will be lifted out of poverty by living on 10% less. The church does have internal support systems, like the Bishop’s Storehouse and welfare programs, that aim to assist members in need, but these supports are not intended to be ongoing or to substitute for personal income. Studies on financial management suggest that families in poverty generally benefit more from retaining their income for necessities or saving for future needs rather than allocating a portion to tithing if it impacts their immediate well-being. It feels more like more lies from church leaders to those who have the least to give.

"We want to help in every way we can. We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have." - Elder Neil L Andersen to Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Mohadi | wasmormon.org — “We want to help in every way we can. We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have.” – Elder Neil L Andersen to Zimbabwean Vice President Kembo Mohadi

The church preys on everyone, even the poor and destitute, in order to grow their own bottom line, just like a true corporation.

“It's a large set of Corporations that have, as a sideline, a religion... I mean it's just so obvious. That's where the fundamental modeling of the Mormon church, to me, is just wrong, as a religious institution. It cannot justify itself as a religion because it is profit-taking rather than profit-distributing.” - Neville Rocco, Australian Barrister, Former Mormon Bishop Mormon Church Accused of Ripping Off Taxpayers by Millions, 60 Minutes Australia | wasmormon.org — “It’s a large set of Corporations that have, as a sideline, a religion… I mean it’s just so obvious. That’s where the fundamental modeling of the Mormon church, to me, is just wrong, as a religious institution. It cannot justify itself as a religion because it is profit-taking rather than profit-distributing.” – Neville Rocco, Australian Barrister, Former Mormon Bishop Mormon Church Accused of Ripping Off Taxpayers by Millions, 60 Minutes Australia

Ultimately, while the Church encourages paying tithing as an act of faith, the financial burden on already struggling families more likely perpetuates financial stress rather than providing any path out of poverty. What are your thoughts on the poverty cycle and tithing? Does paying tithing to the church break the poverty cycle? How is it done, or must it be left to a matter of faith and the next life? Please share your thoughts in the comments, or if you are so inclined, share your own story of faith deconstruction from the mormon church at wasmormon.org!

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