The Meaning of “Interest”
Doctrine and Covenants 119:4
4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one–tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.
President Joseph Fielding Smith said:
“For your guidance in this matter, please be advised that we have uniformly replied that the simplest statement we know of is that statement of the Lord Himself that the members of the Church should pay one-tenth of all their interest annually, which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this. We feel that every member of the Church should be entitled to make his own decision as to what he thinks he owes the Lord, and to make payment accordingly.”
(First Presidency Letter, Mar. 19, 1970.)
