Editor’s note: To support personal and family gospel learning, the Church News is publishing articles on messages from April 2026 general conference. It is recommended to listen to or read the full address in addition to reviewing these resources.
About this talk
- “Tithing — Putting God First”
- Elder Jorge T. Becerra | General Authority Seventy
- Saturday morning session of April 2026 general conference.
- Theme: Putting God first by paying tithes and offerings will enhance a person’s spiritual capacity.
Read the full message here.
Read a summary of Elder Becerra’s message here.
Outline
- While giving a sermon to the people of Gideon, Alma the Younger used the word “dilemma” (Alma 7:3, 18). The footnote leads to James 1:8. This “dilemma” could be “double-mindedness.”
- A double-minded person is one who is wavering, indecisive or conflicted, someone who lacks commitment to a single purpose or belief. One way to overcome this is through learning to put God first.
- Adam and Eve offered the firstlings of their flock in similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Offering the firstlings is one way they put God first.
- As a young married father, Elder Becerra fell behind in tithing payments. After pondering what he could do, he determined to try selling his car, the only thing of value he owned. He calculated how much he needed to pay off the car loan and his tithing. The buyer of the car was willing to pay the exact amount. A friend called and asked if Elder Becerra would like his car.
- His mother testified of tithing powerfully during a home evening lesson, despite financial setbacks.
- President Gordon B. Hinckley said in October 2001 that obedience to the commandment of God matters. This applies both temporally and spiritually.
- Elder David A. Bednar said honoring the law of tithing allows spiritual illumination in one’s life. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of putting God first.
Reflection questions
How can you put the Savior first in your life?
What blessings have you seen in your life through keeping the law of tithing?
Why is it important to keep God’s commandments even when it may be hard?
How do you offer ‘the firstlings of [your] flock’ (Moses 5:5) to the Lord?
What experiences have influenced you to more fully keep God’s commandments?
Speaker quotes
- “A double-minded person is one who is wavering, indecisive or conflicted, someone who lacks commitment to a single purpose or belief.
- “From the beginning of time, God has taught His children to put Him first in their lives.”
- “I witness that Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to put God first in our lives.”
Reference scriptures
- “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”
- “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”
- “And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.”
Invitations and promises
- “One way to overcome double-mindedness is to learn to put God first in our lives.”
- “The payment of tithes and offerings will enhance our spiritual capacity as we put God first and offer our ‘firstlings of [the] flock’ (Moses 5:5).”
- “I witness that a spiritual power and direction, heretofore unknown, will come into our lives as we keep the law of obedience and sacrifice.”
Stories
- Elder Becerra was a young married father when he fell behind in paying his tithing. After talking to Elder Clinton L. Cutler, a General Authority Seventy who was visiting, Elder Becerra felt prompted to sell his car to pay his tithing, even though he really needed his car for his business. After paying his tithing, a friend offered him another car.
- In a home evening lesson, Elder Becerra’s mother bore powerful testimony of the law of tithing, despite financial setbacks. She said, “All we need to see is the very hand of Jehovah Himself to have any greater assurance that He is blessing us by our payment of tithing.”
Additional resources
- Related image: “Adam and Eve Kneeling at an Altar” by Del Parson
- Related video: “What Does the Church Do With Tithing Money?”
- Related hymn: No. 218, “We Give Thee But Thine Own”
Recent conference talks on tithing
- President Russell M. Nelson: “Think Celestial!” (October 2023)
- Elder Neil L. Andersen: “Tithing: Opening the Windows of Heaven” (October 2023)
- Elder Valeri V. Cordón: “The Language of the Gospel” (April 2017)
Who is Elder Becerra?
- Elder Jorge T. Becerra was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 4, 2020. He served a mission as a young man in the California Arcadia Mission, where he met fellow missionary and his future wife, Sister Debbie Schneberger. Elder and Sister Becerra later returned to the California Arcadia Mission when they were called as its mission leaders.
