The Law of the Fast

Today is fast Sunday. I would like to encourage you to think about what is your purpose for fasting today and I also like to encourage you to think about your understanding of fasting. This post will take you longer than five minutes out of your time to read this post.

Today's post is based on a April 2001 General Conference talk called "The Law of the Fast," by Joseph B. Wirthlin. I would like to share with you some highlights what I liked while reading the talk and I hope you will learn something new.

Elder Wirthlin mentioned, "In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members are encouraged to fast whenever their faith needs special fortification and to fast regularly once each month on fast day. Typically, the first Sunday of each month is designated as fast Sunday. 

We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

Fasting and prayer can help develop within us courage and confidence. It can strengthen our character and build self-restraint and discipline. Often when we fast, our righteous prayers and petitions have greater power. We mature spiritually and emotionally and sanctify our souls. Each time we fast, we gain a little more control over our worldly appetites and passions.

Fasting and prayer can help us in our families and in our daily work. They can help us magnify our callings in the Church. 

Book of Mormon prophets taught the law of the fast: “Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.”

When we fast, brethren and sisters, we feel hunger. And for a short time, we literally put ourselves in the position of the hungry and the needy. As we do so, we have greater understanding of the deprivations they might feel. When we give to the bishop an offering to relieve the suffering of others, we not only do something sublime for others, but we do something wonderful for ourselves as well. 

Some look at the overwhelming need in the world and think, What can I do that could possibly make a difference?

I will tell you plainly one thing you can do. You can live the law of the fast and contribute a generous fast offering. Fast offerings are used for one purpose only: to bless the lives of those in need. Every dollar given to the bishop as a fast offering goes to assist the poor. When donations exceed local needs, they are passed along to fulfill the needs elsewhere.

Far too many in the world today, thousands upon thousands of families experience want each day. They hunger. They ache with cold. They suffer from sickness. They grieve for their children. They mourn for the safety of their families. These people are not strangers and foreigners but children of our Heavenly Father. They are our brothers and our sisters.

Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. - Joseph B. Wirthlin.

Parents, teach your children the joys of a proper fast. And how do you do that? The same as with any gospel principle, let them see you live it by your example. Then help them live the law of the fast themselves, little by little. They can fast and they can also pay a fast offering if they choose. As we teach our children to fast, it can give them the power to resist temptations along their life’s journey.

How much should we pay in fast offerings? Will we, who have been blessed so abundantly, turn our backs on those who need our help? Paying a generous fast offering is a measure of our willingness to consecrate ourselves to relieve the suffering of others.

As members of the Church, we have a sacred responsibility to assist those in need and to help relieve their heavy burdens. President Gordon B. Hinckley asked: “What would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world? The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere.”

Fasting in the proper spirit and in the Lord’s way will energize us spiritually, strengthen our self-discipline, fill our homes with peace, lighten our hearts with joy, fortify us against temptation, prepare us for times of adversity, and open the windows of heaven.

As we live the law of the fast, we not only draw nearer to God through prayer, but we feed the hungry and care for the poor. Each time we do so, we fulfill both of the great commandments upon which “hang all the law and the prophets.”

I did not realize how much events that I had planned during the weekend, so I have not yet been successful of doing a Vlog. I will hope to do Vlog update one as soon as I can. If you would like to read the whole talk in your own time, here is the link below.
www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/the-law-of-the-fast

If you have any questions about fasting, feel free to ask in the comments section below. That is all from me for now. I hope you will have a wonderful Sabbath, remember it is fast Sunday and stay in tuned for next time's post. I will be posting sometime on Tuesday, in pacific daylight time zone.