(I had to write another report for my Doctrine and Covenants class (you can read my first one on prayer HERE). I basically had to choose a random gospel topic and do some research on it, then write 3,000 words on it. I chose fasting because it's something I've always had at least a small struggle with throughout my life.)
I have chosen the topic of fasting to write my next paper. There are some conflicts of interest surrounding this topic not just with those outside the church, but with members. A lot of people within the church have difficulty understanding the importance of fasting and especially the importance of paying fast offerings.
Fasting is a commandment. Some people appear to understand that, but only half-heartedly put their effort into it. Some people do not understand that and do not put any effort into it at all. There are some people who are physically unable to fast because of health issues, women who are pregnant, etc., but can still contribute in other ways. We gain so many blessings from fasting.
We are commanded to serve others according to Deuteronomy 15:11, “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Fasting is a way that we can care for the poor and needy.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:76 says, “Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.” It is a straight forward commandment from the Lord. It is when we humble ourselves before him and refrain from eating and drinking for an extended amount of time.
The first Sunday of every month is specifically set aside as “Fast Sunday” for members of the LDS church. Members of the Church go without food and water for two consecutive meals in a 24-hour period and then donate the money that would have been spent on that food to those in need. We are encouraged to serve the poor, otherwise our fasting is all for naught. According to Alma 34:28, “if ye turn away the needy... and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing.” Elder L. Tom Perry said that he has been very impressed with the Lord’s system of caring for the needy and poor; that fasting is a “simple yet profound way of satisfying human needs” (Perry).
However, fasting is more than simply going hungry for a few hours; we must be in the proper frame of mind and we must pray constantly to the Lord. We might not always have to be on our knees in a formal prayer, but we must keep a prayer in our hearts. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught in his talk “The Law of the Fast” that “without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting... 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” (Wirthlin).
So how can we take advantage of the privileges of fasting?
Fasting can be an extraordinary spiritual experience that draws us closer to God if used correctly.
LDS Gospel Topics gives a list of how to have a more impactful and purposeful fast:
First, begin and end your fast with a prayer. I should think it means a formal, legitimate prayer on your knees.
Second, fast with a purpose. The same principle mentioned earlier when I mentioned tending to the needy: if you do not have a purpose in mind when you fast, you are simply going hungry for no reason. The purpose of your fast does not have to be a major and significantly important one per say (like fasting for rain during famine, for a sick relative to heal, for financial troubles to improve, or something like that). In Helaman 3:35 the people “did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” In that verse, the people were not necessarily fasting and praying for a specific purpose. They were fasting to increase their faith for the “purifying and the sanctification of their hearts.” We too can fast simply to increase our faith and draw our hearts closer to God. Going without food and water is a humbling experience that reminds us of our Father in Heaven.
Third, fast with a happy countenance. Fasting is extremely difficult for most people. The body calls for food and drink and after twenty-four hours, the natural man really starts to get grumpy and mopey about not having any sustenance. I can personally attest to often going about fasting with a bad attitude, my only thought being “when is dinner?” and counting down the minutes. This is no way to go about it though. Fasting is supposed to be a spiritual and humbling experience, not a burden. 3 Nephi 13:16 states “when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.” In summation, we must not even put on a false face when fasting, we must be completely genuinely in it and completely pure of heart. If we follow the Lord’s council, we will “receive [our] reward.”
Fourth, encourage family members to fast with you. I have found it is always easier to fast when others are fasting with me, plus your family will receive those blessings from God as well. Of course, there are times when people are unable to fast. There are people of delicate health, pregnant/nursing mothers, etc. These people are usually exempt from fasting. Also, President Joseph F. Smith teaches that “Neither should parents compel their little children to fast” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 244). Although parents can encourage their children to fast and teach them why it is important, they should not be forced to participate. Fasting is difficult especially for young children. They should be taught why it is important so that they will be willing to participate when they are older, but while they are young and growing, they should not be forced into it.
Joseph F. Smith also counseled us to be wise as we fast because there is a such thing as overdoing it. While the majority of people go into fasting, dragging their feet, there are some people who are overzealous. They might fast for days, even weeks until they kill themselves. Joseph F. Smith says that “there isn’t any necessity for it; nor wisdom in it. … The Lord can hear a simple prayer, offered in faith, in half a dozen words, and he will recognize fasting that may not continue more than twenty-four hours, just as readily and as effectually as He will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month. … The Lord will accept that which is enough, with a good deal more pleasure and satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1912, 133-34). As long as our hearts are in it, it is acceptable. Even if we do not fast for exactly twenty-four hours because of extenuating circumstances, as long as our hearts were right, the Lord will still bless us.
Fifth, attend fast and testimony meeting. Some might get into the frame of mind that because they are fasting, they are already extra spiritual, so why bother going to church? Also, I have heard complaints from people that there are no prepared talks in Sacrament Meeting, so why bother going just to listen to people cry about their feelings? However, in either case, why should we miss out on any blessings by not attending church? We are commanded in Alma 6:6 to gather “together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.” Also in Moroni 6:5 it says the same thing, to meet together oft to fast and pray and to discuss the welfare of souls. It is a commandment from God. It may not be one of his Ten Commandments that he gave to Moses, but when God commands, it is law and we should obey. And when we obey, there are always blessings that follow. I am a witness to people “testifying” in fast and testimony meeting and not even focusing on the church, Christ, the restoration, or anything spiritual. Instead they just talk about their feelings, what is going on in their life, and so on. It can be a little waring, but by simply by attending church, we can receive the blessings promised to us.
Sixth, fast for special purposes on times other than the specific Sunday set aside for fasting (Fast Sunday). Fasting is difficult enough once a month, and doing it during an extra amount of time may seem tedious to some people. However, fasting is sort of like an especially powerful prayer. If you need extra help with something in your life, going without food and drink in the spirit of fasting can show the Lord how especially humble and diligent you are. Remember in Mosiah 27 when Alma the Younger was struck by the angel into a coma-like state, his father called about the people “and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God” (verse 22). And after two days of their diligent fasting and praying in faith, “the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort” (verse 23). If we can prove to the Lord that we are earnest in our faith (and our desires are in line with His will), He will give us what we desire.
Seventh, give generously in your fast offerings (and urge your children to contribute). Worldly possessions are just that: worldly. God says in Doctrine and Covenants 104:14, “I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.” In the end, all the things we own are not actually ours, so why are we pretending that they are and keeping them for ourselves? Of course, many of us are not in a position to be super generous with fast offerings (third-world countries, struggling college students, unemployed, etc.), but even then, we should still offer up some sort of donation on Fast Sunday. We should “be generous” in whatever context that applies to our circumstances. Remember the poor widow at the temple in Mark 12 who cast in two mites while everyone else was putting in so much more because they were very rich. Jesus said that “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” (verses 43-44).
Eighth and lastly, teach your family to willingly give offerings cheerfully. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says that “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” I know that giving away our things can be a loathsome task at times, but we must not do it grudgingly. In my opinion, if we go about doing anything with a bad attitude, it makes things twice as bad. It could already be bad enough externally, but if we are suffering internally as well, then that’s double the suffering. If our heart is not in it, then we may as well not be giving at all. Moroni 7:8 says, “if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.” So, if we offer up something to God grudgingly, it is a grudging sacrifice, which is basically evil in God’s eyes because it is not pure.
So what are the blessings of keeping the law of the fast?
Elder L. Tom Perry taught that there are three main purposes: 1) it provides assistance to the needy through our fast offerings. 2) It benefits us physically. 3) It increases our humility and spirituality (Perry). Malachi 3:10 says that if we fast and bring all our tithes to the store house, we will be blessed and the Lord will “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” If we obey the Lord and fast even when there is nothing particularly pressing in our lives to fast about, there will be endless blessings that there will “not be room enough to receive it.” And, of course, others will be benefited through our donations.
What can we fast for?
Sometimes we do fast for grand reasons. Think of Queen Esther in the book of Esther in the Old Testament. A Jewish queen to a Persian king whose entire people were about to be exterminated. The only way for the Jews to be saved was for Esther to go in to the king and petition the cause. However, if she went to the king uninvited, she could be put to death. She and the Jews fasted for three days that the king’s heart would be softened and that Esther would be spared so that she could make her petition. After three days, she did go in to the king and he spared her life. This is an extreme situation where many people came together and fasted for many days for a great cause. Their lives were on the line and they had to show great humility before the Lord.
In Matthew 17, some of Christ’s apostles attempted to cast a devil out of a child, but were unsuccessful. When they asked Christ why they could not do it, he answered, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (verses 20-21). This example teaches that fasting can provide added strength to a priesthood holder. However, it can simply provide any church member with extra spiritual guidance. If we want to overcome some sort of weakness, repent of a sin, etc. fasting is a way of showing that humility and desire.
Also, as stated earlier, fasting is a way of showing gratitude. There was a widow in Luke 2 who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (verse 37). We can fast to heal those who are sick. When my brother had cancer, my family fasted often for him to be blessed with healing, especially when he was in the hospital. We can fast for ourselves or others to receive personal revelation or guidance. Alma declares in Alma 5:46 “I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true.” Going sort of hand in hand with that, we can also fast to resist temptation. Isaiah 58:6 says on the subject, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” Also, fasting may come after righteous sorrow or mourning, a time when we really desire to have the Lord’s presence in our life. In Alma 28, after a great war where many people were killed, the Nephites were in great mourning over the tremendous death count. Verse 6 says “and now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.”
How are fast offerings administered?
We must understand that all fast offerings are given to assist the poor. Not a single cent is given elsewhere; not to the church, not to the First Presidency, or anywhere else.
Doctrine and Covenants 107:68 declares that bishops are in charge of administering “all temporal things” which includes fast offerings. Bishops are bestowed with the power of discernment and determines how the offerings should be administered (and who should receive assistance). The bishop is guided by basic welfare principles which include counseling with compassion and love, encouraging family reliance, strengthening individuals to become self-reliant (both temporally and spiritually), meeting temporal needs, providing necessary goods and services to sustain life, and providing opportunities to work. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught in his talk “Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work”: “We hope that through the payment of liberal fast offerings there will be more than enough to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. If every member of this church observed the fast and contributed generously, the poor and the needy—not only of the Church, but many others as well, would be blessed and provided for. Every giver would be blessed in body and spirit, and the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed according to need.” (Hinckley).
Fasting really does increase our spiritual growth. It teaches us self control and we gain strength of character. It helps us overcome the natural man and become closer to our Father in Heaven. We receive so many blessings by following the Lord’s will. The Savior has said to those who fast properly, “Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:18).
Works Cited
"Fasting and Fast Offerings." Gospel Topics. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 18 Mar. 2014.
"Fasting and Fast Offerings." True to the Faith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 18 Mar. 2014.
Hinckley, Gordon B. "Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work." General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Apr. 1990.
Perry, L. Tom. "The Law of the Fast." General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Apr. 1986.
Wirthlin, Joseph B. "The Law of the Fast." General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Apr. 2001.
