Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 25: Fasting
Concept 2: We Should Fast with a Purpose
"Fasting can have many purposes. We can overcome weakness or problems by fasting and praying. Sometimes we may wish to fast and pray for help or guidance for others, such as a family member who is ill and needs a blessing (Mosiah 27:22-23 "22 And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; 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.
23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:").
Through fasting we can come to know the truth of things just as did the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon. He said: "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; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." (Alma 5:46).
We can fast for our nonmember friends to become converted to the truth. Fasting can help comfort us in times of sorrow and morning (Alma 28:4-6 "4 And now this was a time that there was a great mourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land, among all the people of Nephi
5 Yea, the cry of widows mourning for their husbands, and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain.
6 And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer.").
Fasting can help us become humble and feel closer to our Heavenly Father (Helaman 3:35"Nevertheless they did fastand 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.")
Our purpose in fasting should not be to impress others. The Lord counseled:
"Moreover 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.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall rewardthee openly." (Matthew 6:16-18).
We should be cheerful when we fast and not advertise our fasting to others.
Discussion
What things should we do to make our fasting more spiritual? What things do we need to fast for?"