Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 25: Fasting
Concept 6: Fasting Gives Us Spiritual Power
"When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power. For example, Alma (The Book of Mormon prophet) tells the story of meeting again with the sons of Mosiah many years after their miraculous conversion. He felt great joy when he learned that they had strengthened their faith and had developed great spiritual power. They had gained this power because "they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation" (Alma 17:3).
The sons of Mosiah had been preaching for fourteen years to the Lamanites. Because the sons of Mosiah had fasted and prayed, the Spirit of the Lord increased the power of their words. This gave them great success in their missionary work. (Alma 17:4 "And they had been teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins before him.").
The Savior has said to those who fast properly, "thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." (Matthew 6:18).
Discussion
Why is it important to have self-control?
How does fasting give or increase our spiritual power?
How have you been blessed by observing a proper fast?
Additional Scriptures
Luke 2:37; Alma 45:1 (worshiping God through fasting)
Luke 2:37"And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."
Alma 45:1 "1 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 fastmuch and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy."
Mosiah 27:19, 23 (fasting for the sick)
"19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father.
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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":
3 Nephi 27:1-3; Exodus 34:27-28 (fasting for revelation and testimony)
3 Nephi 27:1-3
"1 And it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter."
Exodus 34:27-28
"27 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
28 And he was there with the Lord fortydays and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he >wroteupon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments."
Alma 6:6; 17:9 (fasting for nonmembers)
Alma 6:6 "Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."
Alma 17:9 "9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrumentin the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct."
Acts 13:2-3 (Fasting for selection of Church officers)"
"2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the HolyGhost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them.
3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laidtheir handson them, they sent them away."