GPC25: Fasting, Gospel Principles Comments and Resources Gospel Principles
Unit 7: Perfecting Our Lives
Chapter 25: Fasting
Comments and Resources "The law [of the fast] to the Latter-day saints...is that food and drink are not to be partaken of for twenty-four hours...and that the saints are to refrain from all bodily gratification and indulgences...In addition, the leading and principle object of the institution of the fast among the Latter-day Saints was that the poor might be provided with food and other necessities" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 243) "Compliance with the law of the fast would call attention to the sin of over-eating, place the body in subjection to the spirit, and so promote communion  with the Holy Ghost, and insure a spiritual strength and power which the people of the nation so greatly need. As fasting should always be accompanied by prayer, this law would bring the people nearer to God, and divert their minds once a month at least, from the mad rush of worldly affairs and cause them to be brought into immediate contact with practical, pure and undefiled religion" (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, pp 237-238). "Fasting, with prayer as it companion, is designed to increase spirituality; to foster a spirit of devotion and love of God; to increase faith in the hearts of men, thus assuring divine favor; to encourage humility and contrition of soul; to aid in the acquirement of righteousness; to teach man his nothingness and dependance upon God; and to hasten those who properly comply with the law of fasting along the path to salvation" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine. p. 276) During the study of this topic, you will learn what it means to fast, how fasting helps us, and what you should do when you fast. Resources:
Gospel Principles: Chapter 25 Scriptures:
Alma 6:6; 17:2-3

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 17:2-3
  "2 Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
  3 But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God." 3 Nephi 13:16-18
  "16 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.
  17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
  18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." D&C 59:9-19
  "9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
  10 For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
  11 Nevertheless thy vows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times;
  12 But remember that on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord.
  13 And on this day thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy fasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy joy may be full.
  14 Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
  15 And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance
  16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
  17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
  18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
  19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul." 1 Kings 19:8"And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." Isaiah 58
"True law of the fast, with its attendant blessings, is set forth Sabbath observance enjoined." Jonah 3:5"So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them." Matthew 4:2;6:16-18 Matthew 4:2"And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred." Matthew 6:16-18
  "16 ¶ 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.
 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly." John 4:31-34
  "31 ¶ In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
  32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
  33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
  34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Topical Guide:
                            Almsgiving
                           Fast, Fasting
                            Generosity
                            Hunger, Hungry
                            Poor
                            Prayer
                            Welfare Bible Dictionary:
                                Fasts Guide to the Scriptures:
                                             Fast, Fasting
                                             Alms, Almsgiving
                                             Offering
                                             Poor
                                             Welfare
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Moroni 10:4-5
  "4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
  5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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