Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Latter-day Saint
Finding Joy in Fasting

Finding Joy in Fasting

Last updated on: August 13, 2019 at 6:35 pm by Delisa Hargrove

Finding Joy in Fasting 2019-08-13T18:35:51-10:00 Delisa Hargrove

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

May Wheeler shares her heartfelt reflections on fasting and Fast Sunday. How could she find more joy in fasting?

***

Fasting is a law that the Lord has restored in the latter days. In obedience to this law, we, as a church, once each month, fast on the first Sunday. We are instructed that a proper fast day observance includes abstaining from food and drink for two consecutive meals.

Sounds easy enough right?

So then I’m left to ponder and self-reflect on why I struggle so much with this. I know this is something that’s good for me, that Heavenly Father wants for me. Why am I not finding as much joy in it as promised?

I can only speak for myself, but I’ve narrowed it down to a few ways I may be fasting wrong and perhaps talking about my mistakes will help someone else out, too.

Lack of Preparation: 24 hours/2 meals/ no water

My first problem is thinking about it or being reminded of it by my kids Sunday morning when I should have really had it on my mind Saturday night.

Gospel Principles reminds us that fasting for 24 hours includes 2 consecutive meals and abstaining from drinking water. If I intended to partake in a proper fast, I should have planned ahead the night before not to eat any snacks or drink any water after my evening meal.

Elder Carl B. Pratt of the First Quorum of the Seventy also notes a second problem: “If we are guilty of taking our fast day for granted or simply fasting Sunday morning instead of making it two complete meals -24 hours- we are depriving ourselves and our families of the choice spiritual experiences and blessings that can come from a true fast.”

Forgetting to Pray

In addition to forgetting about fasting in the first place, another problem in my fast comes from forgetting something else—Prayer!!!!

We should be opening our fast with a prayer and closing the fast with a prayer.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, “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 revelations of the spirit and strengthen us against times of temptation.”

Have A Purpose

When a fast sneaks up on me, often I just don’t eat in order to not get in trouble with more righteous family members. At those times I don’t have a purpose to my fast other than “to be seen of men”—or my kids or my husband.

But there’s always something to be fasting for.

You can fast for guidance in your life,

-for a loved one who is struggling,

-for people in your ward,

-for church leaders like your Bishop or the Brethren,

-for missionaries,

-for peace,

-you can even ask someone else you know what they are fasting for and fast along with them.

Elder Pratt said it this way: “If all we do abstain from food and drink for 24 hours and pay our fast offering, we have missed a wonderful opportunity for spiritual growth.”

Be of Good Cheer

In our home, we don’t talk to each other much during fast Sunday until AFTER DINNER because we are all so grumpy and hangry. But in 3 Nephi 13:16-18, we are reminded that we should fast with a cheerful countenance.

“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face 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.”

Whining or complaining about fasting, even to ourselves, shortchanges us of potential blessings we could have received for our efforts.

Other Elements to Remember

I know this does not cover every potential problem one might encounter when trying to participate in a proper fast. There are other elements to remember such as fast offerings, which are used to care for the poor and needy, and attending our church meetings, which are equally as important and will enhance our fasting experience.

“It’s Fast Sunday”

In closing, I just wanted to share a quick story. After finding out what my topic was, I didn’t share with my family. I was just pondering to myself. Then my wonderful inlaws came to visit and my mother-in-law is amazing at creating crafts with my kids. So they decided to make little tiles with messages on them. Myla, without hestitiation, said she wanted her tile to say “It’s Fast Sunday, because mom and dad always forget.”

I, of course, had a mom fail moment realizing how obvious my shortcomings are to my children. But I also knew in that moment that Brother Aronica was inspired to have me speak on this topic for me, because I needed to be reminded the most. And my sweet daughter innocently and lovingly allowed the Lord to inspire her and drive the point home by putting it in black in white.

In feeling like kinda a failure, the upside to the story is that my other sweet girl, Cyri, chose the words “Love is Spoken Here’’ on her tile. I was touched and cried inside. I instantly felt Heavenly Father’s love. He knows me. He knew that my heart would break a little when I read the truth in Myla’s tile but the words on Cyri’s tile was such a tender mercy and confirmation that I am not perfect but I also haven’t completely failed and to keep trying whether it be at having more sincere fasting or other parts of my life.

Brothers and sisters, I have a testimony that a fast done right is a window to the blessings of heaven and our efforts are seen by the Lord.

How Tos

Better Choices Through Knowledge

Fasting

Previous Post

August 13, 2019

Blessings of Tithing

Next Post

September 10, 2019 A Changed Viewpoint: Seeing Beauty in the Pain of Trials

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Discovery How Tos Realization Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 November 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 June 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz