President Eyring: Is Not This The Fast That I Have Choosen
We all have an appointment with Heavenly Father, a "future interview," as President Eyring says. One of the ways we prepare for this interview is to serve our fellow Brothers and Sisters. That is part of our responsibility during this life, to succor our fellow men: "When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it as if we reached out to succor Him."
At times, this can seem like an overwhelming task. There are so many who need help. (Truthfully, we will all need help on one point or another during our lives, maybe even at several points during our life time.) There are also times when we feel so overwhelmed with our own lives, that we may not feel capable of helping others. Thankfully, the Lord has provided a way for each of us to serve our fellowman: fasting and fast offerings.
As President Eyring says, "it is a commandment so simple that a child can understand it. It is a commandment with a wonderful promise for those in need and for us."
For those who don't know, here is how fasting works. Once a month, usually on the first Sunday of the month, all local wards hold Fasting Testimony meetings during Sacrament. Members of the church are invited to fast for 24 hours, or two meals, prior to this meeting. More specifically, we are invited to fast for a purpose. With a prayer in our heart, we can fast for personal guidance or for others in need. Then, on fast Sunday, we are asked to make a generous fast offering to our ward. The Lord's servants then pray about these financial offerings to know who it should be shared with. The offerings could be distributed to those in need locally, or elsewhere across the globe.
According to President Spencer W. Kimball, who President Eyring quoted in his talk, "rich promises are made by the Lord to those who fast and assist the needy. ... Inspiration and spiritual guidance will come with righteousness and closeness to our Heavenly Father. To omit to do this righteous act of fasting would deprive us of these blessings." I believe President Eyring shared these words because he wanted us to understand just how important it is to fast.
In recent years we have heard more and more about natural disasters and other tragedies taking place across the world. When an event like a tsunami or an earth quake happens so far away, we might feel helpless because there is little we can do from the comfort of our homes. But, we can support Heavenly Father's children in their time of need, no matter how far away they are. The relatively minor sacrifice of a fast offering helps to provide needed financial support. It pays for food, and blankets, even water. Heavenly Father's local servants are only able to provide this assistance because of the fast offerings of His children. All of His children. Even those who might be hundreds of thousand of miles away.
According to President Eyring, "your fast offering will do more than help feed and clothe bodies. It will heal and change hearts. The fruit of a free-will offering may be the desire in the heart of the recipient to reach out to others in need. That happens across the world."
Fasting can be challenging. Not everyone is able to fast from food. But all of us can honor the principle of the fast, and teach it to our children.
At the end of his talk, President Eyring prayed for us. He said, "I pray that we will claim those great blessings for ourselves and for our families."
That is my prayer for you as well. As we approach the Fourth of July weekend consider what and who you can fast for, and consider how generous of a fast offering you can make. Your contribution can and will make a difference in someone else's life.
