Fasting and Prayer- What is the Law of Fasting and Prayer?

Fasting and prayer are interconnected and a commandment of God. Great blessings flow from fasting and prayer.

What is fasting and prayer?

To fast is to go without food or drink for a dedicated period of time. 1 Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, “Fasting, with prayer as its companion, is designed to:

• increase spirituality;
• foster a spirit of devotion and love of God;
• increase faith in the hearts of men, thus assuring divine favor;
• encourage humility and contrition of soul;
• aid in the acquirement of righteousness to teach man his nothingness and dependence upon God; and
• to hasten those who properly comply with the law of fasting along the path to salvation.” 2

Why fasting and prayer?

There are many reasons and purposes for fasting and prayer.

• Fasting and prayer is a commandment. 3
• Fasting and prayer is a form of the true worship of God. 4
• Through fasting and prayer we bless the sick. 5
• Through fasting and prayer we ask and qualify for special blessings. 6
• Through fasting and prayer we ask for and gain a testimony of gospel truths. 7
• Through fasting and prayer we ask for and receive revelation. 8
• Through fasting and prayer we aid in the conversion of other people to the truth. 9
• Through fasting and prayer those in authority petition the Lord for his guidance in choosing church officers. 10
• Fasting and prayer accompany righteous mourning and sorrow. 11
• Through fasting and prayer we sanctify our souls. 12
• Through fasting and prayer we ask for guidance along the path leading to salvation. 13

Additionally we learn that temples are houses of fasting and prayer.14

Sincere fasting and prayer results in incredible blessings

Elder McConkie states that acceptable fasting and prayer must conform to the Lord's law and not be done for hypocritical reasons. 15

The prophet Isaiah lists incredible blessings that come from fasting and prayer: 16

• Fasting and prayer looses "the bands of wickedness"
• Fasting and prayer undoes "heavy burdens"
• Fasting and prayer lets "the oppressed go free"
• Fasting and prayer breaks "every yoke that binds you"
• Fasting and prayer results in "thy light break[ing} forth as the morning"
• Fasting and prayer results in "thine health shall spring forth speedily"
• Fasting and prayer results in "thy righteousness shall go before thee"
• Fasting and prayer results in "the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward [rear guard]"
• Fasting and prayer results in "then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer"
• Fasting and prayer results in "thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."
• Fasting and prayer rsutls in "thy light [shall] rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [shall] be as the noonday"
• Fasting and prayer results in "the Lord shall guide thee continually"
• Fasting and prayer results in "the Lord shall satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

Considering these blessings, who would not seek to observe the law of fasting and prayer?

Furthermore, Isaiah says that true fasting and prayer includes our forgiving others of their trespasses, assigning blame, speaking ill of others, and our setting aside our pride and vanity. 17 Rather, fasting and prayer should draw out our souls in charity: "to feed the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul…to bring the poor that are cast out to thy house…[and] when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him….” 18

Blessing the family through fasting and prayer

Perhaps some of the greatest blessings of fasting and prayer have to do with strengthening family relationships—“hide not thyself from thine own flesh [your own family].” 19

Fasting and prayer gives us power to become a member of a family who repairs generational family problems—the “repairer of the breach.” 20

Elder Bruce C. Hafen taught that we, through fasting and prayer and applying the atonement of Jesus Christ, gain the power to stop the “intergenerational flow of affliction,” which plagues one generation of our family after another. In other words, those damaging family traits that continue to afflict one family generation after another can be halted and severed through our faith, fasting and prayer, and diligence. Moreoever, those traits will never again distress subsequent generations, and, remarkably, former generations can heal.

Elder Hafen says we can “fill the void left by a former generation and raise a new foundation for the next, thus repairing the breach in the intergenerational linkage: ‘They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach; the restorer of paths to dwell in.’” 21

Fast and Testimony Meetings--sharing and observing the law of fasting and prayer

We observe fasting and prayer whenever we feel the need, but we have one designated opportunity each month to share fasting and prayer with the Church. We are instructed to "meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls." 22

Therefore, the Church of Jesus Christ dedicates one Sacrament Meeting each month as a fast and testimony meeting. In these meetings, the Bishop or Branch President invites members of the congregation to bear testimony of the Savior, his gospel and the Restoration. Members, who are impressed by the Spirit, respond to the invitation, arise, and bear testimony of the truth. 23

Fast Offerings

Like tithing, fast offerings are typically monetary offerings given to the Bishop or Branch President for the care of the poor. For example, a bishop in a ward uses fast offerings donated by members within his ward to care for the members in his responsibility. Should he need more funds, he may petition his Stake President, who may also petition the general officers of the Church. In this manner, all the Saints are "one" in that they have equal access and claim to the resources of the Church.

Typically, the law of fasting and prayer means that we fast for two complete meals. Also typically, we pay a fast offering of the value of those meals. However, if we are able and have the faith, we should give much more.

President Spencer W. Kimball said,

“…I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous… I think we should... give, instead of the amount saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more-ten times more when we are in a position to do it.” 24

Blessings that flow from the generous payment of fast offerings are on a parallel with those of tithing. An apostle, Marion G. Romney, said,

“Be liberal in your giving, that you yourselves may grow. Don't give just for the benefit of the poor, but give for your own welfare. Give enough so that you can give yourself into the kingdom of God through consecrating of your means and your time. Pay an honest tithing and a generous fast offering if you want the blessings of heaven. I promise every one of you who will do it that you will increase your own prosperity, both spiritually and temporally. The Lord will reward you according to your deeds." 25

Questions about 'Fasting and Prayer- What is the Law of Fasting and Prayer?

• What are some of the blessings of fasting and prayer mentioned by Elder Bruce R. McConkie?



• What are some of the reasons and purposes for fasting and prayer?



• According to Isaiah, what are some of the blessings that flow from fasting and prayer?



• What does Isaiah say that we must do for our fasting and prayer to be effective?



• How can we bless our present and former family through fasting and prayer? What does it mean to be a "repairer of the breach?"



• What is a Fast and Testimony Meeting, and does it offer us an opportunity to share with others the blessings of observing the law of fasting and prayer?



• What are fast offerings, and how are they used? What blessings flow from paying a generous fast offering?

References for 'Fasting and Prayer- What is the Law of Fasting and Prayer?'

1. Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed., p. 243
2. Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.276
3. D&C 59:13-14; D&C 88:76 – 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. Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer" (D&C 59:13-14). "Also, I give unto you a commandment that ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth" (D&C 88:76).
4. Luke 2:37; Alma 45:1; 4 Nephi 1:12 – 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" (Luke 2:37). "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 fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy" (Alma 45:1). "And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord" (4 Nephi 1:12).
5. 2 Samuel 12:16 – David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
6. Mosiah 27:22-23 – 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. 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:
7. Alma 5:46 – Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, 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.
8. Alma 17:3; 3 Nephi 27:1 – 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" (Alma 17:3). "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" (3 Nephi 27:1)
9. Alma 6:6; Alma 17:9 – 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 6:6). "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 instrument in 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" (Alma 17:9).
10. Acts 13:2-3 – As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away.
11. Alma 28:6; Alma 30:2; Helaman 9:10 – And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much fasting and prayer" (Alma 28:6). "Now their dead were not numbered because of the greatness of their numbers; neither were the dead of the Nephites numbered—but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and also after the days of fasting, and mourning, and prayer, (and it was in the sixteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) there began to be continual peace throughout all the land" (Alma 30:2). "And it came to pass that on the morrow the people did assemble themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the burial of the great chief judge who had been slain" (Helaman 9:10).
12. Helaman 3:35 – Nevertheless they did fast and 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.
13. Omni 1:26 – And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
14. D&C 88:119; also D&C 109:8, 16 – Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" (D&C 88:119, also D&C 109:8, 16).
15. Matthew 6:16-18; also 3 Nephi 13:16-18 – 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 reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:16-18, also 3 Nephi 13:16-18).
16. Isaiah 58:6-12
17. Isaiah 58:10 – And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
18. Isaiah 58:7,10
19. Isaiah 58:8
20. Isaiah 58:12
21. see Isaiah 58:12; Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen, The Belonging: The Atonement and Relationships with God and Family Heart, p.119
22. Moroni 6:5
23. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., p.277
24. Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, edited by Edward L. Kimball, p.146
25. "The Blessings of the Fast," Ensign 1982, July:4