Temple Moment by Karen Miller
"Being together in the temple with our whole family was a heavenly experience. Not just because we were in the Celestial Room together, but because we were all there, worthy, together as a family. The preparation for temple worthiness begins when your children are young." What a blessing to get a glimpse of what Eternity will be like!
Dean M. Davies
Taught by Tara Gotfredson
Video"Brethren, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are a covenant-
making, commandment-keeping people. I cannot think of any law, any commandment,
which, if kept faithfully, is easier to keep and which provides greater blessings than
the law of the fast. When we fast and give an honest fast offering, we contribute to the
Lord’s storehouse what would have been expended on the cost of the meals. It does not
require monetary sacrifice in excess of what would be expended normally. At the same
time, we are promised the extraordinary blessings." Dean M. Davis, Law of the Fast
Ask the sisters: What does it mean to fast?
- Go without food and water for 24 hours
- Attend fast and testimony meeting
- Give a generous fast offering to the church (it should cover at least the cost of two
Faithful Church members everywhere assist by fasting each month—abstaining from food
and water for 24 hours—and then giving to the Church a financial fast offering equal to at
least the value of the food they would have eaten.
Although I fast every month and give a fast offering, I have not had a particularly meaning
and testimony strengthening experience with fasting. I think in part because I have not
approached the fast correctly.
Ask the sisters: Why do you fast? What do you fast for?
Have a sister read these scriptures:
Isaiah Chapter 58
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy
burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to
thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?”
Isaiah then went on to list the wonderful blessings promised by the Lord to those who obey
the law of the fast. He says:
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth
speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy
“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.
“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:
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought.”
Through fasting, we are making the sacrifice necessary to have Heavenly Father answer
"Caring for the poor and needy contemplates both temporal and
spiritual salvation. It includes the service of individual Church members as they personally
care for the poor and needy, as well as formal Church welfare, which is administered
through priesthood authority. Bishop Dean A Davies:
Central to the Lord’s plan for caring for the poor and needy is the law of the fast.
“The Lord has established the law of the fast and fast offerings to bless His people and to provide a
way for them to serve those in need.”3
As followers of the Savior, we have a personal responsibility to care for the poor and needy.
Faithful Church members everywhere assist by fasting each month—abstaining from food
and water for 24 hours—and then giving to the Church a financial fast offering equal to at
least the value of the food they would have eaten.
Ask the sisters: How do you make fasting more meaningful?
As a fast day approaches, think about a purpose for your fast. That purpose could be
as simple as expressing thanks. with Him the purpose of your fast (see D&C 59:14).
Whenever hunger pains come, use them as a reminder to pray again about the purpose of your fast.
• Begin your fast by praying. Talk with Heavenly Father and share
• Fast for two meals, or about 24 hours. (Those with medical concerns should follow doctors’ orders)
• Give a generous fast offering.
• If you feel impressed to do so, bear your testimony in fast and testimony meeting.
• During the time you would have spent preparing food and eating,
engage in worthy pursuits such as studying the scriptures, writing in your journal, or serving others.
• After Sunday meetings, end your fast by praying.
• Commit to being a better person, and make plans with God on how you will
Why do we need to give a fast offering?
Our fast offerings are ways of showing sacrifice to the Lord. He will bless us with
the spirit when we are willing to sacrifice.
From Elder Holland’s talk last week in General Conference:
“In what would be the most startling moment of His early ministry, Jesus stood up in His
home synagogue in Nazareth and read these words prophesied by Isaiah and recorded in
the Gospel of Luke: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and … set at liberty them that are bruised.”
Thus the Savior made the first public announcement of His messianic ministry. But this
verse also made clear that on the way to His ultimate atoning sacrifice and Resurrection,
Jesus’s first and foremost messianic duty would be to bless the poor, including the poor in
Commitment: In your next fast, find a way to make it more meaningful and try to give a
more generous fast offering.
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