Fasting

Fasting

1. "The law of the fast has three great purposes. First, it provides assistance to the needy through the contribution of fast offerings, consisting of the value of meals from which we abstain. Second, a fast is beneficial to us physically. Third, it is to increase humility and spirituality on the part of each individual."
L. Tom Perry "The Law of the Fast" April 1986 General Conference

2. "An important reason for fasting is to contribute the amount saved from the meals not eaten to care for the poor and the needy."
L. Tom Perry "The Law of the Fast" April 1986 General Conference

3. "Fasting helps to teach us self-mastery. It helps us to gain the discipline we need to have control over ourselves."
L. Tom Perry "The Law of the Fast" April 1986 General Conference

4. "Prayer can also be enhanced by fasting."
Elder Russell M. Nelson "Lessons from the Lord's Prayers" April 2009 General Conference

5. "The concept of fast offerings appears as early as the time of Isaiah when, speaking of the true fast, he encouraged people to fast and 'to deal thy bread to the hungry, and … bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.'”
Thomas S. Monson "Be Thou an Example" October 1996 General Conference

6. "Harold B. Lee counseled: 'When you think about it, there is so much promised in the gospel for so little required on our part. For example, the ordinance of baptism is given us for the remission of sins, for entrance into the kingdom—a new birth; the gift of the Holy Ghost gives us the right to companionship with one of the Godhead; administration to the sick qualifies the individual with faith for a special blessing; by paying our tithing, the windows of heaven may be opened unto us; by fasting and by paying our fast offerings, we are told that then we might call on the Lord and He will hear our cry and our call.'”
Thomas S. Monson "Be Thou an Example" October 1996 General Conference

7. "In every ward and branch in the Church, once a month we hold a fast and testimony meeting. We fast for two meals. With the money saved, and adding more to it whenever we can, we pay a generous fast offering. The bishop and the branch president use those offerings, under inspiration, to care for the poor and the needy. Thus, by paying a fast offering we give comfort to those in need of comfort as we promised that we would."
Henry B. Eyring "Witnesses for God" October 1996 General Conference

8. "The fast also helps us to feel humble and meek so that the Holy Ghost may more easily be our companion. By our fast, we both keep our covenant to care for others and we prepare to keep our covenant to bear testimony."
Henry B. Eyring "Witnesses for God" October 1996 General Conference

9. "Those who have prepared carefully for the fast and testimony meeting won’t need to be reminded how to bear testimony should they feel impressed to do it in the meeting."
Henry B. Eyring "Witnesses for God" October 1996 General Conference

10. "Alma showed how fasting and prayer can strengthen your testimony. He stated: 'I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?… 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.'" 
Richard G. Scott "The Power of a Strong Testimony" October 2001 General Conference