When Was Fasting Instituted Again in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
'O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you lot, as information technology was prescribed for those before y'all, so that you may go righteous.' [1]
Fasting has existed in some form in many world religions. The Review of Religions is pleased to publish a serial of interviews virtually fasting with authentic voices from different faiths. Beliefs expressed in these articles are those of the individuals interviewed, to whom nosotros are extremely grateful for sharing their very valuable insights.
James Holt is an Associate Professor of Religious Education at the University of Chester. James has been a fellow member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for over 30 years and has served as a Bishop and a member of a Pale Presidency. He is married to Ruth and they have 4 children.
Can you lot provide an overview of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
The Church building of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1830. Information technology has its roots in the 'Start Vision' of 1820 where we believe that the founder of the Church building, Joseph Smith saw God the Begetter and his Son, Jesus Christ. Joseph received a promise that the Church would exist Restored through him at some future point. The Church describes itself as a Restoration of the Church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth, and as such are within the Christian family unit of Churches. The belief in a Living prophet continues up until today with the current President of the Church, Russell M. Nelson.
The central beliefs of the Church and its members surround the identity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died for humanity and lives once again today. Every other belief of the Church stems from this primal conventionalities. In addition to The Holy Bible equally a book of scripture, Latter-day Saints also have The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Not bad Price as additional books of scripture.
Does fasting take place in your tradition?
Fasting is a central aspect of my practice as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-twenty-four hours Saints and has been since its primeval days.
When do you fast?
The first Sunday of each month is set aside as a day to fast from all food and drink for a period of 24 hours, though equally circumstances necessitate we tin can fast more than often. There may exist people because of age or health who are unable to fast for this length of time, some will fast for shorter periods of time, while others volition be more than conscious of their prayers.
Why exercise you lot fast?
The purposes of a fast are manifold, simply the most of import for me is that it is a way for me to depict close to Jesus who I believe as my Saviour and to my Heavenly Male parent. Every bit I fast, my thoughts should be less most me and more about the Jesus Christ, and also how I can help others. Isaiah 58 is maybe the all-time passage of scripture that helps me sympathise the nature and purpose of a fast; he first off identifies what a fast is not:
'Is it such a fast that I accept called? a day for a man to agonize his soul? is it to bow down his head every bit a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes nether him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable 24-hour interval to the Lord?' [2]
Although fasting is a sacrifice, it is not a time of mourning or 'woe is me'; this is echoed by Christ in the Gospels:
'Moreover when ye fast, be not, equally the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto y'all, They accept their reward.' [3]
What are the blessings of fasting?
It is a cracking blessing to be able to fast, and I take this opportunity I need to recognise its purpose and see the approving information technology is for me in my life. As I fast I always ensure that I begin and stop the process with a prayer; and as office of the prayer there is unremarkably a purpose for which I am praying. Isaiah mentions this too, he suggests:
'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 gratuitous, and that ye interruption every yoke?' [4]
He speaks almost loosing the bands of wickedness, letting the oppressed go gratuitous and many other purposes. I fast for people to be healed/strengthened [5]; for comfort [6]; to draw closer to the Saviour [seven] and to resist temptation. It adds strength and fervency to the prayers that I offering. Information technology is not the Lord that needs my fast, but it is me that needs the humility and closeness to the Lord that comes through fasting:
'Then shall thy calorie-free pause forth as the morning, and thine health shall jump forth apace: and thy righteousness shall go earlier thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward.' [viii]
At the historic period of 16/17, I had been encouraged to fast about the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, and I had extended this invitation to incorporate a question about whether I should serve a mission. I fasted and prayed – and remember reading 3 Nephi 17 with tears in my eyes. My testimony was confirmed and there has not been a single doubtfulness since then. Through this feel, I understood the ability of fasting to gain an answer to prayer.
What are other benefits of fasting?
Isaiah speaks of the blessings of the fast:
'And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and yard shalt be like a watered garden, and like a jump of water, whose waters fail not.' [9]
Fasting accompanied by prayer is essential for me every bit a Latter-day Saint merely its underlying purpose is to develop my relationship with God, and therefore my spirituality. This blessing is also taught in The Volume of Mormon:
'However they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the religion 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.' [10]
While I welcome the opportunity to gain new insights and revelation through fasting, I rarely fast on my own behalf. Most frequently information technology is for other people who are struggling with concrete, emotional or spiritual health. In thinking of others, I am also able to turn to God.
Returning to Isaiah, one of the purposes of fasting is:
'It not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that chiliad bring the poor that are bandage out to thy house? when yard seest the naked, that thou comprehend him; and that thou hide non thyself from thine own flesh?' [eleven]
An integral part of my fast is to help those who are less fortunate. As office of my fast, I requite an offer of coin to the Church which is to exist used to aid those in need. This is another fashion for me to think less most myself and more about others.
In today'southward globe, fasting is a style for me to rest from the world and take time to reorient my focus and recognise the Lord's hand in my life, something I should exist enlightened of each day.
ENDNOTES
[1] Holy Qur'an Ch.2: V.184
[ii] Isaiah 58:5
[iii] Matthew 6:16
[4] Isaiah 58:6
[5] Mosiah 27:22-23, Book of Mormon
[6] Alma 28:4-six, Book of Mormon
[7] Helaman iii:35, Book of Mormon
[8] Isaiah 58:eight
[9] Isaiah 53:eleven
[10] Helaman three:35, Book of Mormon
[11] Isaiah 58:7
Source: https://www.reviewofreligions.org/30977/fasting-in-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-an-interview-with-james-holt/
0 Response to "When Was Fasting Instituted Again in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints"
Post a Comment