Sunday Report

Sunday's Relief Society Lesson was from the Gospel Principles book, Chapter 25 Fasting.

We were delighted to welcome back Traci Cline, who shared with us an interesting and spiritually uplifting lesson, as usual. She began by noting that fasting is an element of many of the major religions of the world but is used differently by each and involves different levels of sacrifice. Fasting as seen in the Church is unique in many aspects. God's people have always used fasting to draw nearer to Him and to worship Him. Christ used fasting in His own life and in the latter days the Lord told us again that He expects us to fast and pray often.

Prayer is a necessary part of the fasting process, at the beginning, during and at the end of each fast. We are encouraged to fast with a specific purpose, such as overcoming a weakness, to help in making an important decision, for the welfare of others, for the furthering of the preaching of the gospel, or the softening of the hearts of others, as well as our own.

Fasting in the Church is a monthly experience which allows us many opportunities to strengthen our testimonies and pray for forgiveness of our own sins and the ability to forgive others. While many religions use the fast to help the people be more empathetic with the poor and needy, we use the fast as an opportunity to help the poor and needy through the payment of a generous fast offering, based on the cost of the two meals that are missed in a conventional fast.
Fasting can be used by individuals whenever there is a need for spiritual strengthening and for special blessings of healing and comfort. We are greatly blessed when we fast properly. Our lives are improved and we are made spiritually stronger and better able to live other principles of the gospel. We learn better self control and we need to teach our children to fast properly so that they too can better overcome the temptations that will come to them as they grow older. With increased spiritual power we and our children will be better able to live the gospel and recognize the promptings of the Spirit that come to guide and encourage us.

Next week will be the TFOT lesson given by Sister Campbell, using the talk by President Uchtdorf: Of Things That Matter Most.

Have a wonderful week and be thinking of ways to help your family be more spiritually and temporally prepared.

The Relief Society Presidency