“Ye shall continue in prayer and fasting from this time forth.” (D&C 88:76)

This article blends insights from two talks by Randi Boyle and Tina Freestone, both of the North Brook Park Ward and both former leaders in the Liberty Missouri Stake Young Women  organization.

Fasting as a personal endurance test – Randi Boyle

When I was younger, fasting felt like a personal endurance test—and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. My siblings and I turned Fast Sunday into something of a covert mission. Our kitchen was in the middle of the house, but the lower kitchen cabinets could not be seen from the adjoining rooms. To us, that meant one thing: opportunity.

We’d drop to the floor, crawl in like secret agents, and head straight for our “treasure stash”: the baking cupboard, where there were most likely bags of chocolate chips and marshmallows, often a little stale because someone never closed the bag. Those became our unofficial Fast Sunday survival snacks.

It makes me laugh now, because back then I really believed fasting was just about going hungry. I didn’t see it as anything more than a rule to follow. I didn’t yet understand that fasting was never meant to be just an exercise in willpower—it was meant to be an outward expression of an inner commitment, a way to turn our hearts toward the Lord with intention, humility, and faith.

As I got older, and life became more complicated—family struggles, health worries, big decisions, moments when I desperately needed peace—that’s when fasting finally shifted for me. I began to see that the power of fasting doesn’t come from the physical sacrifice alone. It comes from the why behind it—the desire to align our will with God’s, to seek His guidance, and to show Him, through our actions, the devotion we feel inside.

The sanctifying effect of fasting – Tina Freestone

The scriptures provide powerful examples of fasting as preparation to receive divine instruction. In Deuteronomy we read of Moses’s preparation prior to receiving the Ten Commandments.

Fasting prepared Moses to receive the commandments of God and to stand in His presence.

In fact, the Savior Jesus Christ himself fasted for forty days in the wilderness in preparation for His mortal ministry.

Jesus, as our example, subjected his flesh to the spirit, and thus we are to do the same. From this we see that fasting is also a powerful means of overcoming our temptations, addictions, and other shortcomings, because we are yielding the desires and will of the flesh and subjecting them to our immortal spirits, we are “putting off the natural man”… “For the natural man is an enemy to God.”

President Harold B. Lee taught:  “The tremendous blessings that come [from fasting] have been spelled out in every dispensation and these are the days when we are going to need more and more the blessings of the Lord.”

As we fast, we are further sanctified, thus more in tune with the Holy Spirit, more sensitive to the things of God, further qualifying us for Heaven’s help and blessings. We learn self-mastery for the greater things Father in Heaven has promised us.

What is a meaningful fast? – Randi Boyle

In every instance, fasting symbolized trust, preparation, and love for God.

We fast for many reasons: to draw closer to the Lord, to seek revelation, to receive strength, or to help those in need.

But most importantly, we fast to surrender the natural man and invite the Spirit to lead. When we fast, we are saying, “Lord, I’m willing to let go of what my body craves so I can hear what my spirit needs.”

Sometimes, fasting doesn’t change our circumstances—it changes us. It tunes our hearts to heaven so we can recognize His hand and hear His voice more clearly.

A meaningful fast includes three simple steps:

1. Begin with purpose. Pray and tell Heavenly Father why you’re fasting—maybe for guidance, for someone who’s struggling, or to feel closer to Him.
2. Stay spiritually focused. Replace thoughts of food with scripture, gratitude, or service.
3. Close with prayer and thanksgiving. Express what you felt or learned, even if answers haven’t come yet.

When we add our fast offering, our private devotion becomes outward compassion—feeding both body and spirit.

Other blessings of a fast – Tina Freestone

Another important part of our fast is looking beyond ourselves.

Each month as we participate in the first-Sunday fast, we are invited and encouraged to give a generous fast offering. When we donate a generous fast offering, we turn our personal sacrifice into blessings for someone else. Fasting and prayer can open our eyes to the needs of others and fill us with the Spirit of the Lord.

President Gordon B. Hinckley reassured us, “There is no better investment than a fast offering. The funds are used with great care, and they do much good. It is the Lord’s way of caring for the poor, and it blesses both the giver and the receiver.” When we give generously, our offering becomes an extension of the Savior’s compassion. It is one of the few ways we can directly answer His commandment to ‘feed my sheep.’

As we submit the desires of the flesh to our spirit and succor those that are in need, we discover fasting is a powerful demonstration of our love for God and for our fellow men; it becomes a sacred act of discipleship rather than a duty. We will discover we are becoming more like the Master of heaven, earth and skies. We discover His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Fasting and prayer deepen discipleship – Randi Boyle

Fasting and prayer deepens discipleship by strengthening a person’s spirit and humbling them before God, which increases dependence on Him and sensitivity to His guidance. This practice creates a spiritual hunger, removes earthly distractions, and allows for a greater focus on divine priorities, thereby intensifying prayers and improving one’s ability to receive spiritual power and personal revelation. This renewed focus on God’s will often lead to a stronger desire to serve Him and a greater capacity for compassion towards others. 

When we fast with real intent, we discover that there’s divine strength in our surrender. We begin to see as He sees and trust as He trusts. Our outward act of fasting becomes a sacred inward covenant to walk by faith. I am so thankful for the Lord’s willingness to covenant with each one of us. How wonderful it is that He gives us the needed peace and joy meant for all of His children on this earth; although it takes some sacrifice, it is worth it. 

I testify that fasting is not just going without food. It is going toward God. It is our outward expression of an inner commitment—our desire to love Him, to trust Him, and to follow Him. And as we do, He will lift us, guide us, and fill our hearts with His Spirit.

For those who cannot fast – Tina Freestone

I am mindful that there are some who, because of conditions beyond their control, fasting an entire 24-hour period, or even at all, is just not possible. But I believe all of us have something we can give instead.

While speaking of giving of our substance to succor those in need, King Benjamin counseled those who were unable to give, saying, “I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.” 

I believe this also very much applies to those who are unable to forgo food or drink. What can you offer? Perhaps it is the intentional and sincere offering of a broken heart and contrite spirit. More concerted prayer, thought, or devotion; let this be your fast.

Brothers and sisters, I give my testimony of the importance and blessings of the law of the fast. It is a divine gift, a way to draw nearer to God, bless others, and strengthen our discipleship. I know this is Christ’s true and living Church, that President Oaks is called of God to be His mouthpiece, our prophet.