Observe the Law of the Fast

The Missionaries Will Teach...

Fasting means going without food and drink for a period of time.  Once a month, members of the Church of Jesus Christ fast for two consecutive meals, or approximately 24 hours.  This is usually on the first Sunday of the  month.  On this day, the church services are dedicated to prayer and the sharing of testimonies.  When we fast, we are more receptive to the promptings of the spirit and it is easier to get answers to our prayers.  When we fast and pray, it should be dedicated for a specific purpose.  Fasting is a private, spiritual matter, and we shouldn't draw attention to it when we fast.

When we fast, we give money to the church so that it can be distributed and used to help care for the  poor.  This money is called fast offerings.  We are supposed to give at least the amount of money we save from skipping two meals, but we should be a generous as possible and if we can, give significantly more.  By caring for the poor in this way, we are keeping the promises we made at baptism and retain a remission of our sins.