Why this fast is different...

As we approach this worldwide fast, I wanted to point out some possibly significant differences in what the prophet asked us to pray for the first time and what he asked this second time. In his first invitation he said:

MARCH 29 FAST

“As a physician and surgeon, I have great admiration for medical professionals, scientists. and all who are working around the clock to curb the spread of COVID-19. I am also a man of faith, and I know that during these challenging times, we can be strengthened and lifted as we call upon God and his Son, Jesus Christ — the Master Healer.

“I invite you to join with me in a worldwide fast — for all whose health permits — to pray for relief from the physical, emotional and economic effects of this global pandemic. I invite members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints everywhere, along with our many friends, to fast and pray this Sunday, March 29. Let us unite our faith to plead for physical, spiritual and other healing throughout the entire world.

“The Lord understands the feelings you are experiencing. He loves and cares for you, as I do, too.”

 This is what I heard:

1. We can be strengthened
2. Pray for relief from the effects of the pandemic
3. Plead for healing

Here is what he said for this coming fast:

April 10 Fast

"Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into action!...

(Bible Dictionary:Faith) -

Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants

The Savior Himself declared that certain things go “not out but by prayer and fasting.”¹¹

(Scripture reference)

Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?

20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your ^aunbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have ^bfaith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this ^cmountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be ^dimpossible unto you.

21 Howbeit this ^akind goeth not out but by prayer and ^bfasting.

Now, as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, I know that God “has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.”¹³

So, during times of deep distress, as when illness reaches pandemic proportions, the most natural thing for us to do is to call upon our Heavenly Father and His Son—the Master Healer—to show forth Their marvelous power to bless the people of the earth.

In my video message, I invited all to join in fasting on Sunday, March 29, 2020. Many of you may have seen the video and joined in the fast. Some may have not. Now we still need help from heaven.

So tonight, my dear brothers and sisters, in the spirit of the sons of Mosiah, who gave themselves to much fasting and prayer,¹⁴ and as part of our April 2020 general conference, I am calling for another worldwide fast. For all whose health may permit, let us fast, pray, and unite our faith once again. Let us prayerfully plead for relief from this global pandemic.

I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.

How do we fast? Two meals or a period of 24 hours is customary. But you decide what would constitute a sacrifice for you, as you remember the supreme sacrifice the Savior made for you. Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world.

Good Friday would be the perfect day to have our Heavenly Father and His Son hear us!

Dear brothers and sisters, I express my deep love for you, along with my testimony of the divinity of the work in which we are engaged. This is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He stands at its head and directs all that we do. I know that He will respond to the pleadings of His people. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

What I heard this second time:

1. This "certain thing" may only "go out" by "much fasting and prayer". "Much" can mean "many times" or "many people". Tomorrow there will be "many people"
2. If we are not able to cast this "devil" out, it may be because of our unbelief.
3. Nothing is impossible
4. God has the power to do this
5. God knows the wisdom of doing this
6. God understands our situation/emotions/needs
7. God wants to be merciful, but it may be conditioned on our repenting and believing in His name
8. Pray for God to "show forth His marvelous power!"
9. Prayerfully plead for relief
10.Fast is on "Good Friday" - a sacred and symbolic day
11.Pray that God will control the pandemic
12. Pray God will protect caregivers
13. Pray God will strengthen the economy
14. Pray God will normalize life
15. We've been focusing on "hearing Him", but this time He will "hear us"
16. Jesus Christ directed the prophet to call for this fast
17. He is going to respond to our pleadings.

Differences between the two:
- The first fast was more focused on what we need for us  - strength, relief and healing
- May not have had enough participation
 vs.
- Making it a "part of our General Conference", which was all about "restoration" and God and His Son once again appearing to man on the earth and making their voice heard - may be symbolic as they perform this miracle as a part of the "year" of celebration. Remember Pres. Nelson prophesied:
"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory.
- The second fast we were taught more about how to pray; to pray with real faith - centered in Jesus Christ
- We need much more participation and repeated fasting by those who fasted before
- We were encouraged to trust God more
- We were encouraged to repent
- We are to acknowledge God as the Supreme Ruler who has the power to literally control this
- The only way to strengthen the economy is for us to get back to work, which will only happen if this abruptly ends
- There's no current talk of "normal" life any time soon by the government, so we are praying for a miracle if we want the economy to be strengthened.
- Pray with confidence, with real faith (the assurance of things not seen which are true!) because Jesus directed the prophet to ask us to ask Him.
- He's not just going to hear us...He's going to respond!

(Here is a letter I wrote to family and friends before this fast, but for some reason never sent...)

To my dear friends and family,

As we approach our Father in Heaven in prayer and fasting this coming Good Friday concerning this global pandemic, I plead with you to pray in faith, for a miracle. The Bible Dictionary teaches us that “Faith is kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith”. To that end, I offer my testimony of faith, if you feel in any way that your faith is lacking as you approach your Father in Heaven this weekend.

I know without a doubt, that our Father is a God of miracles, and believe, that through our prophet, He has made His will known, that He wants to intervene in this crisis.

I am concerned that too many are afraid to ask for a miracle, either because they believe “Thy will be done” means that we God is going to do what He’s going to do, no matter what we ask, or that if it doesn’t happen, that it is a statement about the quality of our faith, and we don’t want to feel bad, or maybe it’s something else…

But I have a firm believe that God wants us to ask for miracles and wants to give us whatever is expedient for us. Like any good parent, He wants us to have everything that is good for us. And like any child, we often can’t see what He can see, so we don’t understand when He says, “no”.

One of the things I learned from my experience with winning the Cottonelle Contest, is that God knows each of us well, and has known us since we were spiritually begotten of Him. I also know, that asking for something in faith, showing our trust and love through increased obedience, and offering an additional sacrifice, is the kind of “effort” that Pres. Nelson just reaffirmed that the Lord loves.

I firmly believe that if I had not asked for that miracle, God would not have just given it to me anyway. I believe it was totally dependent upon me asking. But not only asking. I had to show Him how much I wanted it, and what I was willing to do to receive it. I had made peace before I even asked, for the possibility that He might, in His infinite wisdom, say no. That was okay. I would still be a better person for having increased my faith and obedience and offered my willing sacrifice. There was no way to lose.

Some people mistakenly think that I was making a bargain with God. A bargain is when you tell someone you will give them something “if” they give you what you want. I am advocating for making a free will offering regardless of whether you get what you want. There is no bargain involved. If He says, “no”, you just keep on trusting that “all things will work together for your good”. It has nothing to do with the quality of your faith.

The Bible Dictionary teaches us that:

“Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants”

Our actions are faith, repentance and sacrifice. He then comes in with the power. And that power can DO lots of things. In this instance we want to command the elements of this virus to disintegrate. We want the sick to be healed, we want the economy to rebound, and we want the hearts of the unbelieving to be influenced to repent and return.

So grateful for our prophet. The doctor himself has declared that God has power over all things. This is going to happen! The world will know we are the Church of Jesus Christ!

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

 

This is us! This is our time! We can pray with perfect faith and "it will be granted according to our faith". That was one of the main messages I heard in the last BOM video.

"We have done all we can. Even the people have been praying for him. The Lord will answer our prayers according to our faith" (Said by Alma the Younger's mother)

"That he might be convinced of the power and the authority of God." (prayer of Alma the Younger's Father)

"The Lord has heard the prayers of His people. For he has prayed with much faith concerning thee...that the prayers of His servants might be answered according to their faith." (Spoken by the Angel)