Relief Society · Elders Quorum · 25 minutes
Elder Ulisses Soares · Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles · Saturday Morning Session
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Elder Soares teaches that fasting joined with sincere prayer draws us near to the Lord. The Savior fasted for 40 days to align His will with His Father's, and fasting can do the same for us.
Spend only a minute on the fast offering section. Leave it to the second principle and don't let it grow into a separate lesson on welfare.
Before Sunday
Sunday: Elder Soares on fasting
This Sunday we'll discuss Elder Ulisses Soares's talk "A Higher and Holier Fast." He points us to Isaiah 58, where the Lord promises that when we call, He will answer, "Here I am." If you can, read Isaiah 58:6–11 or the talk before class. Ponder this: when has a fast felt like drawing near to the Lord instead of just going without food?
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Think back to the last fast Sunday. Without sharing anything private, what made that fast feel like hunger, and what made it feel like worship? Elder Soares invites us to live the law of the fast "in a higher and holier way." Today we'll look at what that means.
Think back to the last fast Sunday. Without sharing anything private, what made that fast feel like hunger, and what made it feel like worship? Elder Soares invites us to live the law of the fast "in a higher and holier way." Today we'll look at what that means.
Before His ministry began, Jesus went into the wilderness and spent 40 days communing with His Father. Elder Soares points out that the Savior could have done anything to prepare for His mission. He chose fasting and prayer to come into full alignment with His Father's will. Afterward, spiritually strengthened, He overcame the adversary's temptations and began His ministry. Let's talk about what His example teaches us about our own fasts.
Read Isaiah 58:8–9 aloud: "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am." Ask: Why might the Lord tie a promise like that to fasting, of all things? What does fasting change in us that helps us hear Him?
Teach this first
Elder Soares teaches that a true fast always comes with earnest prayer. It isn't mainly a test of willpower or a way to ask for a specific blessing. Fasting humbles us and softens our hearts, so we are more open to the Holy Ghost and better able to bring our desires into line with the Lord's will. Jesus Christ set the pattern when He fasted 40 days before His ministry. Fasting may not remove every burden, but it draws heaven near and gives us strength to overcome or endure.
Elder Soares teaches that fasting and prayer "may not remove every burden from our path, but they draw heaven near" and give us power "to overcome or endure whatever circumstances we may face."
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If time remains
Isaiah taught that an acceptable fast helps "let the oppressed go free" and "break every yoke." Elder Soares teaches that generous fast offerings carry out that purpose today, follow the Savior's example of succoring His people, and open our hearts to the needs of others.
Ask the class
Counsel together
Last 3–5 minutes
Before your next fast, choose one purpose to bring to the Lord. Begin and end the fast with a sincere prayer, and give a fast offering as part of your worship.
Elder Soares promised that as we embrace the law of the fast in a higher and holier way, miracles will come into our lives. We will draw nearer to the Savior, receive strength to overcome our weaknesses, and become more sensitive to the needs of others.
Your witness: Think of a time fasting brought you closer to the Lord, even if the answer came differently than you hoped. Share briefly what you learned about Him.