It’s difficult to find words that describe my feelings over
the past couple of weeks. I’m certain it’s
the same for most everyone. One thing
that became clear to many of us, especially here in southern Nevada, is that the
economic impact was going to be sudden and dramatic. It has been and it will be. In the midst of the lay-offs and business
closures, it’s heartening to see all of the different groups, public and
private, coming together to find ways to help those in need.
With current and growing needs, locally and globally, we
need to remember that the Lord has a plan for taking care of one another. It was encouraging and timely for me this
Sunday, as I attended our Self-Reliance group via Zoom when we read this from
President Henry B. Eyring:
“The principles at the foundation
of the Church welfare program are not for only one time or one place. They are for all times and all places…
“…The way it is to be done is
clear. Those who have accumulated more are
to humble themselves to help those in need.
Those in abundance are to voluntarily sacrifice some of their comfort,
time, skills, and resources to relieve the suffering of those in need. And the help is to be given in a way that
increases the power of the recipients to care for themselves and then care for
others. Done in this, the Lord’s way,
something remarkable can happen. Both
the giver and the receiver are blessed.”[1]
The Lord has revealed His plan and it will work today, in
the middle of a global pandemic, just as it has in the past. The law of the fast isn’t new. The prophet Isaiah taught us the following:
Is this not the fast that I have
chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let
the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou
seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine
own flesh?[2]
The Prophet Joseph taught the law of the fast again in our
times. From “Nauvoo, Illinois the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles sent a letter to the Church defining ‘the principle of
fasts’:
Let this be an ensample to all
saints, and there will never be any lack for bread: When the poor are starving,
let those who have, fast one day and give what they otherwise would have eaten
to the bishops for the poor, and every one will abound for a long time; and
this is one great and important principle of fasts approved of the Lord. And so long as the saints will all live to
this principle with glad hearts and cheerful countenances they will always have
an abundance.[3]
As each of us fast we have the opportunity to follow the
counsel of King Benjamin and give of our abundance to care for the wants of
those in need.
And now, for the sake of these
things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a
remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I
would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according
to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting
the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporarily,
according to their wants.[4]
And as President Russell M. Nelson reminded us during the
last General Conference in October 2019:
To assist members of the Lord’s
Church in distress, we love and live the ancient law of the fast. We go hungry.
One day each month, we go without food and donate the cost of that food
(and more) to help those in need.[5]
Each of us, even in the midst of these current trials and challenges,
can find some peace and comfort as we “mourn with those that mourn” and “comfort
those that stand in need of comfort.” Now
is an important time for us to continue to make our fast offerings to the Church
to bless those in need, even if our current definition of generous may be
different. For some, it may be time to
offer a little less. For others, it may
be time to offer more.[6]
As we read in the Old Testament:
For the poor shall never cease out
of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide
unto they brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.[7]
And as our Savior, Jesus Christ taught us:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave
me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me
in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was
sick, and ye visited me…
…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.[8]
As we face a global pandemic and all its consequences, the
needs will grow. Our help will be more
needed than ever to help people get back on their feet. Some of the help we give may not be the same
type or level of help we gave in the past.
It may be more about sustaining life rather than lifestyle than it has
in the past. I think of the story shared
by President Nelson about the Saints in West Africa. By our standards here in the United States,
they may seem poor, but their example is rich and powerful – both of how to
give and how to live when in need.
I asked the stake president how he
cared for members who had so little. He
replied that their bishops knew their people well. If members could afford two meals a day, no help was needed. But if they could
afford only one meal or less—even with family help—bishops provided food,
financed from fast offerings. Then he
added this remarkable fact: their fast-offering contributions usually exceeded
their expenses. Surplus fast offerings
were then sent to people elsewhere whose needs exceed theirs.[9]
I look forward to this coming Sunday and the opportunity to
fast and pray for the many blessings that are needed in my family, my ward, my
stake, my community, and throughout the world – and to give thanks for my many
blessings. I pray that my offerings,
combined with yours, will be sufficient for the needs at hand. I pray for our good bishops and their counselors, Relief Society
presidencies, elders quorum presidencies, stake presidents and others that are helping
to lead and guide our efforts to help those in need. I pray for our good ministering brothers and
ministering sisters as they lift up those in their stewardship.
Today, more than when he spoke it, I appreciate the words of
Elder Ronald A. Rasband:
Take heart, brothers and sisters.
Yes, we live in perilous times, but as we stay on the covenant path, we need
not fear. I bless you that as you do so, you will not be troubled by the times
in which we live or the troubles that come your way. I bless you to choose to
stand in holy places and be not moved. I bless you to believe in the promises
of Jesus Christ, that He lives and that He is watching over us, caring for us
and standing by us.[10]
And I’m grateful for the words of Isaiah:
Fear thou not; for I am with thee:
be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.[11]
Many blessings to everyone this weekend as we experience our
own unique Fast Sunday.
[1]
President Henry B. Eyring, Dedication of the Sugarhouse Utah Welfare Services
Center, June 2011.
[2] Isaiah
58:6-7.
[3]
President Thomas S. Monson, Be Thou an Example, October 1996.
[4] Mosiah
4:26.
[5] President
Russell M. Nelson, The Second Great Commandment, October 2019.
[6] Victor
L. Brown, Fast Offerings: Fulfilling Our Responsibility to Others, April
1981. “It is important to recognize that
the fast offering is a freewill offering, the amount of which each individual
is responsible to determine…The amount is left up to each individual, and yet a
living prophet has said we should be very generous.”
[7]
Deuteronomy 15:11.
[8] Matthew
25:35-40.
[9] President
Russell M. Nelson, The Second Great Commandment, October 2019. President Nelson also said: “Living that
second great commandment is the key to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.”
[10] Ronald
A. Rasband, Be Not Troubled, October 2018.
[11] Isaiah
41:10.
