Why do we fast?

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

To fast is to go without food and drink voluntarily for a certain period of time. Fasting combined with sincere prayer can help you prepare yourself and others to receive God’s blessings. It is a source of spiritual strength. Through fasting we can feel closer to Heavenly Father and strengthen our testimonies. Fasting also includes giving a generous fast offering to help those in need.

Resources to Help You Prepare

These resources are to help you prepare for the “Learn together” section of the meeting.

Esther 4:10–17; Matthew 4:1–11; Alma 17:1–3, 9; Doctrine and Covenants 59:12–14 (Fasting is a source of spiritual strength)
Isaiah 58:3–12; Matthew 6:16–18 (The Lord describes a proper fast, which includes fast offerings)
Matthew 17:14–21 (Jesus tells His disciples that fasting and prayer give more power to heal)
Mosiah 27:18–24; Alma 6:6 (Fasting can help bless others)
Alma 5:45–46; Helaman 3:35 (Fasting helps strengthen testimony)
Henry B. Eyring, “‘Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?’” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 22–25
Dean M. Davies, “The Law of the Fast: A Personal Responsibility to Care for the Poor and Needy,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 53–55
“Fasting and Fast Offerings,” True to the Faith (2004), 66–69
“The Fast Offering” (video)

Questions to Ponder before You Teach

What are some of the reasons you have fasted, and what were the results of your fast? What do you do to make fasting meaningful?

Why is it important for the young women to understand the principle of fasting? What obstacles do the young women face in enjoying the full blessings of fasting?

What can the young women do to prepare to learn? For example, they could read a talk, watch a video, or study a scripture related to this doctrine.

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior taught with the purpose of helping His disciples become converted. He invited them to act in faith and live the truths He taught. How will you invite the young women to faithfully act upon the truths they learn about proper fasting?

Video: “We Share”

NOTE TO THE TEACHER: Some young women may have a medical condition that prevents them from fasting. Suggest that there may be other ways to receive the blessings of fasting (for example, they can still contribute a generous fast offering).

Meeting Outline

1. Counsel Together and Share Experiences

Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Lead a discussion about items such as the following:

Our class: Who is missing today? What visits do we need to make? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity? Who needs our help and prayers?
Our responsibilities: What assignments do we need to make? What assignments have we fulfilled? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?
Our lives: Remind the class of the discussion from the last meeting. What experiences have we had with applying what we learned? What experiences have we had in the past few weeks that strengthened our testimonies of the gospel?

If possible, discuss these items beforehand in a class presidency meeting.

2. Learn Together

Led by a leader or teacher or a member of the class; approximately 25–35 minutes

After studying the above resources and following the inspiration of the Spirit, you may select one or more of the activities below to help class members understand the doctrine.

Invite the young women to read or watch President Henry B. Eyring’s talk “‘Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?’” as a group. Consider dividing the talk into smaller sections. As they read or watch each section, ask them to look for answers to questions such as “What does it mean to fast?” “What are the purposes of fasting?” and “What are the blessings of fasting?” Invite the young women to share how fasting has blessed their lives and what they will do to improve their fasts.
As a class, make a list of common challenges that young women may face. Invite the young women to read scriptures that describe the blessings of fasting, such as those listed in this outline. Ask them to list on the board the blessings from a proper fast. How can these blessings help the young women overcome life’s challenges? How can they help them in their future roles in life, including wife and mother? Bear testimony of the blessings of fasting.
Ask the young women to make a three-column chart on a piece of paper and label the columns, “What Should We Do?” “What Should We Avoid Doing?” and “What Blessings Does God Promise?” Invite them to write answers they find regarding fasting in Isaiah 58:3–12. (If necessary, explain that fast offerings are one way we “deal [our] bread to the hungry,” and that young women are welcome to pay fast offerings.) Encourage them to share their answers and the blessings they have received for fasting in the Lord’s way.
Invite a member of the bishopric to explain to the class how fast offerings are used to help the poor and needy. As part of this discussion, the young women could review what Bishop Dean M. Davies teaches about fast offerings in his talk “The Law of the Fast: A Personal Responsibility to Care for the Poor and Needy” or in the video “The Fast Offering.” Ask the young women how this information makes them feel about the opportunity to fast.

3. Plan to Act

Led by a member of the class presidency; approximately 5–10 minutes

Ask the young women to discuss any feelings or impressions they had during the meeting. What was meaningful to them? Is there something they can do personally or as a class to apply what they have learned?
Give the young women a few minutes to record what they will do in the coming weeks to act on their impressions. Invite them to share their ideas.
Remind the young women that they will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the beginning of the next meeting.