Church president calls for Second COVID-19 fasting M
ore than 20,000 Fijian members will join the worldwide membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints to fast and pray again today for relief from COVID-19.
The church’s world leader, President Russel M Nelson, made the call at the church’s biennial conference at the weekend,
A previous fast was held on March 29. President Nelson said: “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! … Let us prayerfully plead … that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalised.”
When members fast, they go without food and drink voluntarily for a certain period of time for the purpose of drawing closer to God and requesting His blessings.
Church members are encouraged to fast one Sunday each month (fast Sunday) and at other times as needed or desired. Latter-day Saints believe that fasting combined with sincere prayer can provide spiritual strength, closeness to God and preparation to receive His blessings.
Latter-day Saints may choose to fast for many reasons, among them: to worship God and express gratitude to Him, to ask God to bless the sick or afflicted (see Matthew 17:1421), to receive answers to prayer , to gain strength to resist temptation (see Isaiah 58:6), to receive guidance in Church callings (see Acts 13:2-3; and for comfort during times of difficulty, sorrow or mourning.
FAST SUNDAY AND FAST OFFERINGS
The Church designates one Sunday each month, usually the first Sunday, as a day of fasting. Members are asked to go without food and drink for two consecutive meals, or approximately 24 hours.
They are also asked to contribute the money that they would have spent on food for those meals to the Church, which, through its welfare system, uses to care for those in need. This money is called a fast offering. The Church uses the fast offerings to assist the poor and needy.