Below are the quotes that were used in the video.
Fasting brings us closer to God. Isaiah taught that fasting can also loosen the "bands of wickedness," undo "the heavy burdens," and break "every yoke." Isaiah 58 is the best chapter that focuses on the purposes and blessings of the fast. The last chapters of Isaiah also focus on some of Isaiah's prophecies on the last days, Christ's second coming, and the millennium.
In Isaiah 58 verse 2 “they seem eager to approach God, but the voice in the first verse is warning us of the transgression that Isaiah will soon expose. They seem eager to be seen as doing what is right. In their hearts, they are not eager, nor are their motives pure. They want to be seen as righteous, but their private desires are somewhere else.” (Miller, Isaiah A Prophet’s Prophet, p. 276)
Bishop John H. Vandenberg: “I suppose when he speaks of “loosing the bands of wickedness” of “undoing the heavy burdens,” and the “breaking of every yoke” that he is referring to the wickedness of people who think only of themselves in selfishness, vanity, pride, and having hearts so set upon the things of this world that the two great commandments of loving God and loving neighbor are entirely forgotten. The principles of loving thy neighbor and of loving God are encompassed in the true purpose of the fast” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, 28)
Bishop Victor L. Brown added that verse 6 teaches that fasting helps us “to overcome the temptations of Satan as the Savior did.” He also said that the next verse (v. 7) teaches us “to assist the poor and the needy” while we fast (Brown, “A Vision of the Law of the Fast”).
Bishop John H. Vandenberg: The bishop should frequently encourage the members of his ward to observe the fast day and voluntarily contribute a generous offering. The Lord knows in his wisdom that individually we are generally not prone to seek out the poor, the hungry, and those in need, and individually attend to their needs on a continuing basis. By fasting collectively there is no end to the good that can be done; that no one need suffer; that such assistance as might be given is rendered through the bishop in love and mercy and that full dollar value is rendered without any administrative cost.” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, 28)
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “Fast offerings are used for one purpose only: to bless the lives of those in need. Every dollar given to the bishop as a fast offering goes to assist the poor” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/the-law-of-the-fast?lang=eng).
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We hope that through the payment of liberal fast offerings there will be more than enough to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. If every member of this church observed the fast and contributed generously, the poor and the needy—not only of the Church, but many others as well, would be blessed and provided for. Every giver would be blessed in body and spirit, and the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed according to need” (“Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work,” Apr. 1990 general conference).
How can I take greater advantage of the privilege of fasting?
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We hope that through the payment of liberal fast offerings there will be more than enough to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. If every member of this church observed the fast and contributed generously, the poor and the needy—not only of the Church, but many others as well, would be blessed and provided for. Every giver would be blessed in body and spirit, and the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed according to need” (“Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work,” Apr. 1990 general conference).
President Joseph F. Smith: “Many are subject to weakness, others are delicate in health, and others have nursing babies; of such it should not be required to fast. Neither should parents compel their little children to fast” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 244).
“There is such a thing as overdoing. A man may fast and pray till he kills himself; and there isn’t any necessity for it; nor wisdom in it. … The Lord can hear a simple prayer, offered in faith, in half a dozen words, and he will recognize fasting that may not continue more than twenty-four hours, just as readily and as effectually as He will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month. … The Lord will accept that which is enough, with a good deal more pleasure and satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1912, 133–34).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honoring the Sabbath is a form of righteousness that will bless and strengthen families, connect us with our Creator, and increase happiness. The Sabbath can help separate us from that which is frivolous, inappropriate, or immoral. It allows us to be in the world but not of the world.
“… Truly keeping the Sabbath day holy is a refuge from the storms of this life. It is also a sign of our devotion to our Father in Heaven.” (“Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign, Nov. 2015, 41–42)
"Isaiah promises that “in keeping the Sabbath, you will “ride upon the high places of the earth.” The high places of the earth anciently included mountains where prophets communed with God. It also included the holy mount, or the temple of Isaiah’s day. You always went “up” to Jerusalem in the scriptures and went “up” to the temple. You are promised to receive revelation and be able to commune with God. Like being on a high mountain, God will give you increased perspective and expand your vision. As you keep the Sabbath you will also be “fed with the heritage of Jacob.” To feed is to be nourished.
“What was the heritage of Jacob? It is easy to see the acts of faith in Abraham or Isaac’s life. Jacob was the son who “did none other things than that which they were commanded” (D&C 132:37). Jacob was an example of someone who “rode upon” or daily improved and progressed toward God. He was “fed” daily with spirituality and became an example of spirituality. He sought out the spiritual “high places of the earth.” His heritage that he left is simply to daily add God to your life to become better than you ever could have become alone. His heritage is to take a normal life and by adding God to it he made his life extraordinary. Latter-day revelation teaches that Jacob’s heritage led him to an inheritance of exaltation and godhood (see D&C 132:37) (Miller, Isaiah A Prophet’s Prophet, p. 285-86)
Aspects of the ministry of Christ will occur at the Second Coming:
LAST DAYS
2nd COMING
MILLENIUM
“When the Lord directs us to ‘bring many souls unto me,’ this means bringing them all the way into the garner of the Church-not simply dropping them off just outside the door.…Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the Holy Temple. The great garner into which the ‘sheaves’ should be finally gathered is the Holy Temple!” (Neal A. Maxwell, Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, pg. 213)
Teaching Thoughts:
In Isaiah 58 verse 2 “they seem eager to approach God, but the voice in the first verse is warning us of the transgression that Isaiah will soon expose. They seem eager to be seen as doing what is right. In their hearts, they are not eager, nor are their motives pure. They want to be seen as righteous, but their private desires are somewhere else.” (Miller, Isaiah A Prophet’s Prophet, p. 276)
Bishop John H. Vandenberg: “I suppose when he speaks of “loosing the bands of wickedness” of “undoing the heavy burdens,” and the “breaking of every yoke” that he is referring to the wickedness of people who think only of themselves in selfishness, vanity, pride, and having hearts so set upon the things of this world that the two great commandments of loving God and loving neighbor are entirely forgotten. The principles of loving thy neighbor and of loving God are encompassed in the true purpose of the fast” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, 28)
Bishop Victor L. Brown added that verse 6 teaches that fasting helps us “to overcome the temptations of Satan as the Savior did.” He also said that the next verse (v. 7) teaches us “to assist the poor and the needy” while we fast (Brown, “A Vision of the Law of the Fast”).
Bishop John H. Vandenberg: The bishop should frequently encourage the members of his ward to observe the fast day and voluntarily contribute a generous offering. The Lord knows in his wisdom that individually we are generally not prone to seek out the poor, the hungry, and those in need, and individually attend to their needs on a continuing basis. By fasting collectively there is no end to the good that can be done; that no one need suffer; that such assistance as might be given is rendered through the bishop in love and mercy and that full dollar value is rendered without any administrative cost.” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, 28)
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: “Fast offerings are used for one purpose only: to bless the lives of those in need. Every dollar given to the bishop as a fast offering goes to assist the poor” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2001/04/the-law-of-the-fast?lang=eng).
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We hope that through the payment of liberal fast offerings there will be more than enough to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. If every member of this church observed the fast and contributed generously, the poor and the needy—not only of the Church, but many others as well, would be blessed and provided for. Every giver would be blessed in body and spirit, and the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed according to need” (“Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work,” Apr. 1990 general conference).
How can I take greater advantage of the privilege of fasting?
- Begin and end your fast with prayer.
- Fast with a purpose (see Matthew 17:18–21; Mosiah 27:22–23; Alma 5:45–46; 28:4–6; Helaman 3:35).
- Fast with a happy countenance (see Matthew 6:1–4, 16–18; 3 Nephi 13:16–18).
- Encourage your family members to fast.
- Attend fast and testimony meeting as a family (see Alma 6:6; Moroni 6:5).
- Fast for special purposes at times other than on fast Sunday (see Mosiah 27:22).
- Pay a generous fast offering, urging your children to also contribute to fast offerings (see Doctrine and Covenants 104:14–18).
- Teach your family to give offerings willingly and cheerfully (see 2 Corinthians 9:6–7; 3 Nephi 13:16–18; Moroni 7:6–8). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/fasting-and-fast-offerings?lang=eng)
President Gordon B. Hinckley: “We hope that through the payment of liberal fast offerings there will be more than enough to provide for the needs of the less fortunate. If every member of this church observed the fast and contributed generously, the poor and the needy—not only of the Church, but many others as well, would be blessed and provided for. Every giver would be blessed in body and spirit, and the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed according to need” (“Rise to a Larger Vision of the Work,” Apr. 1990 general conference).
President Joseph F. Smith: “Many are subject to weakness, others are delicate in health, and others have nursing babies; of such it should not be required to fast. Neither should parents compel their little children to fast” (Gospel Doctrine, p. 244).
“There is such a thing as overdoing. A man may fast and pray till he kills himself; and there isn’t any necessity for it; nor wisdom in it. … The Lord can hear a simple prayer, offered in faith, in half a dozen words, and he will recognize fasting that may not continue more than twenty-four hours, just as readily and as effectually as He will answer a prayer of a thousand words and fasting for a month. … The Lord will accept that which is enough, with a good deal more pleasure and satisfaction than that which is too much and unnecessary” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1912, 133–34).
Elder Quentin L. Cook: “For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honoring the Sabbath is a form of righteousness that will bless and strengthen families, connect us with our Creator, and increase happiness. The Sabbath can help separate us from that which is frivolous, inappropriate, or immoral. It allows us to be in the world but not of the world.
“… Truly keeping the Sabbath day holy is a refuge from the storms of this life. It is also a sign of our devotion to our Father in Heaven.” (“Shipshape and Bristol Fashion: Be Temple Worthy—in Good Times and Bad Times,” Ensign, Nov. 2015, 41–42)
"Isaiah promises that “in keeping the Sabbath, you will “ride upon the high places of the earth.” The high places of the earth anciently included mountains where prophets communed with God. It also included the holy mount, or the temple of Isaiah’s day. You always went “up” to Jerusalem in the scriptures and went “up” to the temple. You are promised to receive revelation and be able to commune with God. Like being on a high mountain, God will give you increased perspective and expand your vision. As you keep the Sabbath you will also be “fed with the heritage of Jacob.” To feed is to be nourished.
“What was the heritage of Jacob? It is easy to see the acts of faith in Abraham or Isaac’s life. Jacob was the son who “did none other things than that which they were commanded” (D&C 132:37). Jacob was an example of someone who “rode upon” or daily improved and progressed toward God. He was “fed” daily with spirituality and became an example of spirituality. He sought out the spiritual “high places of the earth.” His heritage that he left is simply to daily add God to your life to become better than you ever could have become alone. His heritage is to take a normal life and by adding God to it he made his life extraordinary. Latter-day revelation teaches that Jacob’s heritage led him to an inheritance of exaltation and godhood (see D&C 132:37) (Miller, Isaiah A Prophet’s Prophet, p. 285-86)
Aspects of the ministry of Christ will occur at the Second Coming:
- To proclaim the day of vengeance (the Second Coming) (Isaiah 61:2).
- •To comfort all those that mourn. Mourning comes not only as a natural consequence of sin, but comes in various dosages of sadness, loss, or loneliness. Mourning can come from death or from the death of a dream. Regardless, through Christ, all mourning will be erased from the hearts and minds of His disciples (Isaiah 61:2).
- To appoint (or direct) those that mourn through His Spirit of Comfort and through His inspired servants. (Isaiah 61:3).
- To give beauty for ashes. The ashes might be the result of the destruction of property, relationships, or anything else. Christ can heal all wounds and make any destructive desolation beautiful (Isaiah 61:3).
- To give the oil of joy for mourning. The oil of anointing was used to sanctify (see Leviticus 11:12) and to consecrate (see Exodus 28:41). The purpose is to bring someone closer to Christ, and to authorize a servant to be a tool in the hands of God. As servants of God serve Him, their joy “will be great” (see D&C 18:15–16). Being a tool in the hand of God will always bring joy (Isaiah 61:3).
- To give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. “Much more often, we too can give others the ‘garment of praise’ (Isaiah 61:3). There are so many people with no such clothing in their wardrobes—or only a T-shirt. They shiver for want of a little praise. Meanwhile, each of us has far more opportunities for bestowing deserved praise than we ever use! How long since you’ve done that? Perhaps today for many of you. Maybe too long for some of you” (Maxwell, “Jesus, The Perfect Mentor”).
LAST DAYS
- 59:16-21
- 61:4-6
- 62:10-12
- 64 CH
- 65:9-12
2nd COMING
- 61:2-4
- 63:1-6
- 63:15-16
- 66:14-15
- 66:16-18
MILLENIUM
- 60:18-19
- 60:20-21
- 65:17-18
- 65:19-20
- 65:24-25
“When the Lord directs us to ‘bring many souls unto me,’ this means bringing them all the way into the garner of the Church-not simply dropping them off just outside the door.…Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the Holy Temple. The great garner into which the ‘sheaves’ should be finally gathered is the Holy Temple!” (Neal A. Maxwell, Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, pg. 213)
Teaching Thoughts:
- Relevance, applicability and hope found in teachings of Isaiah.
- What did you study that would help you have a more meaningful fast?
- Themes:
- Last days
- Second coming
- Millennium.
- What is God doing in our day to hasten his work “in his time?” (Isaiah 63:22)