Ancient Customs & Missteps
Anciently, people wore this coarse cloth and sprinkled ashes on themselves as an outward sign of sorrow or humility.
Answer: What is sackcloth?
According to Isaiah 58:7, the true fast includes giving bread to this group of people.
Answer: Who are the hungry (or poor)?
According to Isaiah 58:8, when we fast properly, this will “break forth as the morning.”
Answer: What is light?
In the Church today, a standard monthly fast typically consists of going without food and drink for this long.
Answer: What is 24 hours (or two consecutive meals)?
Jesus Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness prior to beginning this.
Answer: What is His earthly ministry?
n Isaiah 58:5, the Lord compares an insincere fast to this tall, thin, drooping grass.
Answer: What is a bulrush?
Complete the purpose from Isaiah 58:6: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of…”
Answer: What is wickedness?
When a faithful person calls upon the Lord in a proper fast, the Lord promises to answer with these three words (Isaiah 58:9).
Answer: What is “Here I am” (or Here am I)?
A donation given to provide food, shelter, and relief to those in need, traditionally equal to or greater than the value of uneaten meals.
What is a fast offering?
In Matthew 17, Jesus told His disciples that a certain stubborn evil spirit could only be cast out by these two actions.
Answer: What are prayer and fasting?
Instead of focusing on God, ancient Israel made the mistake of seeking their own pleasure and doing this to their laborers on fast days.
Answer: What is exacting/demanding labor (or treating others harshly/strife and debate)?
Isaiah 58:6 teaches that a true fast should undo these burdens and let the oppressed go free.
Answer: What are heavy burdens?
Isaiah 58:8 promises that this will “spring forth speedily” after a true fast.
Answer: What is health?
On which Sunday of the month do Latter-day Saints typically observe fast day?
Answer: What is the first Sunday of the month?
The modern Church President who taught that during times of deep distress, fasting two meals or 24 hours is customary, but you decide what constitutes a sacrifice for you.
Answer: Who is President Russell M. Nelson?
Ancient Israel complained that the Lord did not take notice when they did this to their souls.
Answer: What is afflicting their souls?
In Isaiah 58:7, the Lord asks us to bring the poor that are cast out to this place.
Answer: What is thy house?
Isaiah 58:11 promises that your soul will be like this well-tended outdoor space whose waters fail not.
Answer: What is a watered garden (or spring of water)?
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught that without this companion practice, fasting is merely “going hungry.”
Answer: What is prayer?
According to Isaiah, when a person keeps a righteous fast, their righteousness goes before them, and this attribute of the Lord serves as their “rereward” (rear guard).
Answer: What is the glory of the Lord?
The prophet who was commanded to “cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” to show Israel their transgressions.
Answer: Who is Isaiah?
Besides feeding the hungry, Isaiah 58:7 commands that when you see the naked, you do this.
Answer: What is clothe/cover them?
Those who live the law of the fast properly are given the title: “The repairer of the breach, The restorer of…”
Answer: What is paths to dwell in?
The key scripture phrase associated with the Doctrinal Mastery passage Isaiah 58:6–7.
Answer: What is “the blessings of a proper fast”?
According to the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 4:1, Jesus went into the wilderness not to be tempted of the devil, but for this divine purpose.
Answer: What is to be with God?