How come Fasting define as rejoicing in D&C 59:14?


In Doctrine and Covenants 59:14, fasting is coupled with the concept of rejoicing, described as,

"Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer."

This may seem a bit confusing, awkward, or baseless at first, di ba? After all, skipping meals and dealing with hunger isn't typically done with joy. Not even close. Sino ba namang masaya nyan kung walang laman ang tiyan? But in Latter-day Saint practice, fasting is a spiritual discipline that is deeply connected to worship and closeness with God. We Normally Practice it every First Sunday of each Month. But actually, before, fasting was practiced every first Thursday during the early days of the restored Church.

Question: Do you rejoice when you fast?
Okay, so ito na, here's what it means. When we fast and pray, we are not just to refrain from food and water. We are to focus our minds and hearts on spiritual things, seeking divine guidance, and striving to raise our spirituality. This simply leads to heartfelt spiritual experiences and joy - a rejoicing in the closeness we feel to our Heavenly Father. So it's not about rejoicing in an actual world that we celebrate something out of accomplishment or achievement or something else.

Christ, in his Sermon, said this -

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. - Matthew 6:16-18

Christ never said anything about rejoicing, yes, I would agree, but obviously, he meant to never show it in a sad countenance. The Gospel Christ taught, along with the principles of sacrifice, was simply the sweetest fruit that Lehi felt rejoicing after eating. The Law of Sacrifice is not actually a burden or perhaps the opposite of Joy; rather, it was meant to help us understand the Joy of Love and Care for others and for our spiritual welfare. It is a matter of Perspective to those who understand its importance.

Some time ago, during a talk that I made in a ward that I currently serve in Bulawen. I made this little statement about sacrifice and perspective. I said that to some, "Going to Church on Sunday is a big Sacrifice. Yes, it may, to some who travelled a long ride in an empty pocket, or maybe to some who had work on Sundays rather than spending an hour for a sacrament meeting. It may be a sacrifice for them, but to those who understand the gospel and their covenants, it is a blessing filled with Joy and Happiness. Those sacrifices were just it seems like a normal routine, and it's a matter of one's personal perspective." The same principle applies, such as Fasting and Prayer, so yes, it's your personal choice in viewing it as a burden or a blessing.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, in his talk “The Law of the Fast,” also said that -

Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

He also highlighted that fasting helps us develop courage and discipline and brings sanctification to our souls.

We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry. If we want our fasting to be more than just going without eating, we must lift our hearts, our minds, and our voices in communion with our Heavenly Father. Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation.

By focusing more on spiritual nourishment and less on physical, fasting allows us to rejoice in the blessings of spiritual growth and service to others. The joy in fasting comes from the blessings it brings and the opportunity to assist those in need through fast offerings, weaving the practice intimately with love and service—core components of rejoicing in the gospel.

Thank you for taking a little time to check out my personal study that I share. And if you want to dive more into the topic, here's the link from conference messages on the same topic. I recommend reading Howard W. Hunter's talk about the Fast day, which focused on the historical background, and Joseph Wirthlin for more Doctrinal. Thank you once again, and see you in my next post.

Some trivia, the Word "Fast or Fasting" was mentioned about 11 times in Doctrine and Covenants, excluding section headings. So far, that's the best that I had counted. If you think I'm wrong, contact me ASAP and point out where I missed it. 😁

Author -
Jerry Bustillo

Notes -