Regarding Elder Henry B. Eyring’s talk of April 2, 2016… ‘Where Two or Three Are Gathered’, He said:
All of us have had our faith tested by precious blessings delayed, vicious attacks of those who wanted to destroy our faith, temptations to sin, and selfish interests that reduced our efforts to cultivate and soften the spiritual depths of our hearts. Those who are saddened by the loss of the joy they once had are the blessed ones. Some do not see the withering of faith within themselves. Satan is clever. He tells those he wishes to be miserable that the joy they once felt was childish self-delusion…
My journal entries of: May 9, 2010: In Gospel Essentials class on the principle of repentance our former Bishop spoke of dealing with deeper, tougher sins. He said that the only way he has seen for those dealing with deeper sins, including addictions: place faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, fast (see ending note), read the scriptures consistently and all with lots of prayer… all with a vulnerable heart.
This may need long term commitment, and even after the defeating pulls seem long gone and ‘the coast seems clear’, should the same feelings, circumstances ‘revisit’ it would be time to revisit the above formula.
June 27, 2010: At an early morning missionary meeting a brother shared this as a part of his lesson on faith: He said that when he was a Branch President at the MTC, some missionaries really struggled with the principle of faith. After one spoke to him of his struggles and after praying he told this missionary that he was loved by his Heavenly Father and he, Heavenly Father was giving him this experience for a reason. He needed to know that there is a price to real and deeper faith, because he would be walking investigators through the same experience. Also throughout this missionaries life in raising his family and in teaching others, what was happening now in his learning deeper faith, would be essential to increase faith in those around him. His struggles then were in training to be a blessing in the lives of others having faith issues. kdm
Regarding fasting; We are taught that an effective fast is opened and closed with prayer (with lotsa prayer during) and, where possible, at least 24 hours in duration, meaning missing two meals (To those never having fasted this may take several opportunities). Until you train your body and for those who simply cannot go without food and drink for that long because of health restrictions, a true fast is between them and the Lord. We donate what it would cost for the meals missed (and many times more where we can afford it) to the Church to care for the poor.
