The Miracle of Fasting

Please enjoy these inspiring words from Christine Southwick:
A few months ago, I was traveling to Portland to take Jacob on yet another trip to Shriner’s. I decided to put in the Book of Mormon on CD to help pass the time. I was listening to Mosiah chapter 3 where King Benjamin was teaching his people. As I listened to this reading, I heard something that I did not recall being a part of the text. It was an ah-ha moment that required me to turn off the CD player and ponder the impressions I had. Tears came to my eyes as the impact of these words began to sink into my soul.

Although I cannot remember the exact words that were said, the impression that I received was that I needed to evaluate if I had done everything within my power to bring my brethren unto the teachings of Christ. The person that immediately came to my mind was my father, who has been inactive in the Church for about 35 years. I was left with the feeling that when I was facing my “Judgment Day” that I would not be found blameless if I continued on the path that I was on.

I pondered what it was that I could do that would bring my father back to the gospel without pushing him away or leaving him with the impression that I was nagging. I decided that we as an extended family needed to fast and pray in his behalf. I have been blessed to be the recipient of many blessings that have come as a result of fasting and prayer. The very fact that both Jacob and Jared are alive today and relatively healthy is directly a result of fasting and prayer.

I immediately called my sister, brother & mother. As I talked with my family regarding my desire to dedicate fast Sunday’s to our father and his eternal welfare, we decided that even the littlest of children should participate. Although they are too little to fast, they would give up something of value to them during that time of fasting. We even got my mother and her new husband involved in this fast. We have decided that in addition to our personal prayers and submitting his name in the temple we would dedicate part of our fast each month to him until……

When I first mentioned to my brother what I heard when listening to the CD, he was hesitant and did not remember that warning either. Because he is quite the scriptorian, I decided that I would go back and find the reference for him. I have now read over all of King Benjamin’s words many times and cannot find the reference or the impression that I received that day. I can only conclude that the Holy Ghost provided me with a prompting and the personal revelation that I needed. (This is not the first time that I have received personal revelation regarding my father and his eternal welfare.)

On the conclusion of our first fast, around 9:15 pm, my father called just to chat. This is an extremely rare thing. I could not recall the last time that he called just to chat, other than when he was doing a long distance drive and was struggling to stay alert. We talked for about 45 minutes, just about things in general.

When I hung up the phone, Ben asked if my dad knew that we were fasting for him and I exclaimed “NO WAY!” We both were in complete surprise.

I was touched by how quickly the Lord began to answer our prayers and to encourage the righteous desires of our hearts. Just as we have been promised over and over again in the scriptures, He would “turn the hearts of the children to the fathers and the hearts of the fathers to the children”.

Since July when we had our first fast, my father now calls me about every 10 days or so, just to check in and see what is going on in our lives. He has even had a number of conversations with my brother regarding gospel topics. When I was visiting him in August we talked about the importance of the eternal family and how we missed him in ours. We also discussed the challenges and rewards that come through the repentance process. To watch his eyes as I explained that there is literally an invisible weight that is lifted when one’s bishop feels compelled to pronoun you forgiven. To see the struggle within him that comes with making that decision. All of these things would not have been possible at the beginning of the year.

Before we began to fast in his behalf, he would become defensive and suddenly need to go whenever the gospel was brought up. He avoided as much as possible ever stepping into a chapel because of the flood of emotion and guilt that it would bring upon him.

Although he is not ready to begin taking official steps toward the repentance process, I can testify that the Lord is indeed creating our own little work and a wonder in the progress that he has made.

I testify that the Lord truly does hear and answer our prayers and that praying in conjunction with an honest fast, can literally bring forth miracles. I leave you with these words, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.