Increasing our fast offering

During fast and testimony meeting on Sunday, February 1, 2009, a thought came into my mind: In these tough economic times, when so many people are unemployed and there is increased demand on the Lord's storehouse, I should increase the amount of the fast offering we pay each month, perhaps even doubling it, since we have been and continue to be so blessed temporally.

We had been paying $30 a month and, in counsel with Claudia, I decided to increase our offering to $50 a month.

A month later, on Sunday, March 8, our stake president counseled members of the stake during the general session of stake conference to increase their fast offerings. There is some question, as I discussed his talk with other ward members, whether he said to increase it or to double it. To those not in a position to increase their offering, he invited them to increase their service.

My response to President Cory Hanks's counsel included at least two thoughts: First, I was grateful that I was sufficiently in tune with the Holy Ghost that the Spirit had whispered the same message to me a whole month earlier. And, second, perhaps doubling my fast offering, in my case at least, meant doubling my offering. So, we will now pay $60 a month.

Many prophets through the years have counseled us to pay a generous fast offering. I particularly resonated with President Spencer W. Kimball's teachings decades ago when he said, "Each member should contribute a generous fast offering for the care of the poor and the needy. This offering should at least be the value of the two meals not eaten while fasting.

"'Sometimes we have been a bit penurious and figured that we had for breakfast one egg and that cost so many cents and then we give that to the Lord. I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous. . . .

"'I think we should . . . give, instead of the amount saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more—ten times more when we are in a position to do it' (Conference Report, Apr. 1974, 184).

"Fast offerings have long constituted the means from which the needs of the Lord's poor have been provided. . . . If we give a generous fast offering, we shall increase our own prosperity both spiritually and temporally" (Spencer W. Kimball, "Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action," Ensign, Nov. 1977, 76–78).

And the prophet's prophecy and promise: "Let's do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord. In this spirit we will be prepared for most eventualities, and the Lord will prosper and comfort us. It is true that difficult times will come—for the Lord has foretold them—and, yes, stakes of Zion are 'for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm' (D&C 115:6). But if we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of His hand" (Spencer W. Kimball, "Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action," Ensign, Nov. 1977, 76–78).