Current Lesson No. Twenty-Two

“This Kind Goeth Not Out But By Prayer and Fasting” (Matthew 17:21)

An Invitation to Join in a Worldwide Fast for Relief from the Covid-19 Pandemic

Let’s prepare for and participate in a worldwide fast – President Russel M. Nelson invited members of the Church worldwide, and others not of our faith, to join together in prayer and fasting on Good Friday, April 10, 2020.  I echo President Nelson’s invitation:

The Savior said certain things “go not out but by prayer and fasting”

As President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, I know that God has all power, all wisdom and all understanding. He comprehendeth all things and He is a merciful being even unto salvation unto all those who will repent and believe on his name.

So, during times of deep distress, as when illness reaches pandemic proportion, the most natural thing for us to do is to call upon our Heavenly Father and His Son, the Master Healer, to show forth their marvelous power to bless the people of the earth.

Now, we still need help from heaven.

Tonight, my dear brothers and sisters, in the spirit of the sons of Mosiah, who gave themselves to much fasting and prayer, and as part of our April 2020 General Conference, I am calling for another worldwide fast.

Let us fast, pray and unite our faith once again 

Let us prayerfully plead for relief, relief from this global pandemic

I invite all, including those not of our faith, to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10, 2020 

That the

  • present pandemic might be controlled

  • Caregivers protected

  • The economy strengthened

  • And life normalized

Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world.

Good Friday would be the perfect day for Heavenly Father and His Son to hear us.

I know that He will respond to the pleadings of His people, I so testify!

Lessons from the past for the current pandemic  – When the children of Israel fled Egypt they came to the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army in hot pursuit, and it seemed that their destruction was certain.  In these terrifying circumstances “Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever” (Exodus 14:13).

In the early days of our dispensation members of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ were under a government ordered extermination order and the were fleeing for their lives.  At this terrifying time the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote from Liberty Jail;  “Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:17).

The Lord heard Moses and Joseph Smith, and we can have the utmost assurance that He will hear President Nelson. And as we pray and fast with faith He will certainly hear our pleas, and He will deliver us from this pandemic.