That One

THAT ONE

Providing providently ensures the ability to serve others without distraction. Providing providently includes fasting.

A talk given by Michael J Smith in sacrament meeting at the Farmington Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”

The young man paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”

“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, “I made a difference to that one!”

I have associated with the Saints in these Latter-days for over twenty-five years, and was baptized some seventeen years ago. In that time, this story, adapted from a Book, The Star Thrower, by Loren Eiseley, has been read over the pulpit, used in lessons and has been the object of firesides more times than I can remember. Despite the author’s self-proclaimed religious reluctance, I have concluded that its relevance to us is an important component to our everyday practice of spirituality.

In my observance of the Saints wherever I go, I am pleased to report that people everywhere are directly concerned with helping one another. I see in each of us the basic need to serve others – one by one – like the Savior did while here on earth. Counsels of the Church are focused on how we can meet the need of the individual, how can we help others, how can we reach out. Gospel living people practice the art and commandment to love one another, and as King Benjamin portrayed, are ultimately only in the service of their God. We, as a ward do that and actively strive to refine ourselves so that we serve unconditionally and without reservation – for that is how the Savior himself did it – unconditionally.

I see, however, that, “the sun is up and the tide is going out.” Our Heavenly Father has asked us to perform missionary work, because “it mattered to that one.” We cannot just be onlookers in the events around us – we must be active participants – and as such, we act, because so many of us are converted. Converted into action. For if we do not act, the beach of starfish will surely perish – all of them.

It is increasingly difficult to act – to serve unconditionally. The tide of the times pull us in a direction that focuses on the “me” and “myself.” Economic changes makes it easy to turn inward and forget that those who are the least of us are often the servant. There are more problems. More of us with more challenges that can distract us from being fishers of men. Conversely, I see a time that requires more of us now, than at any other dispensation.

To do this, he gives us spiritual gifts, talents…even the priesthood power. We must always be ready to serve – always able to perform the work our Father has for us. We must always recognize Spiritual promptings as they come – and recognize activity that will spiritually thwart our progression and ability to serve. We must also see that there are activities which will impede our freedom to choose to do such. To sum it up, in serving others, we must be able to provide providently.

Elder Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sees it too. I quote from a talk given at April’s General Conference this year. He states,

I speak to all whose freedom to choose has been diminished by the effects of ill-advised choices of the past. I speak specifically of choices that have led to excessive debt and addictions to food, drugs, pornography, and other patterns of thought and action that diminish one’s sense of self-worth. All of these excesses affect us individually and undermine our family relationships. Of course some debt incurred for education, a modest home, or a basic automobile may be necessary to provide for a family. Unfortunately however, additional debt is incurred when we cannot control our wants and addictive impulses. And for both debt and addiction, the hopeful solution is the same―we must turn to the Lord and follow His commandments. We must want more than anything else to change our lives so that we can break the cycle of debt and our uncontrolled wants.

Elder Hales defined a provident provider as one who “joyfully…[lives]…within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.”

He continues, “the foundation of provident living is the law of the tithe…in addition to our tithes, we should also be an example with the payment of fast offerings. A fast offering is at least the cost of the two consecutive meals from which we fast each month. By not eating these two meals, we draw close to the Lord in humility and prayer and also participate in anonymous giving to bless our brothers and sisters all over the world.”

In confession, I usually do not fast. I had a physical ailment which prevented me to do it – until the last few years. I discovered that I no longer had that problem. Oh, I tried to start fasting again, but usually failed. Two weeks ago, with a mounting challenge to overcome, I approached the Lord in prayer. The prompting came to fast. I was able to fast for two meals and paid a fast offering. I was actively seeking the Lord’s counsel in prayer. I was sensitive to spiritual promptings. On that day, and much to my surprise, I was asked to participate in a PPI (personal priesthood interview), where I made an account of my stewardship, identified weaknesses and strengths and made goals for improvement. The Spirit was strong during the meeting with my priesthood leader. At that time, language was used by that priesthood leader which I also heard in revelation during a prayer earlier in the day. I was overcome with gratitude and a sense of wonder at how Heavenly Father supports us and cares for us. Later, the Bishop asked for my assistance in a priesthood blessing. Afterwards, as if the Bishop knew what to say and when to say it, thanked me in language that was like the other two encounters. Three times the Lord told me that he loved me, through revelation and his Angel servants – our priesthood leaders. The words were slightly different, but the message of trust and love were the same.

Experiences like these are made possible because the act of fasting and offerings directly affects our brothers and sisters. There are those – our brothers and sisters – who are starving (temporally and spiritually), finding themselves destitute and unable to serve, distracted, and are not at liberty to choose freely and serve others. Fasting puts us in a position where we may feel – even to a small portion – the sufferings of others. It puts us in a position to supplicate for our strength and join with them. Then in a simultaneous exchange of giving and receiving, our fast offering can help clothe the naked, feed the hungry and heal the sick – as well as our own answers to prayers, spiritual nourishment, and spiritual growth. I testify that fasting fastens our testimonies. I testify that our fasting can bring us closer to the Savior. In the moments where He worked out our salvation, he supplicated to the Father in what may be his moments of despair – even in his strongest acts of submission. Words like, “Let this cup pass from me,” and “why hast thou forsaken me,” came from his lips. But in his ultimate acts of service, Jesus paid the price for sin and overcame physical death. I cannot say that fasting is like the atonement, but similarities exist that helped me two weeks ago. It helped me to overcome my own inadequacies.

Brothers and sisters. There is much work to do. Let us providently provide for ourselves, our families and those for whom we have stewardship. Let us fast so that we can help lift our brothers and sisters. Let us fast to know how to providently provide – making us free to serve. Let us fast to know how to make it matter to that one and that one and that one – is my humble prayer – in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

See Also: Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Law of the Fast,” Liahona, Jul 2001, 88–91