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by Anonymous on January 16th, 2006
Yes, it's true. At least most of us are encouraged to do so. What we are encouraged to do is to skip two meals on “fast Sunday”, which is usually the first Sunday of the month; and to donate as “fast offering” an amount of money that represents what the two skipped meals would have cost. Fast offerings are the primary source of funding for the church's welfare system. These funds are used in various ways to help those who are in need.
Those of us with various health issues where fasting might be detrimental are not encouraged to fast. For example, women who are pregnant or nursing, or people with conditions such as diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Fast offerings and other charitable resources are indeed used in many instances to help people who are not members of the church. I currently am employed at a Deseret Industries facility (Deseret Industries is a big part of the LDS welfare system). I'm actually there to be “helped”; I am receiving valuable training that will soon enable me to go back out into the “real word” and find a much better job than what I have otherwise recently been able to find on my own. In the mean time, I am working, and getting paid, and in the course of all this, I am helping to help others as well. Many of my colleagues at Deseret Industries are not members of the church; but like me, they are there to be helped in a maner similar to how I am being helped.
Some of my recent work has involved preparing shipments of clothing, shoes, and other necessities to go to the victims of recent natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. The vast majority of those who receive these items are probably not members of the church.
Why do non-Mormons keep on suggesting that Mormons do not eat tinned food. True, Joseph Smith didn't eat timmed food, but then again, there wasn't much tinned food around when he was with us.
by Latter Day Spaceball on April 7th, 2008
| 6 people like this
I'm really hungry, but I ate breakfast. How can this be?????
by Mister_Bromide on July 7th, 2011
| 5 people like this
do you have eye sight problems ?
have you tried the new hubble contact lenses ?
by hong kong phooey on May 19th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
when i drink all the tea, how was it made in the first place? im stil thirstY!
by pearloaf is not yelling and dreams of bal on January 23rd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Wilford Woodruff diary: "...forced abstainance was not making us free but we should be under bondage with a yoak upon our necks." Thoughts?
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on May 22nd, 2010
| 1 person likes this
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Comments
A bit misleading but I will clarify. LDS will only assist if you are Mormon. The others....well....
by Alatea on January 16th, 2006
How little you know us, Alatea. Every year we work with other charitable organizations to help victims of disasters. We don't ask about their religious beliefs before we give them the aid. These other organizations like to work with us because they know that ALL (100%) of the money given too the Church for use in its welfare programs goes to those need it. None of the money goes to administration costs. (How many other charities can say that?)
by Glenn Blaylock on November 20th, 2006