If we are to overcome the natural man, fasting is a fast-track. (Isaiah 58-66)

58:3

We often want immediate results from our effort. Whether that's weight loss or spirituality or quick responses to our prayers. Israel felt this way. "Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge?" The people are asking why they aren't seeing results from their fasting. They are fasting to receive something. They're seeing their fast as a transaction. Quid pro quo.

It doesn't work this way.

What makes it worse is that the people aren't being consistent. They are fasting but are doing all of the things that they enjoy. "Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours." They were playing and working on the day of their fast.

I think this is why fasting happens generally on Sunday - so we can make the day spiritual and special. The day can be spent in coming closer to the Savior.

58:5-11

Many of the purposes and blessings of fasting are illustrated in these verses. First, some typical pitfalls are illustrated in verse 5. "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?" Is fasting about appearing to suffer? As soon as we are concerned about the outward appearance of fasting, we've missed the point.

Instead, the purposes of fasting are presented. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen?"

• "To undo the heavy burdens."

• "To let the oppressed go free."

• "Break every yoke."

The natural man wants to eat. The natural man hates to be hungry. When we fast, we are practicing our ability to overcome the natural man. It strengthens us to help us overcome the other pressures from the natural man.

Besides strengthening us personally, if we donate a fast offering, fasting can bless others. "Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Through fast offerings, we are contributing to the Church's efforts to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.

Other spiritual blessings of fasting are listed:

• "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning." We will shine as a beacon to others.

• "Thine health shall spring forth speedily."

• "Thy righteousness shall go before thee."

• "The glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward."

• "If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday."

• "The Lord shall guide thee continually."

• "Satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones."

• "Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."

Fasting, if done properly, can bless us in a myriad of ways.

59:1-2

"Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God." If there is any separation between us and God, it is us that has done the separating. He won't leave us but we can choose to turn our backs on him.

59:4-8

Our bad choices can take various forms. Isaiah lists some:

• "None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth." The truth is the last thing that evildoers want. They want to twist truth and change reality to match their preferences.

• "They trust in vanity." Rather than trusting in God, they trust in other wise men of the world. They trust in worldly solutions.

• "Speak lies."

• "Conceive mischief."

• "Bring forth iniquity."

• "Their feet run to evil." Those who choose iniquity often crave iniquity. They don't simply dabble. When you're deep in sin, you feel addicted.

• "Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity." No one sins without thinking about sinning. No one sins who avoids sinful thoughts. Our thoughts are eternally important in that, just like the bit in a horses mouth, our thoughts guide us along a good or sinful path.

He warns them that "their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works." Our sinful acts will never feel like fine clothing. We won't ever be comfortable draped in sin. If we do sin, we cannot 'work' our way to fixing it. We can only repent and rely on the Savior.

"The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." We choose our path. No one chooses it for us. For those who choose sin, that way is crooked. It wobbles. It finds the lowest ground. There is no peace along their made-up, crooked path.

59:12

The first step to repenting is admitting that we have a problem. In this chapter, it seems that Israel is realizing and admitting that they have been sinning. "For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them." It is impossible to repent of a sin that you don't believe you've done. Our brains don't like to accept that we are guilty. We like to be the hero in our minds. It's incredibly hard to objectively judge ourselves and see what we must change.

59:16, 20-21

To one degree or another, we are all sinners. Among all of us, no one is qualified or able to get us out of this sinful state. "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor." It was up to Christ alone to do what was needed to save us. He is the only reason we have the ability to repent and avoid the punishment that we deserve. "Therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." It is Christ's actions and righteousness that gave him the ability and authority to bring us salvation.

For those who repent, Christ can save. "And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord." As we, members of the house of Israel, repent, there is a redeemer.

He has promised all who repent that they will inherit all that was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. There is no expiration date to this promise. "As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the Lord; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever." His promise of eternal life is made to all generations of man.

60:22

"A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time." We all have infinite potential in eternity. The weakest among us can be a joint heir with Christ. We all have the potential to be mighty - no matter our current condition.

However, it happens on the Lord's timetable. It doesn't happen when we think it will. We may not see substantial growth in intelligence and might and power in this life. We must all have faith that it will happen if we are simply teachable throughout eternity.

61:1-3

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to: Preach good tidings unto the meek.

• He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.

• To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

• To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.

• To comfort all that mourn.

• To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion.

• To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

Christ's mission has this effect. His atonement made this possible. Without Christ accomplishing what he did, no mourners get comforted. Good does not eventually overcome bad.

Life, for many, is about mourning, ashes, and heavy. Christ is here to proclaim liberty to these people - to all of us. We have the ability to be like God in the eternities but can receive comfort and strength today.

What comfort this brings. It truly is good tidings - for those who turn to him. If we are meek and teachable, this good news should help us exercise faith.

61:8

"For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them." The Lord loves justice. He doesn't like it when sin replaces sacrifice.

For those who truly follow Christ, he will direct their work. Christ has made a covenant with us that, if we will simply follow him, he promises us everything. We can be joint-heirs.

62:2

"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name." This seems to be coming to pass. We are a respected people. Our church leaders are visiting and being visited by kings.

It's interesting that this verse says that we will be "called by a new name." And that the name will come from "the mouth of the Lord." Recently, President Nelson asked that we stop using the term Mormon or LDS in place of the true name of the church. Which, Christ said, “Thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (D&C 115:4) This, to me, is the fulfillment of this prophecy by Isaiah.

62:10

We are engaged in the work of gathering Israel. "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." We must make the covenants ourselves and prepare for others to join us. We should make real effort to "cast up the highway." This church, and its members, should create and maintain a pathway to converting. We should remove any perceived barriers.

We are lifting up a standard for others to flock to. We do this by living as examples and not being afraid to share the gospel to others. We must view ourselves as the ensign.

It is through our lives that the message of the gospel will be demonstrated and proven. There is no marketing effort that can erect this standard. It must be us.

63:9

"In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." The Lord's pain and suffering had nothing to do with him. He brought none of it on by his poor choices. His affliction and spiritual pain are, literally, caused by our affliction (much of it self-inflicted)."

Because he loves us and has mercy on us, he has redeemed, bare and carried us. He doesn't carry us kicking and screaming. We have to choose to be helped. He doesn't force it upon us.

Consider for a second how much 'love and pity' Christ has had for us from the beginning. He had progressed in the premortal world to the point that he was already a God. His character so refined that he was like the Father. He didn't necessarily need to leave the Father's presence to be tested to refine his righteousness. His entire mission was for our benefit. The entire creation, which he did, was for us. His mortal life and death were for us. He has felt selfless love for us from the very, very beginning!

63:17

"O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear?" Isaiah is asking why we are allowed to sin and harden our hearts and not fear God. However, I know that he knows the answer. He understands the purpose of life. He understands that we had to be separated from God and in a position to choose right or wrong on our own.

Since Isaiah knows the answer to this question, he must be simply lamenting our condition - considering that we choose incorrectly so often. The degree to which we enjoy free agency is complete.

64:1-2

"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!" Many of us are feeling the same way. We are tired of this world. We are tired of Satan being unbound and stirring up so much trouble. We are tired of seeing the proud continue their influence and power. We are tired of war and conflict around the world and in our neighborhoods.

We are longing for the day that the Savior will come, Satan will be bound and things will be set right for one thousand years on this earth.

64:6, 8

It is important that we are humble. One thing I say a lot is that this life is to help us be teachable and humble. If we remain teachable, the Lord can build us for eternity. No matter our righteousness, we must see ourselves as having room for improvement. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

This is not to say that we should be depressed or discouraged. We are meant to have joy. That joy happens as we realize that we have unlimited potential. Unlimited potential must be paired with unlimited effort. That effort begins with understanding that we can and should learn and grow.

Again, it is not that we should view ourselves with guilt and contempt. Simply that we can be shaped and beautified more fully. We must also understand who is the 'shaper.' "But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." The strength that we have was not earned. It was given to us by one who knows more than we do. We are not independently shaping ourselves on the potter's wheel. There is someone else forming and polishing everything beautiful in us.

Again, it's our humility that allows us to be formed by the master.

65:2

"I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick." Rebellion is not good. If God wants to help us become like him, we must follow his direction earnestly. It is one thing to have weaknesses that slow our progression - it's another to rebel. This is when we know what's right and we intentionally choose to disobey. We have the power to resist but we choose not to.

Instead of following the counsel of prophets, we follow our own thoughts - right or wrong. We aren't trying to be sneaky or hide it - we're openly rebelling in front of God's face.

Another version of this is to live the gospel according to the precepts of our own desires. We want to feel that we are being righteous but it's on our own terms. Instead of burning incense upon alters of 'uncut stone,' we are using brick (which was not supposed to be used). So, we're going through the motions but in a way that is convenient for us.

How many of us are attending church and burning incense on altars of brick?

65:14

"Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." There is such a different level of happiness when we are living right. When we know right from wrong and choose the right, we feel joy and peace. It's a great feeling.

When we know what is right and choose the wrong, it tortures us a little. We suffer a lot for a moment of pleasure. We damage our character for a brief whisper of fake joy. Our souls know that this is a horrible exchange and we feel pain and sorrow for it. Sparks of pleasure are not worth enduring peace.

66:2

"For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." The world was made to help us be humble and teachable. We are to learn things that couldn't be learned in the premortal world. For us to be humble, we had to suffer apart from God. We had to attempt to stand on our own - in the frailties of mortality.

66:3

"He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations." This verse is speaking of hypocrisy. It does us no good to go through the motions if we are committing the sins.

In fact, it can be especially harmful in that our brains may reason that we are good if we can check off the gospel to-do's. If we attend church and pay tithing, we may feel better about not serving. This type of unvaliant living can lull us for a lifetime.

We can use the motions to cover the reality of our disobedience. Our spirits aren't tortured and this keeps us from repenting. It's not a good situation. We can remain spiritually asleep sitting in a church pew.

"They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord." A true disciple cannot abide both sides.

66:13

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem." I love the thought of being as comfortable with Christ as I am my own mother. It won't be formal - it'll be familiar. I am eagerly looking forward to feeling that.

When we see Christ, we will know him. We will recognize his appearance and how he sounds and the feeling we have with him. Just like the gospel feels familiar to someone learning for the first time, Christ will feel familiar. His voice will be the most familiar voice we have ever heard.