The Lord established the law of the fast to bless His people and provide a way to care for those in need. He instructed the Saints "to impart of your substance unto the poor, … and [it] shall be laid before the bishop … to administer to the poor and needy" (D&C 42:31, 34). Fast offerings are a primary resource for the Lord's storehouse. Church members are encouraged to give an offering at least equal to the value of the two meals not eaten while fasting. President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) asked members to give "much, much more—ten times more where we are in a position to do it."1
When we understand and live the law of the fast, our love and compassion for the less fortunate increase. Fasting, accompanied by prayer, is a form of true worship. When we obey the law of the fast, we gain spiritual strength, temporal blessings, and a greater desire to serve others.
President Isaiah 58:7]. The Prophet Joseph instituted the practice of collecting fast offerings for the poor in Kirtland, Ohio; and later at Nauvoo, Illinois, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles sent a general letter to the Church defining 'the principle of fasts,' stating: 'Let this be an ensample to all saints, and there will never be any lack for bread: When the poor are starving, let those who have, fast one day and give what they otherwise would have eaten to the bishops for the poor, and every one will abound for a long time. … And so long as the saints will all live to this principle with glad hearts and cheerful countenances they will always have an abundance.'"2