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In Isaiah\u2019s poetic language, we see references to our Savior and Redeemer frequently, yielding important insight into His role and into how we benefit from that role. Indeed, reading scriptures like those of Isaiah helps us build testimonies of Him.<\/p>\n
Since Isaiah lived hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, these teachings foresee His coming, both His coming in the meridian of times and His second coming, which we still look forward to. Along side these teachings, Isaiah also teaches us ways to draw closer to Him and ways of understanding His roles.<\/p>\n
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Among these is the practice of fasting, which can put us in touch with the Spirit, and help us to build spiritual connections with God. Our practice of fasting monthly also blesses the needy. Unfortunately, we sometimes then see fasting as a sacrifice meant to benefit others, instead of a spiritual practice that benefits us. Understanding fasting as a spiritual practice is hard, but I think we can at least acknowledge it as a possibility, practicing and, well, sacrificing, until we gain the spiritual benefit.<\/p>\n
Perhaps seeing fasting as a sacrifice is why we have so few poems about fasting itself. Instead we have poems that mention fasting, always in conjunction with prayer, and not as the message of the poem. I hope that I will eventually find a good LDS poem on fasting. But of those that mention fasting, this poem by the prolific 19th-century poet, Joel H. Johnson sees it as part of giving thanks to God for the blessings we have been given.<\/p>\n
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by Joel H. Johnson<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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1882<\/p>\n
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Another practice taught by Isaiah which makes up an important part of our worship is the sabbath. We are taught to reverence that day, dedicating it to God and to our worship of Him. While how LDS Church members worship on that day may vary, I think we can say that we do spend it differently than other days, despite the many ways that the pressures of modern life and the conveniences available to us push us to make it just like any other day.<\/p>\n
Unlike fasting, the sabbath is a frequent topic of LDS poetry, especially in poems about Sunday School, several of which appear as hymns in the hymnal. This poem, by J. L. Townsend (who has 10 hymns in the current hymnal), could easily be another hymn. In it he captures a kind of joy at the sabbath, a teaching that we can benefit from, I think.<\/p>\n
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by Joseph Longking Townsend<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1920<\/p>\n
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The point of fasting and of sabbath worship is the Savior. Knowing what He has done for us, and His crucial role in the plan of salvation helps us understand many elements of this life and of what God has provided for us through this life.<\/p>\n
This is a less-know hymn by Parley P. Pratt, who deserves the title of \u2018Father of LDS Poetry\u2019, if anyone does, for publishing the very first book of LDS poetry, \u201cThe Millennium\u201d (1835). He also was instrumental in the publication of the 2nd significant LDS hymnal, the Manchester Hymnal (1840), which included this poem.<\/p>\n
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by Parley P. Pratt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1840<\/p>\n
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The use of the metaphor \u201clight\u201d in the scriptures (and in poetry as well) is pervasive. We talk of light as representing goodness and knowledge. His mercy beams to us through light. And \u00a0we even sing that \u201cThe Lord is my light.\u201d As with any heavenly principle, this light is something that lasts forever. So is it any wonder that poets use light as a metaphor for love?<\/p>\n
Little-known British LDS poet Henry Moore sees God\u2019s love as light in this poem. It is bright, and its \u201cglories blaze\u201d, and in His gospel we see it \u201cshine.\u201dAnd it is by that light that we find an everlasting day that opens the heavens.<\/p>\n
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by Henry Moore<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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1859<\/p>\n
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While Christ\u2019s atonement is the central element of the gospel, we also teach that after He comes again He will personally reign on the earth for a thousand years. No doubt this will be a time when practices of fasting and sabbath worship will be perfected, and we will recognize His role. And His light will be the central light of all life here. All this after removing from the earth all \u00a0its pains, slumbering and wickedness.<\/p>\n
Here Parley P. Pratt envisions this millennium and Christ\u2019s reign, focusing mostly on the things that will be removed so that we can progress unfettered with sorrow, death and evil. Hosanna indeed for such a day.<\/p>\n
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by Parley P. Pratt<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
1840<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In Isaiah\u2019s poetic language, we see references to our Savior and Redeemer frequently, yielding important insight into His role and into how we benefit from that role. Indeed, reading scriptures like those of Isaiah helps us build testimonies of Him. Since Isaiah lived hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, these teachings foresee His coming, both His coming in the meridian of times and His second coming, which we still look forward to. Along side these teachings, Isaiah also teaches us ways to draw closer to Him and ways of understanding His roles. Fasting builds spiritual power and blesses people in need. Among these is the practice of fasting, which can put us in touch with the Spirit, and help us to build spiritual connections with God. Our practice of fasting monthly also blesses the needy. Unfortunately, we sometimes then see fasting as a sacrifice meant to benefit others, instead of a spiritual practice that benefits us. Understanding fasting as a spiritual practice is hard, but I think we can at least acknowledge it as a possibility, practicing and, well, sacrificing, until we gain the spiritual benefit. Perhaps seeing fasting as a sacrifice is why we have so […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":54740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latter-day-saint-thought"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/IMG_4473.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54722","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54722"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54722\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54746,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54722\/revisions\/54746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54722"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54722"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54722"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}