Fasting in the Book of Mormon -- Part 3

I'm exploring the topic of fasting in the Book of Mormon and compare it with the Bible. The introduction to this series is found here. Reason number 3 for fasting as mentioned in this article is

• Fasting as an aid in prayer

It is no surprise that this is one of the reasons. We have already seen in several of the examples shared in the previous parts, that fasting is coupled with prayer. In those examples, fasting and prayer served purposes such as mourning and repenting. But the fasting coupled with prayer can be a purpose in and of itself, whatever you pray about. It is also probably the one out of the five reasons listed that is the most well-established in our religious culture today.

This article has the following to say about the subject

Prayer and fasting are frequently connected in biblical texts. The examples already cited generally include prayer in their contexts, and there are several other situations in which prayer and fasting are connected in a general sense. Bible characters are often found fasting while in intercessory prayer for others (2 Sam 12:16-23; Neh 1:8-10; Ps 35:13; Dan 6:18, 9:15-19). Fasting is sometimes part of personal prayer (1 Sam 1:7-11; Neh 1:11; Ps 109:21-24; Dan 9:3, 10:1-3). Leaders pray and fast for success in battle (Judg 20:26; 1 Sam 7:6; 2 Chr 20:3), for relief from famine (Jer 14:1-12; Joel 1:14, 2:12-15), or for success in other endeavors, such as Ezra’s return from the exile or Esther’s success before the king (Ezra 8:21-23; Esth 4:16).Fasting in such instances appears to be a kind of intensification of prayer. The humility associated with the act of fasting is demonstrated physically, perhaps as a sign of the special and serious nature of the petition being offered. This calls the believer into a physical enactment of the prayer, engaging the self more thoroughly into the religious action of prayer.

In general, the Book of Mormon mentions fasting less frequently than the Old Testament. But we will again try and compare the references we do have in the Book of Mormon with those in the Old Testament. Here are some examples from the Book of Mormon where fasting is a general means to be coupled with prayer to intensify it.

Mosiah 27:22

And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God.

  Omni 1:26

Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved

Alma 17:9

And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth

These are examples of "intercessory prayer for others", "part of personal prayer" and "success in other endeavors", respectively, as mentioned in the linked article.