The recently concluded April 2020 General Conference truly proved to be remarkable and quite memorable. Aside from the glorious Hosanna Shout, the Bicentennial Proclamation to the World on the Restoration, and the announcement for eight new temples including ones in Dubai and China, the prophet also extended another invitation for a worldwide day of fasting and mighty prayer for the end of the COVID-19 threat.
President Nelson said, “During times of deep distress, as when illness reaches pandemic proportions, the most natural thing for us to do is to call upon our Heavenly Father and His Son — the Master Healer — to show forth Their marvelous power to bless the people of the earth. I invite all to fast and pray on Good Friday, April 10. Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world. Good Friday would be the perfect day to have our Heavenly Father and His Son hear us! Let us prayerfully plead that the present pandemic may be controlled, caregivers protected, the economy strengthened, and life normalized.”
Shortly after President Nelson issued the invitation for a worldwide fast this coming Friday, a handful of Latter-day Saints created a Facebook group to invite people to join the fast, emphasizing that it is open to people of all faiths. Sister Dakota Kovach, a full-time missionary from Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA and one of the administrators of the group, expressed amazement at how the group expanded so much. “Thank you to everyone who is inviting their friends and family. We hope and pray that everyone will find peace and comfort from this group.” The group already has more than 224,000 members in less than 48 hours.
It is so heartwarming to see the positive response from all over the world from both members and non-members of the Church! Many netizens from other faith groups and even less active members expressed the desire to fast and pray for the end of this pandemic. The unity evident in the Facebook group is glorious online proof of interfaith collaboration.
You may join the group by clicking the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/534352464165662/ or by searching for “Worldwide Fast April 10” on Facebook. Below are some sample posts from the group showing the global outpouring of love and support for the call to fast on Good Friday. ◼︎
