What role do fasting and prayer play in scripture study?
Elder Eyring: We need to approach a fast by asking to be taught; we should be humble and eager like a child. That’s how we fast if we do it right. If we just miss meals, it’s not the same. Likewise, we need to go to the scriptures humbly and eagerly, as we do when we fast. When I go to the scriptures asking to be taught, then adding fasting helps tremendously. For instance, just before general conference, I fast to find out what the Lord wants me to speak about. I can’t prepare a conference talk until I know what He wants. Fasting helps me focus on the one thing the Lord needs me to know. That same focus carries over as I read the scriptures. Fasting and prayer work together with scripture study, making it easier for the Lord to teach us.
