Fast for Afton

If you are at all able to do so, today we are uniting in a special day of fasting and prayer on behalf of my amazing and terribly sick daughter Afton. For those of you not of our faith, we believe in the ancient practice of abstaining from food and water for a time as we petition God for special blessings (Isaiah 58:3-11). Today, our local and regional church leaders have asked all of the congregations in the central Mississippi area to join in a special fast dedicated to Afton. We did not ask for this honor but are exceptionally grateful that hundreds if not thousands of people will be uniting their faith and prayers on Afton's behalf. If any of you who are not of our faith would like to join, we would feel equally honored. You do not need to go to an LDS church or any church for that matter to participate. Just simply abstain from food and water for whatever period of time your health and conditions will allow and during that time petition the Lord for whatever blessing you feel are appropriate. In many respects the LDS practice of the fast is similar to the more traditional christian tradition of lent where one gives up something in honor of Christ's redemptive power. While our traditions may be different I believe that the Lord answers the prayers of all those who appeal to Him and so as a particularly worried father who has done all he can do from an earthly standpoint to help his daughter recover, I invite all of you to now implore the Divine power of God on Afton's behalf. We love you all and are so grateful for the amazing outpouring of love and affection we have received on Afton's behalf.