Forced Fast Unwelcome - 28 May 2009

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This response was edited down by the DU staff and published 11 June 2009.

I write in response to the letter from the Fasting Freshman. In your letter you complain about the service hours at the Cannon Center. Did you not read the details of your dining agreement before you agreed to abide by it? Did you not look at all the details posted publicly on the website dining.byu.edu? They are still available to you if you would like to read them. Not much has changed over the last few years with their mode of operation. You state that you are being swindled out of the $1800 you (more likely your parents) pay for you r meal plan, when you obviously do not know the details of it.

Concerning agency (which is not free of consequences), you chose to live in Helaman Halls, which requires a meal plan. You could choose to live in Wyview Park instead, where you not only have a kitchen, but also are not required to have a meal plan. You chose your path, now you live with the consequences. You must remember that agency’s pesky little brother is responsibility and is always lurking somewhere. You need not search for food off campus when the Cannon center is closed; instead, you can do as many students with meal plans opt to do, eat from a vending machine. I would think the best choice is to plan ahead, if you intend to not keep the fast, and buy something to eat Saturday afternoon from the Cougareat or Twilight Zone.

You show concern for those who have health concerns forbidding fasting. You may refer them to the Accessibility Center as well as Dining Services, for they are more than willing to help those in such circumstances.

Perhaps you are consumed by your inability to choose when to fast. Try to consider those who have to make your food on those Fast Sundays. Surely you would have them try the food as they prepare it to ensure quality. How would this be fair to them? They already are “forced” to work on Sunday to feed you. Each of them could choose not to work Sundays, but sacrifice their “day of rest” for your benefit. If the Church were Pharisaical you would get nothing at all on Sunday.

In short, you used your agency and are living with the consequences. You still have your agency and can change living quarters and meal plans. You can even change schools so you are not burdened by such inconvenient religious practices. Planning ahead reduces the likelihood of you embarrassing yourself. A quote from Elder Wirthlin: “When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden. Obedience becomes a delight.” This will help solve a great many problems you will face throughout your life. Now is a great time to grow up and learn to take responsibility for how you use your agency. Otherwise, you may end up like those of the world who are waiting for a bail-out that is promised but will never come.