What does it mean to “cast your bread upon the water?”
Question
Dear Gramps,
Thanks for answering my last question. In my deceased husbands patriarchal blessing it states cast your bread upon the water and it will return to you a hundred fold. What does this mean?
Kate
Answer
Kate,
I assume that it is referring to Ecclesiastes 11:1
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
Alma in the Book of Mormon explains this in Chapter 41:14-15
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
Hopefully this helps you to understand the blessing a little better.
Gramps
The following may be helpful too:
December 1998 Ensign, FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE, Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations, BY PRESIDENT EZRA TAFT BENSON:
“Try as you may, you cannot put the Lord in your debt. For every time you try to do His will, He simply pours out more blessings upon you. Sometimes the blessings may seem to be a little slow in coming—perhaps this tests your faith—but come they will, and abundantly. It has been said, “Cast your bread upon the waters and after a while it shall come back to you toasted and buttered.”
The following may be helpful too:
December 1998 Ensign, FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE, Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations, BY PRESIDENT EZRA TAFT BENSON:
“Try as you may, you cannot put the Lord in your debt. For every time you try to do His will, He simply pours out more blessings upon you. Sometimes the blessings may seem to be a little slow in coming—perhaps this tests your faith—but come they will, and abundantly. It has been said, “Cast your bread upon the waters and after a while it shall come back to you toasted and buttered.”