drums12 Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water?
blooit Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 Most of my evangelical friends do not go without water. One friend shared with me recently that he has fasted several times for 5-7 days with nothing but water.
ERayR Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water? Food and drink
Popular Post Senator Posted May 4, 2014 Popular Post Posted May 4, 2014 (edited) Fasting is one those practices that doesn't require some stringent set of guidelines. I fast according to my desires and abilities, which often includes drinking water to help stave off a headache. Edited May 4, 2014 by Senator 7
Storm Rider Posted May 4, 2014 Posted May 4, 2014 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water? There are different forms of fasting. The most strenuous form is to go without both food and drink. In Islam Ramadan consists of forgoing food and drink (among other things) from sunup to sundown. Others will only forego food, but will drink. It really depends on the objectives of your fast and the period you are fasting. The Church encourages us to go without both food and drink in order that we submit our all carnal desires in order to focus on feeding/strengthening the spirit. Consider your objectives and tailor your fast to meet those. There is not a right way to fast; however, there are more successful ways of fasting. 1
Kenngo1969 Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 "He that hath need of being commanded in all things is a slothful and not a wise servant." (Quoted to illustrate the principle, not to indict anyone in particular). "All things must be done in wisdom and order." Fasting to bring the flesh into subjection to the Spirit is one thing; dying of dehydration is entirely another. Follow the Spirit, and you won't go wrong. (And if anyone has a particularly Pharasaical take on what it means to fast, ignore them ... ) 4
Bikeemikey Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Has every time I've done it... However, after this headache from today might be time to revisit that.
Buzzard Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 I would consider it a great privilege to fast 24 hours without water. That's the way I did it for years, but these days I both have to take a plethora of pills morn and night that require water, and my funky little kidneys require a semi-constant flow of hydration to function. If you can go that period of time abstaining from both food and drink, consider yourself blessed. 2
JLHPROF Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 There are as many kinds of fasting as you can think of as long as they are focused on overcoming the natural man.One of the primary (traditional) types of fast as was practiced in the early days of the Church is to go 3 days without food or water. This was representative of the death and resurrection of Christ as a new more pure man after 3 days in much the same way baptism represents death and resurrection. But as many others have said this is just one kind of fast. There are fasts from just food, there are fruit only fasts, there are fasts from other physical practices such as sex. Christ fasted for 40 day (probably not without food & water, but then again, he was Christ and could have managed). I think it was Moses was written as having a 14 day fast. So basically - the early Church standard fast was either 1 day or 3 day without food or water. The current Church standard fast is 3 meals/1 day without food or water. These would be like your standard daily prayer.But just like there are other kinds and circumstances of prayer that have their place there is a place for other kinds of fasting too.
cinepro Posted May 5, 2014 Posted May 5, 2014 Here's a good summary of the history of "fast day" in the Church, but it doesn't get into how we came to specifically define a "fast": Why do we hold fast and testimony meeting on the first Sunday of the month? 2
Popular Post cinepro Posted May 5, 2014 Popular Post Posted May 5, 2014 Then there's this quote from Heber J. Grant: When fasting, members of the Church are advised to abstain from two meals each Fast Day . . . also by prayer in connection with fasting to develop spiritual power. No direct instruction is given in the Doctrine and Covenants regarding abstaining from water while fasting. In the Bible there are three references in connection with fasting and abstaining from water. These are: Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 9:9-18, where it states that Moses “did neither eat bread nor drink water”; and Esther 4:16, where Esther asked the Jews to fast for her and to “neither eat nor drink.”The spirit of fasting is the main thing to encourage. Too much stress should not be laid on technical details, but the self denial of food, striving for spiritual strength and donating for the benefit of the poor should constantly be in mind. (Published statement from the First Presidency of the Church, March 26, 1932) MOFP5:307-08 6
drums12 Posted May 5, 2014 Author Posted May 5, 2014 Then there's this quote from Heber J. Grant: Thanks Cinepro.
Popular Post DonBradley Posted May 6, 2014 Popular Post Posted May 6, 2014 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water? IMO, abstaining from water is absurd. That even mild dehydration is bad for human beings is obvious. Fasting from water makes about as much sense as fasting from air by holding one's breath till one loses consciousness. It is needless asceticism, not a healthful spiritual practice. Don 7
bluebell Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 IMO, abstaining from water is absurd. That even mild dehydration is bad for human beings is obvious. Fasting from water makes about as much sense as fasting from air by holding one's breath till one loses consciousness. It is needless asceticism, not a healthful spiritual practice. DonIs it your understanding that we are asked to fast for the health benefits?
Bikeemikey Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 Is it your understanding that we are asked to fast for the health benefits?It is taught in my ward that that is one of a range of benefits. 1
bluebell Posted May 6, 2014 Posted May 6, 2014 It is taught in my ward that that is one of a range of benefits.Mine too. I've just never heard it taught that if it wasn't for the health benefits, God would not ask us to do it.
Storm Rider Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 IMO, abstaining from water is absurd. That even mild dehydration is bad for human beings is obvious. Fasting from water makes about as much sense as fasting from air by holding one's breath till one loses consciousness. It is needless asceticism, not a healthful spiritual practice. Don So when we go without water, every time, without exception, it is bad? That is new to me. Do you have any references or is this just an opinion? Can you explain your logic? I mean, you are only contradicting a host of biblical and modern prophets and holy men in a number of religions.
deli_llama Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 There are as many kinds of fasting as you can think of as long as they are focused on overcoming the natural man.One of the primary (traditional) types of fast as was practiced in the early days of the Church is to go 3 days without food or water. This was representative of the death and resurrection of Christ as a new more pure man after 3 days in much the same way baptism represents death and resurrection.But as many others have said this is just one kind of fast. There are fasts from just food, there are fruit only fasts, there are fasts from other physical practices such as sex. Christ fasted for 40 day (probably not without food & water, but then again, he was Christ and could have managed). I think it was Moses was written as having a 14 day fast.So basically - the early Church standard fast was either 1 day or 3 day without food or water. The current Church standard fast is 3 meals/1 day without food or water. These would be like your standard daily prayer.But just like there are other kinds and circumstances of prayer that have their place there is a place for other kinds of fasting too.You should give yourself and your miracle of a body more credit. I would say that The Lord fasted 40 days without food but drank water. Actually, and by no means am I trying to lessen His fast, but 40 days on water only is something that can be done. It is messy and unpleasant as the body, and especially the liver, purge away toxins (that is why you drink water, you need the fluids to flush the toxins), somewhere around 28-30 your perception of hunger changes, really you change how and where you feel hunger, and likewise you will change in other ways. The fast, combined with the wilderness, the communing with His Father, all of that, that is the miracle.
deli_llama Posted May 7, 2014 Posted May 7, 2014 So when we go without water, every time, without exception, it is bad? That is new to me. Do you have any references or is this just an opinion? Can you explain your logic? I mean, you are only contradicting a host of biblical and modern prophets and holy men in a number of religions.This is how I see it. The monthly church fast is a fast that the community participates in. What is it we say? 2 meals or 24 hours, something like that. The offerings from this fast are given to the church for the use of the poor of the community. This little fast, if you are able, you could give up water and food, so you might know hunger and thirst, no big deal. If you make regular fasting a practice, and these are sometimes extended fast, then drink water. There are members that do this. Some of my favorite memories often have fasting as part of them, one of the top memories is the week long fast on my mission and finding a family to teach and baptize. Funny thing, it wasn't until I gave up fasting to find someone and instead fasted as a way of living my covenant of sacrifice that we actually found them, that or maybe my companion had his own epiphany of something that allowed the fast to end. shrug. 1
Kenngo1969 Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 IMO, abstaining from water is absurd. That even mild dehydration is bad for human beings is obvious. Fasting from water makes about as much sense as fasting from air by holding one's breath till one loses consciousness. It is needless asceticism, not a healthful spiritual practice. DonI'm supposed to hold my breath for a period of time after I use my inhaler to ensure that the medicine adequately gets down into my lungs. I was reminded to not go overboard with that when the floor smacked me in the face once. 1
Yirgacheffe Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Is it your understanding that we are asked to fast for the health benefits?I read what he wrote as saying it was an unhealthy practice.
Rivers Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 I have a really hard time with the not drinking part. I always stop at the drinking fountain at church for a drink forgetting that I'm not supposed to. We need reminder notes on the drinking fountains on fast sunday.
CV75 Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water?Fasting benefits the one fasting as well as the people for whom he gives the offerings. So going without drink as well as food is generally part of the disicpline. Some people may need to drink water during their fast for medical or safety purposes, and they can have this conversation with the Lord and/or their priesthood leader if they feel the need for guidance beyond their common sense. Longer periods of fasting may involve periodic break-fasts as well as drinking water. Again, they can make this decision prayerfully and with guidance from a priesthood leader if they think it necessary. 1
mnn727 Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 I am 33 years old and have always understood fasting to include abstaining from food and water. Has this always been the case? I understand the principle of giving the money saved to care for the needy. But why is it necessary to go without water?I have always drank water when fasting. I don't drink other liquids.
Gray Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 (edited) IMO, abstaining from water is absurd. That even mild dehydration is bad for human beings is obvious. Fasting from water makes about as much sense as fasting from air by holding one's breath till one loses consciousness. It is needless asceticism, not a healthful spiritual practice. Don Exactly. I guarantee you will not feel close to God while you are dehydrated and fighting a headache. Edited July 20, 2015 by Gray 1
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