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Fast Sunday (previouslyFast Day) is aSunday set aside bythe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints forfasting by its members. On Fast Sunday, afast and testimony meeting is held by local congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On Fast Sunday, church members are encouraged to fast for two consecutive meals. Members are also encouraged to give the money they save by not eating as afast offering, which will be used by the church to financially assist those in need.
On Fast Sunday, thesacrament meeting is known asfast and testimony meeting. In this meeting, rather than predetermined speakers on particular subjects, the members are given the chance to voluntarily bear extemporaneoustestimony to one another of gospel truths. Non-members of the church are welcome to participate in Fast Sunday activities.
Fast Sunday is usually the first Sunday of each month. In some circumstances, the week of Fast Sunday may be adjusted by church leaders. In many areas of the world, this occurs in April and October, when the church'sgeneral conferences are held on the first Sunday of the month. They may also be adjusted due tostake conferences ortemple dedications that are held on the first Sunday of the month.
In addition to the regular Fast Sunday, individuals, families, wards, or stakes may designate additional fast days for special needs of individuals, families, communities, or the church. No fast and testimony meeting is held for these non-regular fast days.
Fast Day was started byJoseph Smith, as described byBrigham Young:
During the 19th century, almost a fifth of converts in the United Kingdom were miners by profession. Their physical work made fasting during the week very difficult and an exception was granted to allow British miners to fast on Sundays instead of Thursdays. The practice became popular among the wider membership of the church in Britain and quickly spread. In 1896, Fast Day was changed to the first Sunday of the month, instead of the first Thursday. Since then, it has commonly been referred to as Fast Sunday.
Modern LDS Church leaders have affirmed the need for a Fast Day. ChurchapostleGordon B. Hinckley stated:
What would happen if the principles of fast day and the fast offering were observed throughout the world[?] The hungry would be fed, the naked clothed, the homeless sheltered. ... A new measure of concern and unselfishness would grow in the hearts of people everywhere.[2]
The LDS practice ofintermittent fasting has been studied in the context of Mormons' lower rate ofcoronary artery disease andcardiac mortality. While this phenomenon has been attributed to LDS Church'sprohibition on tobacco and alcohol use, fasting practices have also been hypothesized to play a role.[3]
