Fasting with water

I fast with water. But I didn’t used to — I grew up in the LDS church and when fast Sunday came along, I was taught to go without two meals and donate my money to the poor. I was told to go without water. I recall onetime, getting a sip from the drinking fountain at church and someone reminding me — “it’s fast day.”

Sometime during my adult years, after many pregnancies and years of breastfeeding — I decided that I was going to drink water during my fasts. While studying the scriptures and reading the admonition of the church, “to fast is to go without food and drink,” I felt impressed that water was not “drink.” I believe that going without food and drink means going without drinks of a caloric value — like juice and milk. Water is not a “drink” in my opinion. And I recently found this quote from a past LDS church president — so don’t feel guilty if you drink water on fast day.

President Heber J Grant stated in an official declaration:

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 (Gospel Link) or (Messages of First Presidency, volume 5)

When Esther asked the Jews to fast for her, it was for three days:  “fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day…” The scriptural account does not say she asked them to go without water for three days. I’m not sure you can go without water for three days. Survivalists say there is the rule of three — you can live three minutes without air, three days without water, three weeks without food. Of course, if you are in harsh weather conditions, you may not make it three days.

Maybe you need to be translated to live without water for long periods of time. Maybe that’s how Moses fasted for 40 days without food and water. Maybe he was translated at that point. Or maybe the term, “40 days” is symbolic and not actual days as we count them.

But if you want to feel guilty about drinking water while you fast, you can always read another interpretation of the law of the fast in Guide to the Scriptures. (I’m not sure who wrote that guide — maybe some committee?) As for me, I will fast with water. I believe that’s the inspiration I have received.