Show KEEPING A FAST A correspondent writing from almy uinta county wyoming under date of july 27 saye I 1 would like to ask you some questions regarding the mode of fasting also some other items connected therewith first what is your opinion about aboul paul when he was taken prisoner and was sailing bailing toward rome it is in mentioned by him that they fasted fourteen days day without meats does this fasang include meats only or does it include water also now thit the reason this question is asked is that a in our neighborhood says a man cannot live longer than three days without water he claims physiology teaches this now there will be remembered the case of david P kimball that may help out tale he schoolmaster as david was exhausted for the want of water when the searching party reached him and it will be remembered that he was not more than three dava and three nights lost lowi would like to know when the latter day saints fast should it be without water as well as without food with regard to the first inquiry we bare no opinion to further than the statement of I 1 the record itself AW ac the sacred volume does not say whether or not the party refrained from water and as aa abstention from drink la is not required in every fast it to Is quite that paul and his hii Compani onto partook of water while at tho the same time they retrained refrained from coin most meats the question of aset et in respect to the use of water by them is not dig die closed by the record recorded dad und cannot be discovered by un an argument that applies any absolute rule of fasting which do doea not exist we would suggest how everi that bat the statement in the acts act Is 1 not dot that they were fourteen days without moats meats but they bad taken nothing As AM to the alleged physiological teaching that a person cannot live longer than three days without water or the taking of liquid into the system by the abe process of drinking king that la in a fallacy there are numerous on record where persons have gooe gone live five to seven days without taking water internally or having the opportunity to apply it externally while the number is much greater who have covered that arid and longer periods when they have bad the privilege of frequent the three days limit would be sufficient to kill many individuals if they were compelled to undergo it on the hot sandy deserts closer ti of Ari arizona zons while in a moist climate and cold weather they would readily survive deprivation for double that time physiologically considered the failure to take a drink of water does not immediately remove from the body all the water abat to is la in it or even prevent absorption of the liquid Re regarding Marding the inquiry as t to when the latte rd saints sainta are called to fast they thep should beald refrain from water a well as foo owe way may lay bay that the occasional feets designated are usually expected to be of that character acter those these do not continue for long nor are they frequent the fast fait requires a measure 01 ol and in the halfday half bait day or the occasional full day fasts faita appointed for we saints there to la not an unreasonable amount of self dootay in the requirement to refrain from food an aal 1 drink that the term fasting has be a wide acobe in its if meaning in the scriptures both ancient and modern may bt learned by reference thereto por for I 1 in n it to la said eaid in isaiah chapter 68 58 verses arees 5 6 and 7 Is it such a fast that I 1 have chosen a day for a man to 10 afflict his soul is it to bow down his bead as a bulrush and to spread pread sackcloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this a fast and an acceptable day to i he lord 1 Is 14 4 not thin the fast that I 1 have chosen to loose the bands ot of wickedness to undo the heavy burdens and to let the opples oppressed ked go free and that ye break every yoke Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry and that thou bring tor ing the poor that are cast out to thy house when thou seest the naked that thou cover him and that thou hide not from thine own flesh io ia 06 doctrine and covenants Co sea gee aion 69 with reference to the keeping beeping G of atee abel irda day it to ia said mid in verses 14 andon add on this thin day thou shall do none other thing only let thy food be prepared with ith ll 11 singleness of heart th that at t thy h y may ay be perfect or in other words or d abat thy joy ma may mav v be full verily th thic I 1 is Is fasting sting and prayer or in other words word rejoicing and prayer in these references a fast fait is ref referred orrea to thea includes the partaking of food there theirs are other fasts which require abstention abe from foud food all being appointed in their order and for special purposes as ai shall be given in the he word of the he lord by his voice and through ahe of those whom he has bats appointed to declare his will to the necole ne |