Mormons have long been known to have fewer incidents of heart disease than the general public. One reason commonly attributed to this is their keeping of a law called “The Word of Wisdom.” Received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1833, it prescribes a code for healthy living, including abstinence from tobacco and alcohol. It can be found in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants.
While doctors have already suspected that abstinence from smoking must play a role in the healthier hearts of Mormons (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in general, new research is showing that there may also be other factors involved.
A study in Utah states that Mormons – or anyone who chooses to do so – who fast once a month have about 40 percent fewer incidents of coronary artery disease than those who do not fast regularly.
According to an Associated Press release, the study consisted of a survey of 515 people. 67 percent of those who did not fast regularly were diagnosed with heart disease, while only 59 percent of those who do fast regularly were diagnosed. While those involved with the study acknowledge that these results are far from conclusive, experts believe it is worth pursuing the idea further.
“I think it’s worth looking at again. There’s a lot we don’t know about fasting,” Dr. Tim Johnson said on “Good Morning America.” “[There are] very few good medical studies. We know it’s a widely used religious practice. . . What we don’t know obviously is whether it’s the fasting itself or I think, more likely, fasting was a marker for people who lived healthy lifestyles in terms of nutrition and exercise in general.”
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are asked to fast for 24 hours (2 consecutive meals) once a month, but not because of health benefits. According to www.lds.org, “”
We fast because the Lord has asked us to. The act of fasting is an act of putting aside natural desires and striving to align our wills with what the Lord wants us to do.
The Church designates one Sunday each month as “fast Sunday.” However, we may fast at any time we may feel a need to do so. We are counseled not to fast excessively, but we may draw on the powers of heaven at any time through fasting that we see fit. Fasting and praying for someone who is seriously ill is something that many Latter-day Saints have done. Other times we might fast could include: seeking the Lord’s help in overcoming a problem, seeking the Lord’s help in gaining a testimony of the gospel or in knowing what the Lord wants us to do, or seeking the Lord’s help in preparation for carrying out a difficult task.
An added benefit of the fast for Mormons is that we have the opportunity to make fast offerings in conjunction with fasting. We give the monetary value of the meals that we miss (or more, if we’re able) to the Church to be distributed to those in need. In this simple way we are able to care for the needs of the poor.
We may not understand all of the Lord’s reasons for asking us to fast, but we can trust in His wisdom that the act of fasting is something good that will bring us closer to Him. The Word of Wisdom was revealed to Joseph Smith long before smoking was shown scientifically to be harmful to one’s health. Perhaps science is beginning to uncover physical benefits of fasting as well.
Whether there are physical benefits to fasting or not, it is something that the Lord has asked of us. And ultimately, that is why we fast.
