Fasting is going without food or drink. When accompanied by prayer, fasting is a form of true worship. Latter-day Saints fast in order to help them draw close to the Lord, overcome worldliness, gain spiritual strength, increase compassion, and prepare for service. The true fast includes efforts to relieve suffering, lift the burdens of others, and set those free who are in various forms of bondage (see Isaiah 58). Fasting is fundamental to temporal and spiritual well-being. The Church has designated one Sunday each month as a fast day. On that day, members of the Church who are physically able fast for two consecutive meals. They attend the fast and testimony meeting, give to the Church a fast offering, and perform acts of service as appropriate.

"Upon practicing the law of the fast, one finds a personal well-spring of power to overcome self-indulgence and selfishness" (Spencer W. Kimball, "Becoming Pure in Heart," Ensign, May 1978, 80).

"To discipline ourselves through fasting brings us in tune with God, and fast day provides an occasion to set aside the temporal so that we might enjoy the higher qualities of the spiritual. As we fast on that day we learn and better understand the needs of those who are less fortunate" (Howard W. Hunter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 95).