Posted by:
RPackham
(
)
Date: October 20, 2015 03:58PM
(Latest in a series)
ME: I have a question about your fasting. As a Mormon, you do fast occasionally, I understand. Is that correct?
MORMON: Oh, yes. Fasting is a spiritual experience, and helps us to be receptive to the Spirit.
ME: Is fasting a requirement?
MORMON: We are to fast when we feel the need at any time, but we are also instructed to fast on the first Sunday of each month, called "Fast Sunday," and donate the money we have saved by fasting to the church, to provide for the poor.
ME: Is there any ritual associated with fasting?
MORMON: The scriptures often mention fasting in connection with prayer, and so we customarily pray before the fast and during it, for the Holy Spirit to be with us and to give us the strength to endure the lack of physical nourishment.
ME: Any other ritual requirement?
MORMON: No, there is none.
ME: So Mormon fasting is not Christian?
MORMON: (shocked and surprised) Of course it is Christian! Mormons are Christians, and we fast as Christians!
ME: But according to what you said, you don't follow the directions for fasting as given by Jesus.
MORMON: Of course we do!
ME: Do you anoint your head when you fast?
MORMON: No...
ME: Do you ritually wash your face as part of the fast?
MORMON: Well, of course we wash our face anyway, but not as part of the fast.
ME: Open your Book of Mormon and read Christ's instructions to the Nephites, at 3 Nephi 13:17. Jesus said there: "...when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;.."
MORMON: Well... I suppose that was his instructions to the Nephites, who may have needed special instructions. It doesn't apply to us nowadays.
ME: Jesus said the same thing to his followers in Palestine. Open your Bible to Matthew 6:17.
MORMON: (pause) If it were that important, our church leaders would have told us to include that when we fast.
ME: Hmm... it isn't good enough that Jesus himself gave the commandment to his followers?
MORMON: Well, there are certainly more important things than that, like paying a full tithe, and not drinking coffee, and wearing a white shirt to church....
ME: You sound more like a Pharisee that Jesus was criticizing than a follower of Christ.
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Previous posts in this series:
#1: Baptism wording:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1089659#2: "sun" vs. "son":
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1013735#3: Name of church 1834-1838:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1102694#4: Bible prophecies:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1121855#5: Languages in the pre-existence:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1127558#6: What is doctrine?
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1135995#7: Worshiping Jesus:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1187412#8: Priesthood:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1218790#9: Prophecy of JS' murder:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1274661#10: Sacrament:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1287928#11: Temple dedications:
http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?2,1367729