The one that is right is the one that you can do without feeling guilty or smug.

Apparently someone in Kyrgyzstan told one of the early converts that Mormons fast on the first Sunday with no other clarification. So for about 2 years this convert started her fast on Saturday evening and didn’t end till Monday morning (there is no leadership or anyone else there to have told her anything different). I don’t know how long she fasts now, but we did tell her that she didn’t have to fast that long.

Not much point to that except that I don’t think there is a right answer. It never occurred to me to wonder if there was a correct amount of time to fast.

yeah, this seems to be a grey area for a lot of converts, myself included. no one ever explained it to me in enough detail for me to really “get” what was going on. i solved the problem by staying perpetually pregnant and/or nursing, ha! hey, was this covered in the october ensign?

Clark, I agree about the water/drinking. In fact, my parents never taught me that at all. Then one time when I was a laurel and in a new ward, I was really confused when the other YW were horrified when I got a drink of water during church one fast sunday.

I don’t know if I just have a blood sugar problem, but fasting or not, if I go without eating, by 1 oclock easy I have such a bad headache Im not even safe to drive. I start the day fasting, but since I eat the equivalent of five little meals (again, if I don’t have protein I can barely function), most people would consider my ‘third’ meal a lunch. I can’t say I feel bad about it at all, seems sorta like counting steps to define little things like this.

I have been unable to fast since returning from my mission, but previously would fast for two meals.

Clark, people probably think they should abstain from water because that’s what is in Church-printed materials.

From Primary stuff: To fast is to go without food or water.

From Aaronic priesthood stuff: At first, most children and young people fast simply because their family does it or because they think it is the right thing to do. They may not have thought about why they should deny themselves food and water for a day.

From The Friend: Dad: To fast means to go without eating and drinking. Jesus set the example Himself by fasting.

Glen: I don’t know if I could go without food and water.

Dad: It certainly isn’t easy, and Heavenly Father doesn’t expect little children to fast. When you are old enough and want to fast, it’s best to start out by missing just one meal.

Feel free to correct me, but isn’t the official fasting period determined by an individual’s abilities? For example, if I go a full day without food you have to bring me to the hospital. Since no one wants to do that for me once a month I only fast from after dinner on Saturday until lunch time on Sunday. That’s the best I can do and I’m pretty sure the Lord will be alright with that. So, as long as you can fast the whole 24 hours without dying, passing out or moving your trashcan house next to Oscar’s on Sesame Street then you should do it. However, if you can’t, then well you can’t, and you should end it when you must or when the spirit has left you and you are actually considering blowing the tires out of the pizza guy’s car as he drives past you on your way home from church.