by profession. Their physical work made fasting during the week very difficult and an exception was granted to allow British miners to fast on Sundays instead of Thursdays. The practice became popular among the wider membership of the church in Britain and quickly spread. In 1896, Fast Day was changed to the first Sunday of the month, instead of the first Thursday. Since then, it has commonly been referred to as Fast Sunday. Modern LDS Church leaders have affirmed the need for a Fast Day. Church apostle Gordon B. Hinckley stated: Studies The LDS practice of intermittent fasting has been studied in the context of Mormons' lower rate of coronary artery disease and cardiac mortality. While this phenomenon has been attributed to LDS Church's prohibition on tobacco use, fasting practices have also been hypothesized to play a role. References External links "Chapter 25: Fasting", Gospel Principles (Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church, 2009). Christian fasting Latter Day Saint practices Worship services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Latter Day Saint terms