A question for Mormons?

Question

My sister in law is a Mormon convert and left a bunch of LDS magazines at our house. I was reading a few of them and saw some advertisments for stockpiling food at water. Then I was looking through a Deseret Books catalogue and saw some ads for "New Years Preparedness" (water filters, water storage, treatment drops...etc)
I'm just curious as to if this is an important practice in the Mormon faith and if so..why?

Answer 1

We believe in being self reliant, and part of that is being prepared for an emergency. We are encouraged to have a year's supply of food, clothing, fuel (where possible) and money. The emergency needn't be something major like an earthquake, but may be something as simple as losing a job, or being snowed in over winter. The church issues lots of advice and support on building a year's supply and I think it's a very sensible idea.

In 2001 three things happened that made me realise how important the year's supply is. First, here in the UK we had fuel protests. Protesters campaigning against the high price of fuel (we currently pay the equivalent of $10 a gallon, 90% of which is tax) blockaded refineries. With fuel shortages and trucks and cars off the road the shops emptied pretty quickly and there was panic buying.

Then there was the foot and mouth outbreak which meant not only a major shortage of meat, but that travel across the countryside was forbidden. This led to things such as shortages of vegetables and crops, and also silly things like radio masts not being able to be repaired, so no radio signals.

Finally that year there was 9/11 which at the time seemed to threaten the beginning of a major world war.

At the end of the year I resolved to get my year's supply up to date, and keep it that way!

Answer 2

I remember talks from church leaders being given on this way back in the 1970s when I was a child, but I haven't had my own house so I haven't done this yet. However, my parents have food storage and water storage, and probably 10 years ago, I was really grateful they did, because at least a couple of times the water has been turned off in the city, and we ended up using the bottled water to bathe with. So if we hadn't had it, then it would have impossible to have a bath that day. We have also used the food storage off and on. It has to do with being a wise steward and being able to provide for your family the best you can. I will also add that the Church has an amazing welfare program. It is unlike the U.S. welfare program in that all recipients are required to give an accounting of what they need to use, and they are supposed to help serve in the welfare program for at least a few hours a week or a month to help out with other aspects of it. Even if members aren't receiving direct benefits from the welfare program, they can help with food and household good manufacturing. The only thing I would change about it is to reduce the number of canned goods, as boiling vegetables and fruit pretty much destroys the nutritional content.

Answer 3

With every day pass, our country is getting into more and more trouble. The inflation, unemployment and falling value of dollar are the main concern for our Government but authorities are just sleeping, they don’t want to face the fact. Media is also involve in it, they are force to stop showing the real economic situation to the people. I start getting more concern about my future as well as my family after watching the response of our Government for the people that affected by hurricane Katrina.

According to recent studies made by World Bank, the coming crisis will be far worse than initially predicted. So if you're already preparing for the crisis (or haven't started yet) make sure you watch this video at http://www.familysurvival.tv and discover the 4 BIG issues you'll have to deal with when the crisis hits, and how to solve them fast (before the disaster strikes your town!) without spending $1,000s on overrated items and useless survival books.

Answer 4

Yes, they take it very seriously. They believe we must prepared in case of disaster. Its a matter of self-sufficiency,preparedness,etc. They encourage members to keep a supply of non-perishables of food,water,etc.Up to a year supply.They build it up over time.That way they don't go into debt. Women often times still can vegetables and etc.

Answer 5

One thing that we teach is to be prepared for an emergency, and food storage is part of that. We are supposed to build up to having a years supply of food, so in case anything happened, we would be able to support ourselves for a long time. It is something that everyone should do, not just Mormons.

Answer 6

My mother was raised LDS and whenever dad built a house for us to live in it had to include a walk in pantry. The rest of her family have them too. She past last year and we live with and take care of dad now. But she taught us well. We have about six months worth of food canned and frozen. We also have a backup generator and water filters for our well water.

Answer 7

Yes, it's to store up a year's worth of food. Actually a very good idea! I now store some food and water because of that (not a Mormon). They believe in self-sufficiency and there are other reasons.

Answer 8

hope this helps:

http://www.watchman.org/profile/ldspro.htm

Answer 9

I'm a moron myself, so I don't know.