What Is The Purpose Of Food Storage?

[omni]

It seemed that when I was growing food storage was encouraged as a preparation for the Second Coming and the related natural disasters, but more recently I've noticed a change in emphasis towards it being more of an insurance during difficult financial times.  In this day and age is there really a need for a two-year supply of food?  In the United States and most of the world's wealthy countries the government will provide assistance in case of a natural disaster.  In poorer countries where this can't necessarily be accomplished I would think most members would be struggling to provide the basic necessities, let alone a two-year supply.  

 

This has been on my mind recently because my FIL purchased some water tanks for his food storage that cost him nearly $1000.  He has probably spent thousands more on an entire room filled with emergency supplies and freeze-dried food.  He's quite conservative and believes President Obama's re-election has "hastened the coming of the Lord".  The problem is that he is living on social security with no savings, and tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  He does not have the funds to make these purchases, but continues to do so because the brethren have asked us to.  So in your view, what is the purpose of food storage?  Why is there such a focus on it when there doesn't seem to be such a need?  When does it go from being a nice way to prepare to being a hindrance?

[longview]

. . .

 

. . . He's quite conservative and believes President Obama's re-election has "hastened the coming of the Lord".  The problem is that he is living on social security with no savings, and tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  . . .

If the time comes, when everything fails, then all monetary instruments will be worthless but the food stash and other supplies will be worth a lot more than a pot of gold.

All it takes is one EMP strike and it is back to the stone age!

Of course every situation is different and each family must use wisdom and discretion.

 

[thesometimesaint]

It seemed that when I was growing food storage was encouraged as a preparation for the Second Coming and the related natural disasters, but more recently I've noticed a change in emphasis towards it being more of an insurance during difficult financial times.  In this day and age is there really a need for a two-year supply of food?  In the United States and most of the world's wealthy countries the government will provide assistance in case of a natural disaster.  In poorer countries where this can't necessarily be accomplished I would think most members would be struggling to provide the basic necessities, let alone a two-year supply.  

 

This has been on my mind recently because my FIL purchased some water tanks for his food storage that cost him nearly $1000.  He has probably spent thousands more on an entire room filled with emergency supplies and freeze-dried food.  He's quite conservative and believes President Obama's re-election has "hastened the coming of the Lord".  The problem is that he is living on social security with no savings, and tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  He does not have the funds to make these purchases, but continues to do so because the brethren have asked us to.  So in your view, what is the purpose of food storage?  Why is there such a focus on it when there doesn't seem to be such a need?  When does it go from being a nice way to prepare to being a hindrance?

 

I've always heard it was a year supply of the foods you normally eat. Even in the US, a long spell of unemplyment, sickness, or other factor(s) may limit our ability to go to the grocery story as often as we need or wanting to. So having at least some basic supplies makes economic and practical sense. If you are struggling financially buy what you can. An extra can of green beans, a couple of cans of soup when they are on sale isn't likey to burst anyone's budget. It does mount up over time.

 

You didn't say how many or how big those barrrels are but $1000 is a lot of money for water barrels. A gallon per day per person is all we technically need for drinking and cooking. The brethern have also instructed us to use sound judgement when making any purchase including food storage. Get what you need, and use, as you can afford it.

[Kenngo1969]

What Thesometimesaint said.

[Kenngo1969]

And Omni, I agree with you that endeavoring to comply with prophetic counsel regarding preparedness must "be done in wisdom and order."  If I were in your father-in-law's situation, it certainly wouldn't be my first priority.

[Nathair/|\]

I've known quite a few people who have been saved from having to go on the dole during times of hardship and unemployment because they've had a year supply of food and other consumables.  That being said, we are counseled to avoid going into debt to collect those supplies.  

[rongo]

Echoing what everyone else has said (not incurring debt to get food storage) . . .

 

My family regularly uses our food storage. *Regularly.* We cook with it, rotate it, and replenish it. We also have close to a two-year supply, plus a big freezer full of meat (my first counselor when I was a bishop shared an annual buffalo he and his sons brought back from New Mexico). It does get depleted, and is replenished big-time with our tax "refund" (single income, four kids, etc. No tax withheld, a lot "refunded" in February).

 

During the lean summer months (I am a school teacher, and do day labor construction at $50-$80 per day, which does not nearly meet our needs but provides cash flow and helps slow down the eating away of savings), we rely heavily on our food storage for our day-to-day food. So, in a real sense, and not a "10 day challenge ---- can you really live off of your storage?" sense, our food storage provides security and financial help. And, we're ready for a bigger crisis.

 

It also provides spiritual benefits. Obtaining and maintaining our food storage feels good, is fun, and helps us feel the spirit. I believe that those who obey this counsel receive intangible, spiritual benefits aside from the obvious temporal benefits.

[omni]

I've always heard it was a year supply of the foods you normally eat. Even in the US, a long spell of unemplyment, sickness, or other factor(s) may limit our ability to go to the grocery story as often as we need or wanting to. So having at least some basic supplies makes economic and practical sense. If you are struggling financially buy what you can. An extra can of green beans, a couple of cans of soup when they are on sale isn't likey to burst anyone's budget. It does mount up over time.

 

 

Doesn't this seem like advice you hear from the secular world about putting aside 10% of your income for a "rainy day"?  If it is intended for these times, wouldn't it make more sense to just set aside funds that could be used for fresh food or other necessities?

 

You didn't say how many or how big those barrrels are but $1000 is a lot of money for water barrels. 

 

 

 

I'm not sure the size, but there were only two barrels and from what he told us they were "top-of-the-line".  We struggled with this because both him and my MIL are in very poor health and don't have money to take care of themselves, but they feel they have to make these purchases.

[EllenMaksoud]

It seemed that when I was growing food storage was encouraged as a preparation for the Second Coming and the related natural disasters, but more recently I've noticed a change in emphasis towards it being more of an insurance during difficult financial times.  In this day and age is there really a need for a two-year supply of food?  In the United States and most of the world's wealthy countries the government will provide assistance in case of a natural disaster.  In poorer countries where this can't necessarily be accomplished I would think most members would be struggling to provide the basic necessities, let alone a two-year supply.  

 

This has been on my mind recently because my FIL purchased some water tanks for his food storage that cost him nearly $1000.  He has probably spent thousands more on an entire room filled with emergency supplies and freeze-dried food.  He's quite conservative and believes President Obama's re-election has "hastened the coming of the Lord".  The problem is that he is living on social security with no savings, and tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  He does not have the funds to make these purchases, but continues to do so because the brethren have asked us to.  So in your view, what is the purpose of food storage?  Why is there such a focus on it when there doesn't seem to be such a need?  When does it go from being a nice way to prepare to being a hindrance?

In October, 1962 Portland Oregon caught the renmants of Typhoon Freda with several offical readings of winds over 100 MPH. Certainly there are lots of areas who have had it worse, but I only know personally about this one. We lost part of our roof.

 

Electric power was out for more than three weeks. We heated with free standing gas stoves so were OK. In Portland, lots of the water supply was gravity at the time.  I was 15 at the time. It did not take the grocery stores long to run low on food. Our phone still worked but today you can just forget your cell phone, I think.

 

I was told that if Portland has the earthquake that they think is eminent,  probably an 8 or worse, we will be off line for a year or more.  Most people in the US are "city slickers" and don't know what they will do without bus service or the elevator. And, gosh, with all the traffic lights off, people are going to have to learn manners again.

 

Sigh, why do we need food storage? Well, you don't, if it is OK to starve and you don't plan to help anyone.

[omni]

Echoing what everyone else has said (not incurring debt to get food storage) . . .

 

My family regularly uses our food storage. *Regularly.* We cook with it, rotate it, and replenish it. We also have close to a two-year supply, plus a big freezer full of meat (my first counselor when I was a bishop shared an annual buffalo he and his sons brought back from New Mexico). It does get depleted, and is replenished big-time with our tax "refund" (single income, four kids, etc. No tax withheld, a lot "refunded" in February).

 

During the lean summer months (I am a school teacher, and do day labor construction at $50-$80 per day, which does not nearly meet our needs but provides cash flow and helps slow down the eating away of savings), we rely heavily on our food storage for our day-to-day food. So, in a real sense, and not a "10 day challenge ---- can you really live off of your storage?" sense, our food storage provides security and financial help. And, we're ready for a bigger crisis.

 

It also provides spiritual benefits. Obtaining and maintaining our food storage feels good, is fun, and helps us feel the spirit. I believe that those who obey this counsel receive intangible, spiritual benefits aside from the obvious temporal benefits.

 

I don't know if for you it was the same, but for me it seemed to be more of a wink-wink, nod-nod sort of way to prepare for the Second Coming.  Think about where the LDS food storage culture is strongest--I would suggest along the Mormon Corridor.  This is also one of safest areas of the country in terms of natural disasters.  Since the urging of our prophets to have a food storage, I can't think of a single natural disaster where we in the Intermountain West would have benefited from this counsel.  I'm wondering if this change in emphasis has to do with us not wanting to look like were concerning ourselves with the Second Coming.

[Calm]

If done properly, a food storage program can save you more money than any savings account due to the increasing cost of food over time.  Buy what you eat, buy when that stuff is on sale and don't forget to rotate so stuff doesn't get thrown out.

 

Best book ever that is probably out of print, Food Storage for the Clueless.

[omni]

 

Sigh, why do we need food storage? Well, you don't, if it is OK to starve and you don't plan to help anyone.

 

Can you give me any examples of people in the U.S. who have starved to death as a result of a natural disaster in the last 50 years?

[EllenMaksoud]

Can you give me any examples of people in the U.S. who have starved to death as a result of a natural disaster in the last 50 years?

Sigh .

[rpn]

Your FIL isn't really following counsel or he would KNOW that going into debt for food storage is against counsel.   And I would not assume for a moment that any government will be able to take care of a whole lot of emergencies that could occur.    Any family that is not prepared to take care of themselves for 3-5 months (not just food, toilet paper and shampoo and bandaids too) is at significant risk.   Heck even with a good storm you might be out of electricity for 3 weeks.

 

But it has been years since the purpose was preparing for the end of the world, if it ever was.   Food storage grew out of the welfare program started during the Great Depression and acknowledgement that the church could NOT take care of everyone, and too many people were thinking it could.  

 

Its been around three years since the official advice changed to 3 months of the normal food you eat and savings, and then more extended things like wheat and beans.

[thesometimesaint]

Doesn't this seem like advice you hear from the secular world about putting aside 10% of your income for a "rainy day"?  If it is intended for these times, wouldn't it make more sense to just set aside funds that could be used for fresh food or other necessities?

 

 

 

I'm not sure the size, but there were only two barrels and from what he told us they were "top-of-the-line".  We struggled with this because both him and my MIL are in very poor health and don't have money to take care of themselves, but they feel they have to make these purchases.

 

There is nothing preventing us from doing both as circumstances allow. Even if we have the money ill health, lack of transportation, or other factor(s) may prevent us from going to the store like we normally would.

 

Food grade plastic is what is recommended for any food storage especially water. It is not expensive. I get my 55 gallon water barrel for about $30 a piece. Of course you can spend any amount of money you want. But spending too much is still too much.

 

Putting yourself in debt, or not being rational about food storage(Your actual needs, and abilities) is not what we are supposed to do.

[Bernard Gui]

The only thing I store is chocolate in all its glorious forms. The day will come that I will be able to trade chocolate

for anything I need or want.

[strappinglad]

Let the trucks stop running for a week or two and see how fast the shelves empty. Most goods now are ordered with very little lead time so shortages will happen quickly. We have been counseled to be self- reliant as in be able to rely on yourself. BRM said we should strive to be independent of anyone under heaven. Well, that is a huge undertaking and best accomplished as a community.Too many folks live hand to mouth today. An emergency, even a short lived one can cause a lot of stress for the unprepared. To rely on the gov't ie. FEMA may be necessary but even the gov't suggests a 72 hour kit to handle yourself. Some countries make it illegal to store food etc. to any extent. Those places are apparently willing to watch their people starve .

 

rongo is wise is his application of the counsel we have been given. Would that we all were a bit more wise in these areas.

[rongo]

I don't know if for you it was the same, but for me it seemed to be more of a wink-wink, nod-nod sort of way to prepare for the Second Coming.  Think about where the LDS food storage culture is strongest--I would suggest along the Mormon Corridor.  This is also one of safest areas of the country in terms of natural disasters.  Since the urging of our prophets to have a food storage, I can't think of a single natural disaster where we in the Intermountain West would have benefited from this counsel.  I'm wondering if this change in emphasis has to do with us not wanting to look like were concerning ourselves with the Second Coming.

I don't think so. As rpn pointed out, the food storage program (the modern one, that is), began during the Great Depression. The Brethren during the Journal of Discourses era pounded on food storage and temporal preparedness, not in terms of the 2nd Coming, but in terms of prophecies about the Church serving a latter-day role as Joseph in Egypt to the nations who would come to us for temporal salvation because of our institutional and personal food and commodities storage. I have a whole chapter looking at this in my first run of my book series:

 

http://bookstore.fairlds.org/product.php?id_product=1239

 

I don't personally see a shift to "practical" food storage as a way of getting away from embarrassing past end times mania.

[rongo]

I've known quite a few people who have been saved from having to go on the dole during times of hardship and unemployment because they've had a year supply of food and other consumables.  

My family has a little different perspective based on where we live. We live in rural Pinal County, Arizona, in the desert on acreage. We have our own well, and the water table is 600 feet down (the pump is at 800 feet in case of the table dropping). We are also subject to vicious summer monsoon storms that can give windbursts of over 100 mph (we lost our roof several years ago and replaced it with home owners insurance claim money), flash-flooding (a lot of fun, but we can be isolated and on our own at times), and extended power outages (it takes the power company days to repair downed poles in our area). Every year, we rely on not just our food, but water and fuel storage (the well pumps fail and need to be replaced every couple of years or so. Water storage helps us maintain life during the days that 800 feet of pipe are pulled and new pumps are installed).

 

It's not just about "food." It is the whole package of temporal preparedness.

[Duncan]

Everyone knows the answer to that question, it's for hungry relatives who drop in unexpectedly. "You want something to eat? well, eat these 2 year old freeze dried banamas"!

[CV75]

It seemed that when I was growing food storage was encouraged as a preparation for the Second Coming and the related natural disasters, but more recently I've noticed a change in emphasis towards it being more of an insurance during difficult financial times.  In this day and age is there really a need for a two-year supply of food?  In the United States and most of the world's wealthy countries the government will provide assistance in case of a natural disaster.  In poorer countries where this can't necessarily be accomplished I would think most members would be struggling to provide the basic necessities, let alone a two-year supply.  

 

This has been on my mind recently because my FIL purchased some water tanks for his food storage that cost him nearly $1000.  He has probably spent thousands more on an entire room filled with emergency supplies and freeze-dried food.  He's quite conservative and believes President Obama's re-election has "hastened the coming of the Lord".  The problem is that he is living on social security with no savings, and tens of thousands of dollars in debt.  He does not have the funds to make these purchases, but continues to do so because the brethren have asked us to.  So in your view, what is the purpose of food storage?  Why is there such a focus on it when there doesn't seem to be such a need?  When does it go from being a nice way to prepare to being a hindrance?

It is a part of provident living ( see http://providentliving.org/?lang=eng ). The description you gave of your FIL's approach would be discouraged.

 

Its purpose is to be prepared for both short and long-term long-term dificulties (whether one's own or a neighbor's), regardless of the cause. We know the Lord is coming. The Great Depression was a warning sign, and the Church Welfare Program that was developed in those times, in its modern version, helps us prepare for the Second Coming and preent and future associated warning signs as well as the more personal dificulties we suffer from time to time (which in themselves are signs and warnings, invitations to exercise faith).

 

That the temporal signs (general and individual, great and small) continue from generation to generation indicates that the Lord is teaching those with eyes to see a lesson about spiritual destruction and the countering salvation through faith in the teachings of the prophets. Provident living helps us bridge our spiritual and temporal attitudes so that our days may be long upon the land for the sake of the Lord, and when they are shortened, we may return to Him in better shape than we might otherwise have been. It helps us find beneficial meaning in the signs and difficulties, and in the guidance from the prophets.

[Tacenda]

I think it's time to take food storage more seriously, thanks guys. I'm also going to take note of the things we use and eat everyday and stalk up for three months.

[omni]

 

Its been around three years since the official advice changed to 3 months of the normal food you eat and savings, and then more extended things like wheat and beans.

Thanks for the update, I didn't realize this had been changed.

[omni]

Sigh .

That was a sincere question. It may seem like I'm just trying to push buttons, but I would genuinely like to know why we as a church make it a focus. If it's to be used as a rainy day fund, why not save cash instead? If it's for natural disasters, what good does it accomplish? I've never known anybody starving in any modern disaster. If it's for the Second Coming, well then were gonna need a lot more than some food storage. I suppose we could have a EMP strike, or the dollar could collapse causing mass chaos, but I certainly don't think that's very likely.

Maybe this is the faithless cynical side of me coming out, but if something doesn't make sense to me I need to know why we do it or what benefit it provides in order for me to follow that counsel.

[VideoGameJunkie]

That was a sincere question. It may seem like I'm just trying to push buttons, but I would genuinely like to know why we as a church make it a focus. If it's to be used as a rainy day fund, why not save cash instead? If it's for natural disasters, what good does it accomplish? I've never known anybody starving in any modern disaster. If it's for the Second Coming, well then were gonna need a lot more than some food storage. I suppose we could have a EMP strike, or the dollar could collapse causing mass chaos, but I certainly don't think that's very likely.

Maybe this is the faithless cynical side of me coming out, but if something doesn't make sense to me I need to know why we do it or what benefit it provides in order for me to follow that counsel.

The church wants its members to be well prepared for disasters.