Mormons Were Prepared for Hurricane Sandy
Deseret News, a newspaper owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often nicknamed Mormons, reports that Mormons in the eastern United States were prepared for Hurricane Sandy.
A Mormon in Hurricane Sandy–A Personal Experience
The Saturday before Hurricane Sandy struck, I braved the grocery store. I didn’t need storm supplies, but I only have the car once a week and I needed to do my regular shopping. Although I’d expected it to be somewhat busy, even early in the morning, I was surprised by the large number of people in the store and the level of anxiety they were experiencing. The water aisle was empty of supplies. Most necessary storm supplies were gone and it looked like most people had resigned themselves to living on soda pop and cookies for the duration.
Mormon FAQ: Why Do Mormons Store Food?
Filed under: 72-Hour Kits, Basic Beliefs of Mormons, Basic LDS Beliefs, Counsel from Church Leaders, Gospel & Doctrine, Gospel Principles, Practices & Precepts, LDS Practices, LDS Q&A, Preparedness
The recent Japanese tsunami has brought attention to the fact that in an emergency, it is often difficult to purchase food and water. Because normal deliveries are halted and many stores are closed, people find themselves running short of critical supplies in a crisis.
Mormons store food for emergencies.
Mormon beliefs include storing enough food, water, money, and other supplies to be used in emergencies. Many people misunderstand this belief, considering it hoarding or a last-days scenario. However, many people use these supplies during critical times in their lives, such as natural disasters or unemployment.
You might remember that in the Old Testament, Joseph (famous for his coat of many colors) was freed from prison after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream about seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He suggested the Pharaoh needed to prepare for the famine by storing food ahead during the years of plenty and that God had been teaching him this through the dream. God has often taught his people the importance of preparation.
Mormons don’t stockpile the food in the basement and forget about it. They use what they store and rotate it. When grocery day comes around, they shop from their food storage for non-perishables and then replace it when they shop at a regular store. This allows them to cut food costs. Since they have everything they need, they can shop only when items are on sale. They can also purchase in bulk, which helps keep costs lower. If poor weather conditions cause the price of sugar to rise, they can use their stored sugar and not replace it until prices go down again.
Mormons have three types of storage. The first is a 72-hour kit. This portable storage has what they might need to take with them if they have to evacuate suddenly and need to care for themselves for 72 hours. This includes food, hygiene materials, blankets and pillows, scriptures, and other necessities. It can also include entertainment items for children who may get bored quickly in a shelter.
The second type of storage is a three-month supply. This includes everything a person needs to survive for three months. It often includes the most common foods the family eats, cleaning and hygiene materials, pet food, and anything else that would be useful in helping a family spend no money for three months. Read more
Learning to Live on a Budget
Filed under: Physical Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Provident or Frugal Living
When people learn that Mormons are taught to compile a year’s supply of food and other necessities, they often picture paranoid people stockpiling for doomsday or a nuclear disaster of some kind. While some people have used their supplies in a crisis, such as Hurricane Katrina, most use it for much more ordinary moments, such as unemployment, illness, or even just to save money. Read more
Gardening With a Black Thumb
Filed under: Living Off the Land, Preparedness Basics, Year Supply - Food
My mother was an expert gardener. I knew it was really spring when she headed outside with her marigolds each year. Somehow that gene-and all the other domestic ones-bypassed me and everything I tried to grow died. Eventually, my children grew a large vegetable garden under the guidance of a family friend, and I stopped worrying about it. We moved a great deal in the later years, and gardening was not a priority.
Secular and Spiritual Learning
Mormons have long been supporters of education, both secular and spiritual. Joseph Smith organized adult education schools to further both his own learning, since he’d had little schooling, and the learning of others. Mormon pioneers opened schools even before they were completely settled into Utah. Today, Brigham Young University is recognized as a quality school. Education is a key factor in the Mormon faith. Read more
Plant a Garden
Filed under: Living Off the Land, Personal Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Provident or Frugal Living
Michelle Obama announced this week the White House was planting a garden and growing its own food. While it will be cared for largely by the staff, a group of local school children will also be helping out, as will all members of the Obama family, including the president. This is the first full vegetable garden since Eleanor Roosevelt planted a victory garden and encouraged others to do so as well. The purpose of that garden was to make sure there was enough food during wartime.
Is Self-Reliance a Biblical Concept?
Filed under: Personal Preparedness, Preparedness, Preparedness Perspective
Some people think the Mormon concept of self-reliance is a sign of having no faith. They quote scriptures that say to trust God and suggest that if we do anything to prepare for hard times, we’re not trusting God or are even violating commandments. Is there Biblical evidence that God expects us to take care of ourselves as far as we’re able?
Preparations for Economically Challenging Times
Filed under: Physical Preparedness, Preparedness Basics
As the economic situation worsens, many people are beginning to panic. It’s important to remember that fear cannot improve any situation, and in fact, will make it far more difficult to manage the difficult times.
Preparing a Needful Thing
Filed under: Personal Preparedness, Physical Preparedness, Preparedness Basics, Preparedness Perspective
We are taught in the Doctrine and Covenants 88:119, “Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing…”
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