Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly referred to as Mormons because of their belief in a sacred ancient text named after a prophet who compiled the writings of his predecessors, have a somewhat peculiar habit of squirreling away food, water, and other supplies in case of emergency or in the event they fall upon hard times.

While hoarding food and water is a little bit out of the ordinary, the counsel they receive from the prophets past and present is not aimed at pursuits to alienate them from the rest of society, secede from the union, or to hunker down and bolt the hatches for impending doomsday scenarios.  Rather a year’s supply of food, water, and other necessities falls nicely in line with the doctrinal principles taught in their church (taken from the companionship of the Bible and Book of Mormon) which outline both spiritual and temporal preparedness for salvation.

A Bible story tells of Joseph in Egypt wherein Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and tells Pharaoh to save food for 7 years because there would follow thereafter 7 years of famine.  More recently, following the September 11 attacks in 2001, in the October General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a meeting of the church’s faithful broadcast worldwide to some 13+ million members, the late Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley reminded church members of Pharaoh’s dream and the implications it has for us today.  Almost like clockwork, in 7 years time we began to see the repercussions of a long period of excess and practiced living beyond our means both as a nation and globally.

The Mormon Church, because of its preparedness activities, coupled with the Savior’s example of charity instilled in the hearts of its people, has performed numerous rescue and humanitarian aid projects.  Following most major disasters worldwide there is a quick and efficient rallying by local LDS branches and wards as well as Church headquarters to provide organized relief in the form of food, water, first aid, blankets, and multiple other supplies.  There is a joke extracted from true experience wherein an individual, a victim of a natural disaster stated, “The only two organizations that were of any help were the Latter-Day Saints and the Mormons.”  They are one in the same!

Latter-Day Saint leaders don’t ask their parishioners to be imprudent or take drastic measures in obtaining their food storage and emergency preparedness supplies.  Members are cautioned not to take on debt, but to gradually build supplies with a step-by-step plan over time.  Unlike other organizations, LDS leaders did not overemphasize Y2K, and advised its members that it would be far from the end of the world or even life-changing.

Mormons may be a peculiar people—they don’t drink, smoke, or womanize.  And you just might find a hoard of food in their homes.  But whose friend are you going to want to be in the event of a disaster?  You just might find M&Ms in their stash.  They seem to like chocolate.  But isn’t that normal?

Related Posts:

Food Storage: Bottling Juice and Fruit
Food Storage: Enough and More (Plus Earthquake Proofing)
Adding to Your Emergency Food Storage- Building Without Burdening (That’s a Promise!)
Emergency Food Storage Essentials