My non-member friend asked me:
Why do Mormons stockpile food? Do they think the world is coming to an
end?
In a nutshell, yes, we do.
That answer is a little bit flippant. Let me elaborate.
In the Book of Revelations, we read of calamities that will befall in the last days. These are passages that are familiar to those who have read the Bible, and the End Times prophecies are familiar to all Christian religions. The leaders of the LDS Church have encouraged us to put up a reserve of nonperishable food in our homes so that we might be prepared for a time when these goods might not be as readily available to us. Right now, we’re already seeing grocery prices go up as the price of gas escalates, so it’s not unreasonable to think that some items might be difficult to obtain down the road.
However, putting in a supply of food isn’t just to prepare for the end of the world. Think of times when you might unexpectedly lose your job and not be able to find another for a little while. Having a supply of food in your house will keep you from needing to use money on groceries. If your car breaks down and needs costly repairs, you can use your food storage and fix the car with your grocery budget. Having this type of built-in security takes the edge off the panic you might ordinarily go through when presented with a thousand-dollar car repair bill. There is a way to pay for it. And then, after your debt is paid, you can replace the food in your storage.
Additionally, food storage comes in handy on a daily basis. What if you’re preparing dinner, and discover you’re short one can of tomatoes. Rather than having to run to the store for another, or trying to decide what you can make with the ingredients on hand, you can just grab some tomatoes out of your food storage and replace them on your next shopping trip. And what about those green beans you found, four cans for a dollar? Of course you’d buy a couple of cases. Who wouldn’t, at savings like that? It just makes sense on a lot of levels.
So, yes, Mormons stockpile food. It does seem a little odd, but I love the security of knowing that even if my husband lost his job tomorrow, I could feed my children while he pounded the pavement. It’s a good feeling to have.
Related Blogs:
Ten Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill
Food Storage . . . in a Trailer?