Why food storage?

Why Food Storage?
Food Storage and Emergency Preparedness

By Rachel Woods, About.com

Latter-day prophets have counseled Church members to build up a food storage and be prepared for emergencies, but why? Here are a few of the main reasons why we should have a food storage program.

1. Commandment from God

Through His prophets and apostles, God has commanded us to have a year's supply of food and other essentials in our food storage. Joseph Smith, the first prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recorded the following in the Doctrine and Covenants:

"The Church and its members are commanded by the Lord to be self-reliant and independent" (D&C 78:13-14).

Spencer W. Kimball, 12th prophet, taught:

"The responsibility for each person's social, emotional, spiritual, physical, or economic well-being rests first upon himself, second upon his family, and third upon the Church if he is a faithful member thereof" ("Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action," Ensign, Nov. 1977, 76).

L. Tom Perry said:

"Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life. Obtain clothing and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that can serve well in times of emergency. As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness" ("'If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear'" Ensign, Nov 1995, 35.)

2. Necessary during Emergencies and Natural Disasters

Having a supply of essential foods, clothing, fuel, and water will help us during times of personal and natural disasters. We must be prepared for calamities that may come our way. Ezra Taft Benson, the 13th prophet, said:

"In section 1 of the great Doctrine and Covenants, a volume of modern scripture, we read these words: 'Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come...' (D&C 1:12) Further in this same revelation are these warning words: 'I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth....' (D&C 1:17)

"What are some of the calamities for which we are to prepare? In section 29 the Lord warns us of 'a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth.' (D&C 29:16) In section 45 we read of 'an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.' (D&C 45:31) In section 63 the Lord declares he has 'decreed wars upon the face of the earth....' (D&C 63:33)

"In Matthew, chapter 24, we learn of 'famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes....' (Matt. 24:7) The Lord declared that these and other calamities shall occur. These particular prophecies seem not to be conditional. The Lord, with his foreknowledge, knows that they will happen. Some will come about through man’s manipulations; others through the forces of nature and nature’s God, but that they will come seems certain. Prophecy is but history in reverse—a divine disclosure of future events" ("Prepare Ye," Ensign, Jan. 1974, 68).

3. Gives Us Peace

When we are prepared we don't have to worry about "what if's" because we'll have our food storage and emergency preparedness ready. The Lord said:

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" (D&C 38:30).

Having what we need and knowing what to do in the event of an emergency or other calamity can bring us peace and help us overcome fear.

4. Teaches us Basic Food Preparation

Building up a food storage helps us learn how to prepare and use basic foods. Because many items in a food storage only last a certain amount of time it is important to rotate the food by using older items and replacing those items with new ones. When we do this we can learn to use our food storage which in turn will prepare us to know how to use our food storage in the case of an emergency.