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Mormons prepared for hard times-doctrine of self-reliance, service keeps storehouses stocked
MSNBC / The Associated Press ^ | December 26, 2008

Posted on 01/01/2009 6:08:54 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

SALT LAKE CITY-Bishop's Storehouse looks like any other grocery store at first glance: The shelves are neatly lined with canned goods and the smell of fresh bread wafts through the aisles.

But there are no cash registers. The fruits and vegetables, just-made cheeses and milk are free — a safety net for those in need provided by the 13 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"We like to call it the best food money can't buy," said Jim Goodrich, who oversees the storehouse and other facilities on the church's 13-plus-acre Welfare Square.

Mormons may be among the country's best prepared to weather the current economic hard times. Since the Great Depression, church leaders have preached a doctrine of self-reliance and selflessness, calling on members to plan for their own future while tending to the needs of others.

"It's a critical component of our theology," said Bishop David Burton, a senior church administrator who oversees the faith's worldwide welfare and humanitarian services programs.

Year's supply of emergency food Members are encouraged to squirrel away a few months' worth of living expenses and stock a one-year supply of emergency food. Church handouts, classes and a Web site describe how to prepare, store and cook with emergency food supplies so nothing goes to waste.

Each month, members skip two meals and give the money they would have spent on food to church welfare programs, paying for the commodities, clothing, job training and other services made available to the needy.

The church also works in partnership with other faith traditions and local social service agencies to share surplus commodities and support services.

Goodrich's Welfare Square is the heart of the program.

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Other Christian; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: charity; economy; financialcrisis; lds; mormon; mormons; recession; volunteerism
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I'd heard about some of this, but didn't realize how extensive it was.
1 posted on 01/01/2009 6:08:56 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why is this a religion post and not news?


2 posted on 01/01/2009 6:10:29 PM PST by svcw (Great selection of gift baskets: http://baskettastic.com/)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

When things go smash, they will get a lot of converts just based on this.


3 posted on 01/01/2009 6:12:35 PM PST by Oatka ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." –Bertrand de Jouvenel)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I heard Glenn Beck say that his (mormon) church is teaching people how to sew again.


4 posted on 01/01/2009 6:20:16 PM PST by kc8ukw
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To: kc8ukw

Fantastic!


5 posted on 01/01/2009 6:21:25 PM PST by madison10
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To: Oatka

When things go smash, they’ll probably have a lot of low-lifes trying to break into their Mormon neighbors places and steal their stuff.


6 posted on 01/01/2009 6:25:08 PM PST by bigbob
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To: bigbob

I have a Mormon friend who also keeps a year’s worth of ammunition on hand. I’ve been hunting with him before. If he is an example of how well they shoot, the low-lifers may end up collecting lead when they go to collect tinned goods.


7 posted on 01/01/2009 6:28:36 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why so fatalistic? If this truly has been preached as doctrine for so long, and obviously it has never come to fruition, it seems more based on tradition than necessity.

I guess it could also help explain the number of “survivalists” we see in that part of the country. Kind if an indoctrination from an early age.


8 posted on 01/01/2009 6:30:43 PM PST by DE88
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To: DE88
I have a Mormon friend who also keeps a year’s worth of ammunition on hand

Could you elaborate? During deer season, I may use 3 rounds, not counting target work and thats another 30. So does that mean 33 rds is a years worth?

If so, I am good until 2080 or so and I'm 50 yrs old ;->

I guess I have a lifetimes worth!

9 posted on 01/01/2009 6:46:01 PM PST by MrPiper
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To: Vigilanteman

The trouble with all of this is you become a target. If anyone knows you have it they will want some.

Also not very portable. If you are forced to move it will be hard to carry a years worth of food with you.


10 posted on 01/01/2009 6:49:36 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: DE88

It isn’t based solely on national disaster. The members are encouraged to use the food storage in times of personal financial stress such as joblessness or other challenges. One of the main ideas is to discourage them from incurring further debt and living to the edge of their income while stockpiling goods that may save their lives.


11 posted on 01/01/2009 6:50:46 PM PST by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things)
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To: MrPiper
"I guess I have a lifetimes worth!"

I thought I did too -- until I read that some Congress Critters are talking about "serialized" ammo becoming required by law, and the DESTRUCTION of all privately owned unserialized ammo by some date just a few years out...

This is a "proposal" meant to circumvent the 2nd Amendment by "controlling" ammunition and making felons of those of us who will refuse to destroy our hand-loaded "stocks" of ammo.....

Oh, and felons can have their guns confiscated by law...
Interesting ploy, huh?

12 posted on 01/01/2009 6:54:00 PM PST by river rat (Semper Fi - You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: bigbob
When things go smash, they’ll probably have a lot of low-lifes trying to break into their Mormon neighbors places and steal their stuff.

I believe a lot of Mormons are armed, I think if anyone tries this, they will die of lead poisoning, knowhutimean?
13 posted on 01/01/2009 6:54:06 PM PST by Nowhere Man (Is Barak HUSSEIN Obama an Anti-Christ? - B.O. Stinks! (Robert Riddle))
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To: caseinpoint
One of the main ideas is to discourage them from incurring further debt and living to the edge of their income while stockpiling goods that may save their lives.

I resemble that description, does that make me a Mormon?

14 posted on 01/01/2009 6:56:41 PM PST by MrPiper
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To: MrPiper

33 rds might be a years worth for deer hunting, but when the fecal matter hits the rotating blades, it might be a days worth, possibly less.


15 posted on 01/01/2009 6:57:08 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: river rat
I thought I did too -- until I read that some Congress Critters are talking about "serialized" ammo becoming required by law, and the DESTRUCTION of all privately owned unserialized ammo by some date just a few years out

Pure Claptrap. No way to enforce it outside of yard to yard searches with metal detectors and then they would miss the majority buried out in the woods.

16 posted on 01/01/2009 7:02:25 PM PST by MrPiper
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To: MrPiper
Could you elaborate? During deer season, I may use 3 rounds, not counting target work and thats another 30. So does that mean 33 rds is a years worth?

++++++

I will go through 50 or 100 rounds in an afternoon at the range.

As for the deer hunt thing, zero rounds there. I do not like to hear a round go by me and then hear the report of the rifle. Too many people hit things they cannot even see.

17 posted on 01/01/2009 7:04:32 PM PST by fproy2222
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

May the Lord be with them.

Good Job Brothers and Sisters!


18 posted on 01/01/2009 7:05:42 PM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: Oatka

I wonder if we’ll later read of “Winter Mormons” like there were “Winter Shakers” in the 1800s.


19 posted on 01/01/2009 7:06:18 PM PST by tbw2 (Freeper sci-fi - "Humanity's Edge" - on amazon.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Listen to that angel from Heaven again promoting poligamy and I’ll join.


20 posted on 01/01/2009 7:06:46 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Don't rush to be savage!.)
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