"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food and clothing and were debt free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." — President Thomas S. Monson, "That noble gift — love at home," Church News, May 12, 2001.
Driving by the Church's Deseret Mills Elevator on I-15 near Kaysville, Utah, one can see a towering white silo with a giant stem of golden wheat painted on it. One would assume it's a giant storage facility for wheat, but the Deseret Mills prepares materials for a variety of products such as pancake mix, pasta, cereal, flour and food storage. Don Johnson, director of Bishop's Storehouse Services for the Church, explains, "The mill provides the Church welfare system with the ability to fulfill its mission. Members benefit by being able to purchase food for their own home storage."
Dedicated by Elder Marion G. Romney in 1976, the Deseret Mill was originally purchased from Kaysville-Layton Milling Co. in 1942. The dedication speaks of the story of Joseph in Egypt receiving revelation to prepare for seven years of famine. Elder Romney said, "The Lord has been in this welfare business from the beginning." Today, the majority of the food processed at the Deseret Mills is grown on Church farms and sent to the mill for processing. The mill's capacity is a remarkable 350,000 bushels. It processes about 20 million pounds of product annually for the bishops' storehouse and the home storage centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. There are 26 products produced and packaged with the help of 13,000 volunteer labor hours and 4,000 missionary service labor hours each year. Bill Dutton, manager of the Deseret Mill, said, "We try to keep a good reserve of grain on hand to meet the needs of the Church welfare system."
The counsel from Church leaders to store a year's supply of food for times of need can be difficult to follow depending on circumstances. The Church has tried to be sensitive to concerns and make home storage easier. With the help of the Deseret Mill in Kaysville and the dry pack canneries of the Church, food storage has become much easier to do. In 2008, to further assist members, the Church began to offer prepackaged food staples for purchase. Hard red wheat, quick oats, rice and pinto beans are available for purchase without the need to can it yourself. In addition, a starter kit is available that includes a combination of the above items. These prepackage products come in a case of six #10 cans, which may be purchased from home storage centers, distribution centers or the new online store at store.lds.org.
Orders from the online store can be shipped right to an individual's house. Brother Johnson said, "We're planning on having two new prepackaged products available in November. These items will be white flour and hard white wheat. We hope this helps our members design a plan to get food storage into their homes at a decent cost, so they are prepared to meet times of adversity. They also make great gifts for weddings."
There is never a better time than the present to start home storage. Many members use the holidays to buy storage for their family and friends. The key is to start and have a plan to acquire what individuals and families will need. A November 2001 Ensign article written by President Gordon B. Hinckley offers excellent food storage advice. He said, "As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son."
