• Dry beans offer one option for emergency food.fried beans image by Radu Razvan from Fotolia.com
  
  The Latter Day Saints or as they are frequently referred to, Mormons believe that emergency preparedness is a spiritual law. Church leaders teach members to have both short term and long-term food storages. Generally, short-term storage is designed for a smaller emergency such as a job loss. Long-term storage of Mormon survival foods fulfills emergency preparedness needs for larger emergencies such as terrorism, war or famine. Long-term food storage options involve basic foods which last for years with proper storage in airtight containers.
  
  

Wheat

• Wheat, like a few other foods offers a life-sustaining ability even after 30 years. Wheat must be stored in low moisture areas and at or below room temperature to remain usable. Prepare yourself for eating this basic grain and others before any emergency happens. This keeps you from becoming ill from eating foods you do not normally eat. For example, fry wheat kernels over a fire in a skillet until it pops like popcorn. Season the popped wheat and eat. You can also slow cook wheat for hours with water to make a wheat cereal.
  
  

Beans

• Dry beans store for 30 years also. Like wheat, there may be a decline in taste and nutrition somewhat, but they still have the ability to sustain life. Cook times increase, the longer you store beans. Sort and wash the beans before cooking. Boil three cups of water for each cup of beans. Add the beans to the boiling water and let boil for two minutes; then turn them off. Add 3/8 teaspoon of baking soda per cup of beans. Cover the beans and leave for an hour without cooking. Then drain, rinse and refill the pot with water to cover the beans. Bring the new water to a boil, reduce the heat and allow the beans to slow cook for two hours.
  
  

Water

• The LDS church suggests storing one gallon of water for each person per day. Water must be stored in addition to food to ensure long-term survival. You can buy approved bottled water in special plastic containers, which are called PET containers. However, knowing how to sanitize and store your own water is also important. Store your water only in heavy plastic food grade containers. Milk jugs do not offer the best storage option as the plastic in the jugs breaks during long-term storage. Sanitize by rinsing the containers with one teaspoon of regular household bleach added to two quarts of water. Pretreat your water if necessary before filling the sanitized containers. Chlorinated water does not need pretreating. For nonchlorinated water add eight drops of liquid household chlorine bleach to each gallon of consumable water. Place the filled containers away from light and heat.
  
  

Dehydrated Foods

• Other assorted prepackaged dehydrated foods last 20 to 30 years in storage. These foods include powdered eggs and cheese, potato flakes and powdered nonfat milk.