The Mormon church near my home is putting on a preparedness seminar this coming weekend. This sounds really interesting to me. Has anyone been to one of these? Is this a local thing or is it common for LDS churches?

http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/news/2007/may/16/lds-putting-faith-in-preparation/

A short quote from that article:

If anyone on these forums is in the Denver, CO area and is interested, the seminar runs 9am to 3pm on Sat May 19th, 1250 Main St. in Broomfield (per the printed newspaper version of the above article). It's free, and they're giving out some free CD on preparedness. I assume this is a come whenever, leave whenever type of thing, but the paper didn't specify.

I think I'll attend.

Generally, most Mormons I've known have been well versed in matters such as these. It is a big part of their philosophy from what I know.

Bear in mind, such events are sometimes sponsored and presented for the added purpose of prostelytizing the faith. That shouldn't present a problem, but just so you know.

A side note, in some locations the Mormons have "canning places" (I don't recall exactly what they call them), where, for a very reasonable price, you can seal just about anything in #10 cans. Designed for canning foods of course, but money, boxes of ammo, all kinds of fun things can fit into a #10 can...

My sister in law's parents are Mormons. I think you have to be a member to use their gear, and I think if you wanted to can ammo they'd be a little spazzy unless they REALLY knew you.

I just have this horrifying image of a can of rimfire ammo that gets mislabeled as beef stew. You poke a small hole or two in the top and without looking, you put it over the fire....

I would expect some of that and wouldn't mind learning something more about their faith while I'm learning their thoughts on preparedness. Every Mormon I've known (not terribly many) has been someone I respected. I would expect any reasonable person to realize you can't sell a faith with undesirable pressure tactics, and not even attempt to. Explaining and teaching is welcome, hard code selling is not.

I don't expect that anyway, and look forward to a fun day.

I have never done it, but a friend in central CA, says that he has canned all kinds of neato stuff there...

Never tried ammo, but I have canned large amounts of food in #10 cans. You don't have to be a member to use the facilities. The church provides the resources (building and equipment) you buy the food and cans and provide the labor.

Let us know how the seminar turns out.

Mistaking a can of ammo for a can of stew would be something. I have to think, though, that you'd be mighty suspicious when the can weighs three times what you expected it would.

Still, that sorta mistake is what makes elk camp more interesting...

Great, now I have to call IT for a new keyboard after spraying coffee all over it

"...Mistaking a can of ammo for a can of stew would be something..."

Could be an intersting surprise. If I should ever do it, I like to think that I would remember to label the cans, something like ".22LR," ".357 125gr," "year supply of Viagra & KY," "$100,000 in small bills," you know, like that...