Lds.org
Is This Your Business?5.0
6.7
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Providentliving.lds.org is the emergency preparedness hub and online store operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In addition to selling teaching materials and other faith-based products, the store features food storage anyone can purchase as well as educational resources with an emphasis on self-reliance.
The online store is an extension of brick and mortar stores, referred to as home storage centers, of which there are 101 locations worldwide.
LDS home storage centers are found in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wyoming. Canada locations are in Calgary, Lethbridge, Sherwood Park, Toronto, and Vancouver. Canadian shoppers should be aware that store.lds.org does not ship food outside of the U.S.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Dry Pack Canning Supplies
- Water Filtration
- Canned Food Selection
- Bagged Food Selection
- Low Prices
Dry Pack Canning Supplies
ProvidentLiving.lds.org is unique in that it sells supplies for dry pack canning. If you're a DIYer when it comes to prepping, you can buy oxygen absorbers, dry pack pouches, and food storage foil pouches on this site. You'll also want to check out the two portable, foot-switch activated, tabletop vacuum sealer models. One is 110 volts and the other is 220 volts. The 220-volt sealer requires a plug adaptor, also included in the product listings.
Water Filtration
The store sells water filtration products including a counter-top water filtration system, water filtration bottles, extra filters, and replacement parts for each filter system.
Canned Food Selection
The estimated shelf life of ProvidentLiving.lds.org's number 10 cans is 30 years as long as they are stored in a cool, dry place. The canned food inventory includes both base ingredients and ready-to-eat foods once rehydrated:
- Apple slices
- Black beans
- Carrots
- Hard red wheat
- Hard White wheat
- Macaroni
- Nonfat dry milk
- Onions
- Pinto beans
- Potato flakes
- Quick oats
- Regular oats
- Refried beans
- Spaghetti bites
- Sugar
- White beans
- White flour
- White rice
Bagged Food Selection
ProvidentLiving.lds.org sells these foods bagged in bulk:
- Hot chocolate
- Fruit drink mix
- Granola
- Pancake mix
- Potato pearls
- Hard red wheat
- Hard white wheat
Low Prices
The site's number 10 can case prices are astoundingly low, less than half the cost of comparable products. For example, a case of 6 cans of dehydrated apple slices costs $67.50 at store.lds.org. Competitor Daily Bread sells 1 can of dehydrated apple slices for $22.99. For 6 cans from Daily Bread, you'd pay $137.94—over twice as much as store.lds.org's price.
The Bad
- Bagged Foods Not Available Online
- Limited Entrees
Bagged Foods Not Available Online
Bagged food products, including the organization's popular potato pearls, are not available for online ordering and must be purchased from a local store. This is an inconvenience to shoppers looking to build their emergency food supply from online sources.
Limited Entrees
ProvidentLiving.lds.org is limited in its selection of ready-to-eat entrees, with the exception of its canned spaghetti bites. Top competitors feature a wide range of delicious meal options like pizza kits, beef stroganoff, burger mix, etc., which are great for family preparedness and the dilemma of picky eaters.
The Bottom Line
This emergency preparedness store's biggest strength is in its long-term inventory. Oxygen absorbers and vacuum sealers allow dry pack canning fans to take food storage production into their own hands and the canned food shelf life, ingredient selection, and prices cover all the bases for emergency storage.
Plus, the organization's nationwide storefronts provide local shoppers the opportunity to purchase and even can their own items.
However, it comes up short in the entree kit department, not providing as much selection for individuals and families who want to regularly incorporate food storage into their meals at home or while camping. Also, not all of the foods featured on the site can be purchased online.
With ProvidentLiving.lds.org, it really comes down to what you're looking for. But we can confidently say that the price is right no matter who you are!
