IMO, in part the food storage thing persists because it plays right in to the war status that the LDS church promulgates. Originally, food storage was an entirely prudent and pragmatic response to the times, namely a world-wide severe depression. Over the years it has morphed into (1) another tribal totem, to distinguish Us from Them, and (2) a tacit acknowldgement that Terrible Things (i.e., the
Forum:
Recovery Board