Photo: Monday Jan. 12 2009: Deor Jorgensen helps restock the shelves at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bishops' Storehouse in Bridgeton. Jorgensen, of O'Fallon, Ill., volunteered at the food pantry on Monday. (Ryan Gladstone/P-D/STLToday.com)

It's called the "Mormon Index."

It's an obscure gauge of the economy's direction, tied to food assistance and stockpiling by members the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's been called the Mormon Index, and it's rising.

For Mormons, heeding their church leaders' call to stockpile food fills a psychological need to be prepared for calamities. And when Mormons build up those stockpiles, some economists prick up their ears.

Tim Townsend of the Post-Dispatch writes of the rise in the Index in the St. Louis area and nationwide.

He continues...

"We believe temporal welfare is important to how we live as Christians," said Kent Holt, president of the church's O'Fallon, Ill., stake, one of four local geographical subdivisions, each of which includes about 10 congregations. "The church has a focus on helping its members be self-reliant and maintain their independence."
...
In the wake of the Great Depression, church leaders said they received a revelation from God that Mormons should keep a long-term supply (currently one year) of essential food staples, and a three-month, rotating supply of food eaten more frequently
....
"The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah," he said
....
"If you have three months' worth of food and for some reason you couldn't leave your house, or you lost your job, that's one thing you wouldn't have to think about right away," Winona Black said.

It's a fascinating article, and brings to mind imagery of our own food store at our house, the efforts of MARTHA at our church, and our current economic outlook.