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Glenn Beck: Hurricane Irene is a 'blessing'
Glenn Beck appeared to be echoing Mormon doctrine on preparing for adversity.
August 27th, 2011
09:44 PM ET

Glenn Beck: Hurricane Irene is a 'blessing'

By Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor

Conservative radio host Glenn Beck told listeners Friday that Hurricane Irene, the Category 1 storm that’s working its deadly way up the Eastern Seaboard, is “a blessing from God.”

Beck has long urged his fans to stockpile food in their homes in anticipation of a global food disruption. He said Irene should be construed as a divine warning for those who have ignored that advice.

Here’s Beck on his show Friday:

How many warnings do you think you’re going to get, and how many warnings do you deserve? This hurricane that is coming thorough the East Coast, for anyone who’s in the East Coast and has been listening to me say ‘Food storage!’ ‘Be prepared!’

… If you’ve waited, this hurricane is a blessing. It is a blessing. It is God reminding you — as was the earthquake last week — it’s God reminding you you’re not in control. Things can happen. Be prepared and be someone who can help others so when disaster strikes, God forbid, you’re not panicking.

The Washington Post reports that in encouraging home stockpiling, Beck, a convert to Mormonism, is echoing Mormon church teaching. The church encourages members to build home storehouses of food that could last for at least three months.

According to a website run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the official name of the Mormon church:

Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing”… so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

The site includes a food storage calculator. To build a three-month supply of food for a family of four, the calculator recommends 300 pounds of “wheat, white rice, corn and other grains” and 60 pounds of “dry beans and other legumes.”

The Post notes that food storage is one pillar of the Mormon emphasis on self-reliance.

 - CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor

Filed under: Mormonism
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soundoff (3,354 Responses)
  1. Ryan

    Sounds to me like Glenn needs to start drinking again!

    August 28, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
  2. ED HAMMAN

    THAT SHOW HOW DUMB HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    August 28, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
    • Laughing out loud

      Pot, meet kettle

      August 28, 2011 at 2:13 pm |
  3. god

    Glenn Beck and I are really close and I tell him everything.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:10 pm |
    • amanda

      Trust me, God and Glen Beck are not close at all. God does not cause natural disasters nor does he call them blessings like this idiot. He does allow certain things to happen but stands by us while we weather the storms of life. Glen Beck is nothing more than a false preacher leading everyone astray with his false teachings. May God have mercy on his soul.

      August 28, 2011 at 2:14 pm |
    • John316

      @amanda...cookoo, cookoo, cookoo. "He does allow certain things to happen..." you're nuts! Grab a science book and read up on how earthquakes and hurricanes happen, believe it or not, there is evidence (facts – if you don't know what evidence is) that explains how these natural disasters happen, and no magical being in the clouds is in the formula.

      August 28, 2011 at 2:18 pm |
  4. Really?

    Shouldn't this baffoon went with the other heaven's gate wackos on hale-bopp's comet? The world would have been a better and quieter place if he did 🙂

    August 28, 2011 at 2:10 pm |
    • John316

      hahahahaha....ROFL!

      August 28, 2011 at 2:12 pm |
  5. Jeremy from San Francisco

    um....well....he's like...half right? effin urggghhhh

    August 28, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
    • Jeremy

      but it was too much rain....that's why he's like half right. but i didn't read this article. i don't read things that have the name Glenn Beck in it. just the headline...that's as far as i'll go

      August 28, 2011 at 2:09 pm |
  6. FUALL

    Same "church" as David Koresh. Anyone surprised?

    I'm not.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
    • amanda

      Not really surprised. Another ranting lunatic making people believe that all god-fearing people are like this moron. I am ashamed of him, but will continue to call myself a christian despite morons like Glen Beck

      August 28, 2011 at 2:15 pm |
    • Ramon F. Herrera

      The religion of David Koresh is "Branch Davidians", they were split from the 7th Day Adventist. Unrelated to Mormons:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branch_Davidians

      August 28, 2011 at 2:17 pm |
  7. spence

    Beck is starting to "lose it", starting to become unraveled. There are those that might say that he already had a while back. Wish he would believe that he can fly, and jump off the nearest tall building.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
  8. el condor

    This guy has gone off the deep end. I am an evangelical Christian, but let's keep things in perspective.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
  9. mark kali

    "It is God reminding you — as was the earthquake last week — it’s God reminding you you’re not in control."

    That's blasphemy, plain and simple. Glenn Beck does not know the mind of God.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:07 pm |
  10. Chumlee

    Mormons own La Quinta hotels. It is well run and managed. Very impressed as how they conduct themselves in society. The moochers, lazy and misfits are with the other demonitation.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:06 pm |
    • Ramon F. Herrera

      I just did a quick research and found zero evidence of the link between La Quinta and the Mormons. The Corporation is based on Dallas. Could not find anyone graduated from the Brigham Young University. I am afraid you are confused or was lied to.

      http://www.lq.com/lq/about/mediakit/bios/executive_team.jsp

      August 28, 2011 at 2:11 pm |
    • Maude

      here is your evidence son ! god loves you

      Source: Mormons Today, 17 Oct 2000 ... CEO, La Quinta Properties, Inc. With more than 330 Inns and Inns & Suites in 33 states, La Quinta® is a leader in ...

      August 28, 2011 at 2:17 pm |
  11. Mike Buck

    We should heed this warning! Stock pile food and supplies in preparation for the time when the Nut-Case Tea Baggers like Glenn Beck get control of the country!

    August 28, 2011 at 2:06 pm |
  12. mike

    I think Glenn Beck's magic underwear is protecting him.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:05 pm |
  13. john

    This guy was on another article few days ago, and he was attacking muslims and other religions, and all of you were considering him a hero, but now he is a jerk !!!!!! lol

    August 28, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
    • Observer

      He hasn't changed.

      August 28, 2011 at 2:28 pm |
  14. Nodack

    I detest this guy a lot. A phony windbag.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
  15. god

    Glenn Beck is right. I created the Hurricane so that Glenn Beck could sell more disaster kits and gold.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
  16. Chumlee

    Glen Beck for president

    August 28, 2011 at 2:04 pm |
  17. quitsa

    This guy is turning into the new Charlie Sheen. He is just plain off the deep end. Why does anyone give this guy "press time" Next thing – he thinks he is be the next second coming of Christ.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
  18. JimAR

    Sounds like he is almost sane enough now to go back to Fox News.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
  19. Andrew

    Glenn Beck puts the Moron in Mormon.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:03 pm |
    • Beverly

      why would anyone post a message on this guy.........he makes me sick!!!

      August 28, 2011 at 2:08 pm |
  20. Andrew

    Stop giving space to raving idiots, CNN. Find something intelligent to report on.

    August 28, 2011 at 2:02 pm |
    • earth2loons

      raging, not raving. whose the idiot?

      August 28, 2011 at 2:09 pm |
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.
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