Mormon Preppers Step Away - Kim and Josh Coffin Pt. 2 | Ep. 1829

Decoding the Beliefs of Mormon Preppers: A Look at Kim and Josh Coffin's Journey

Mormon preppers occupy an intriguing space within the spectrum of religious belief and practical preparedness. Central to this is a commitment to self-reliance and readiness for the worst-case scenarios predicted by apocalyptic prophecies. Yet for many, this commitment has percolated into extreme and controversial territories. The recent interview with Kim and Josh Coffin on the Mormon Stories Podcast sheds light on the lives of those who once found themselves embedded in these belief systems but gradually distanced themselves. Their story exemplifies both the allure and the pitfalls of a mindset that merges faith with survivalism.

Historical Roots of Mormon Prepping Practices

The Mormon subculture of preparedness, often referred to as "preppers," has roots in the early teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Historically, the Church has emphasized the importance of food storage and preparedness for emergencies based on doctrinal teachings about end times and self-sufficiency. However, a sector of believers has taken these tenants to an extreme, intertwining them with conspiracy theories and speculative prophecies. Figures like Julie Rowe and Chad Daybell have become prominent within this group, peddling narratives of impending doom and personal revelations. It is this milieu into which Kim and Josh Coffin were drawn, growing up in environments deeply enmeshed with such ideologies.

Key Insights from the Coffin Interview

Kim and Josh Coffin, raised within conservative and prepper-friendly environments in Idaho, were immersed in a culture where fear of global calamities blended seamlessly with spiritual narratives. Their 2023 interview on Mormon Stories Podcast provides an in-depth look at how such beliefs shaped their lives and the decisions they made early in their marriage. Among their recollections, Kim describes how her father championed the prepper ideology, pushing her to well-versed knowledge about survival books and theories that ranged from practical to prophetic. Josh echoes this, sharing experiences on his mission where he encountered unsettling ideologies that only later did he recognize as fringe.