Being Prepared & Still ‘Having A Life’

What does it mean to ‘be prepared‘?

Let Us Prepare

Though we never know when we will face a challenge that will require us to depend on the resources we have stored, we know that the Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).

President Gordon B. Hinckley reminded us in October 2005 general conference of our need to be prepared: “We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments. … I have faith … that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments.”

Let us do all in our power to “walk in obedience” and be prepared.

One thing that The Latter-day Saints are well-known for is our ‘Food Storage‘. Why store food at a years supply - you might ask?

For many years, Church leaders have counseled members to prepare to care for themselves and their families in times of need. This includes, to the extent that local laws and personal circumstances allow, storing and saving a one-year supply of food.

We believe in being prepared at any given time of need, i.e. Natural Disaster, Country Recession, War, famine, etc.

Recently, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

“Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life. . . . As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness” (”If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 36).

It’s far easier to push aside what is going on in our World. It’s easier to say “Don’t take life so seriously, lay back and have fun!” While I believe that we should not stress and let worry take over our lives, I do believe that we need to take “be prepared” seriously. Especially when the Scriptures have already forewarned us years and years ahead of time!

Those of us who read and believe the scriptures are aware of the warnings of prophets concerning catastrophes that have come to pass and are yet to come to pass:

There was the great Flood, when waters covered the earth and when, as Peter says, only “eight souls were saved” (1 Pet. 3:20).

If anyone has any doubt concerning the terrible things that can and will afflict mankind, let him read the 24th chapter of Matthew. Among other things the Lord says: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. …

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. …

“And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! …

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:6–8, 19, 21–22).

In the Book of Mormon we read of unimaginable destruction in the Western Hemisphere at the time of the Savior’s death in Jerusalem. Again I quote:

“And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

“And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.

“And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.

“And the city of Zarahemla did take fire.

“And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.

“And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain. …

“… The whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;

“And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.

“And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate” (3 Ne. 8:5–10, 12–14).

What a terrible catastrophe that must have been.

The plague or Black Death of the fourteenth century took millions of lives. Other pandemic diseases, such as smallpox, have brought untold suffering and death through the centuries.

In the year a.d. 79 the great city of Pompeii was destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Chicago was ravaged by a terrible fire. Tidal waves have swamped areas of Hawaii. The San Francisco earthquake in 1906 ruined the city and took some 3,000 lives. The hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas, in 1900 killed 8,000. And more recently, as you know, has been the terrible tsunami of Southeast Asia, where thousands of lives were lost and where relief efforts are still needed.

How portentous are the words of revelation found in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants concerning the calamities that should befall after the testimonies of the elders. The Lord says:

“For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

“And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

“And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people” (D&C 88:89–91).

How interesting are descriptions of the tsunami and the recent hurricanes in terms of the language of this revelation, which says, “The voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.”

Man’s inhumanity to man expressed in past and present conflict has and continues to bring unspeakable suffering. In the Darfur region of Sudan, tens of thousands have been killed and well over a million have been left homeless.

What we have experienced in the past was all foretold, and the end is not yet. Just as there have been calamities in the past, we expect more in the future. What do we do?

Someone has said it was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came.

The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).

– [Excerpt taken from President Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Liahona, Nov 2005, 60–62]

The Church has built grain storage and storehouses and stocked them with the necessities of life in the event of a disaster. But the best storehouse is the family storeroom. In words of revelation the Lord has said, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing” (D&C 109:8).

Our people for three-quarters of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparation as will assure survival should a calamity come.

We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day.

Now what I have said should not occasion a run on the grocery store or anything of that kind. I am saying nothing that has not been said for a very long time.

Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn, and the blasted ears; the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity (see Gen. 41:1–36).

– [Excerpt taken from President Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Liahona, Nov 2005, 60–62]

Do have fun, live your life and enjoy your family. Don’t hide away in bunkers and restrain yourself from joyful occasions - but be prepared. What Clark and I have done to build our food storage is not to go and run to the stores like the Prophet has said not to, but we save away a quarter of everything we purchase in bulk (i.e. Purchase at Costco). In just the year we have been married, we already have a few months supply saved away. Removing financial debt is also a high necessity in regards to being prepared. We too, have begun to really take that warning seriously. Interesting how it’s so easy to let the days go by and not really think about all that could happen. Again, like the Prophets have said that we have lived so plentiful that it has seemed to not be a high necessity. But as soon as something traumatic (i.e. Katrina) happens, we all of a sudden get reminded of what we should do and prepare for. The war in Iraq is just around the corner from us and the chaos that is erupting there can so easily begin to affect us dramatically in a manner of seconds. It has already with the extreme debt that we are enduring.

Is it the Government’s job to provide for us? Do we wait around for them to give us food and shelter? No. At some point there is a need to provide for ourselves and be self-reliant. Think of how much more stress free the world will be when you’re prepared for any disaster that may come and you can endure that storm in peace within your home - with enough food, medical supply and warm shelter.