Prepared vs. Primitive

One principle of life that we all can agree on is that tomorrow always comes and that bad things do happen. 

With that in mind, we can plan our preparedness efforts according to what is the worst case scenario that we might face given the likelihood of risks around us.  The level of that preparedness will determine whether we will face the unexpected event as an adventure or resort to dealing with the problem in a more primitive method.

Take a couple simple common occurrences for examples.  Do you have a jack & spare tire in your car for the unexpected flat on the highway?  (Is that not a form of emergency preparedness?)  Do you know how to use the jack and other tools to change the tire?  Is the spare tire inflated?  If you are properly prepared, you deal with the flat as an inconvenience and get back on the road.  You might even use those resources to help someone else in need that was less prepared.  On the other hand, if you are not adequately prepared, and nobody else comes to your rescue, you are left with the most primitive mode of transportation: namely walking (what sort of shoes are you wearing right now?).

In February, 2015, a bitter snowstorm left over 160,000 residents of Georgia without power for several days.  How often does that happen in the Deep South?  Depending on your resources, you might have a generator to restore at least some lights and run the furnaces, perhaps even the refrigerator.  A kerosene heater or wood stove might heat one room where everyone can huddle together for warmth.  A solar generator could provide some lighting, and run a radio or a couple small appliances.  A camp stove would enable you to heat some soup.  If you are less prepared, you may only have a few candles, a flashlight with no spare batteries, and inadequate winter clothing to enable going outside for more than a few minutes before risking hypothermia.  Your day may begin and end with the rising and setting of the sun just like it did for the Pioneers.

Can you afford to be wrong in your emergency preparations & planning? Some people have the attitude that nothing serious is going to happen, at least not to them. If that is your belief, you had better be absolutely certain that you are right, because if you are wrong, you are in big trouble.  However, if you plan for the worst and you are wrong (ie. nothing happens, or only minor problems arise), No Problem! You have your gear and resources for another day or for a great camping trip!  Can you see the difference?  On one hand it’s OK to be wrong, while on the other hand there is only disaster and tragedy.

The Principle of the Parachute says:

·         You must have a parachute before you need a parachute

·         You must have your parachute with you when you need it

·         Your parachute must be in working condition when you need it

·         Your parachute should be made of the highest quality materials

·         You need to know how to use your parachute and have practiced using it before hand so that you can use it properly during an emergency

·         Your parachute needs to have been packed by a trustworthy parachute packer

3-month supply of food & beyond (per person)
		Spiritual Preparation		Food/Home Storage		Preparation Goals
JANUARY		Be Organized		Water/Beverages		Water Storage
		D&C 88:119		Toiletries
Week #1		1 can evaporated milk
Week #2		24 oz. or 1/4 LDS #10 can cocoa drink mix
Week #3		24 oz. or 1/4 LDS #10 can fortified fruit drink mix
Week #4		4 lbs. or 1 LDS#10 can non-fat dry milk
Week #5		3x64 oz. bottled juice
FEBRUARY		Be Doers		Breakfast Foods		Communication
		1 Nephi 3:7		Toiletries		Emergency Skills
Week #1		3 boxes breakfast cereal
Week #2		5 lbs or 2x42 oz. canisters or 2 #10 cans oats
Week #3		2 lbs. pancake mix AND 32 oz. pancake syrup
Week #4		8 oz. or 1/4 #10 can powdered eggs
MARCH		Be Charitable		Tomatoes/Pasta		First Aid/CPR
		Mosiah 2:17		First Aid		Important Papers
Week #1		12x8oz. tomato sauce AND 6x6 oz. tomato paste
Week #2		6x15 oz. canned tomatoes AND 1 jar of salsa
Week #3		4 lbs. dry pasta AND 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese
Week #4		8 cans prepared pasta AND 12 pkg. ramen soup noodles
APRIL		Be Clean		Soup/Fish/Beans		Sanitation
		Alma 5:19		Sanitation		Hygiene
Week #1		12 cans beans AND 2 cans of chili
Week #2		12 cans of tuna or salmon
Week #3		10 cans of condensed soup
Week #4		3 cans of prepared soup
Week #5		5 lbs. or 1 #10 can of dry beans or lentils
MAY		Be Prayerful		Condiments/Spices		Emergency Cooking
		2 Nephi 32:9		Food Prep
Week #1		refill spices AND 3 oz. dry onions
Week #2		12 oz. sauces
Week #3		8 oz. salad dressing, 8 oz. mayonnaise AND 4 oz. parmesan cheese
Week #4		5 oz. ketchup, 2 oz. mustard, 3 oz. BBQ Sauce/steak sauce
JUNE		Be Healthy		Grains/Vitamins		Grain Storage
		D&C 89:16		Food Prep		Bread making
Week #1		25 lbs. or 4 #10 cans hard wheat, white or red LDS
Week #2		20 lbs. or 4 #10 cans rice LDS or other grain
Week #3		4 oz. instant yeast
Week #4		Vitamins (3 mo. supply)
JULY		Be Guardians		Summer Foods		Emergency Drills
		Alma 46:12		Toiletries		Canning
Week #1		4 ea. crackers and/or chips
Week #2		2 boxes gelatin and/or pudding
Week #3		2 boxes food bars, popcorn
Week #4		3 x 6 oz. lemon juice, vinegar AND olives
Week #5		2 x 32 oz. jelly/jam AND honey
AUGUST		Be Nurturers		Fruits/Vegetables		Shelter/Bedding
		3 Nephi 17:21		Toiletries		School Kits
Week #1		12 cans/jars fruit
Week #2		12 cans/jars vegetables
Week #3		16 oz. dried fruit/raisins
Week #4		2 cans chilies and/or mushrooms
SEPTEMBER		Be Hopeful		Meat/Potatoes		Earthquake Prep
		Moroni 7:42		Laundry		Auto Kits
Week #1		6x12 oz. cans chicken/turkey
Week #2		6 cans pork-type/Spam/Vienna sausages
Week #3		2 cans stew
Week #4		4 lbs. or 2 #10 cans of potato flakes/slices/etc.
Week #5		1x24 oz. spaghetti sauce
OCTOBER		Be Faithful		Oils/Fats		Fire Safety
		D&C 61:10		Disaster Cleanup Kit
Week #1		6 lbs. beef/corned beef/jerky
Week #2		24 oz. vegetable/olive oil, etc. AND 1 lb. shortening
Week #3		1x28 oz. peanut butter/almond butter, etc.
Week #4		12 oz. chocolate/baking chips AND 4 oz. baking cocoa
NOVEMBER		Be Grateful		Holiday Baking		Emergency Heat
		Alma 37:37		Disaster Cleanup		Winter Clothing
Week #1		1x15 oz. can pumpkin AND 2x14 oz. cans broth
Week #2		2 lbs. brown sugar AND 1 lb. powdered sugar
Week #3		1 box stuffing mix AND 1x15 oz. can of yams
Week #4		15 lbs. white flour AND 10 lbs. white sugar
DECEMBER		Be Christlike		Baking Basics		Equipment
		Matthew 22:39		Power & Light		Gift Giving
Week #1		4 oz. vanilla  AND 4 oz. cooking spray
Week #2		1 brownie or cake mix AND 1 frosting (opt.)
Week #3		6.5 oz. salt AND 4 oz. cornstarch
Week #4		5 oz. baking powder AND 4 oz. baking soda

How to Use these Suggestions:

1. Decide on a weekly home storage budget.
2. Decide what you have time to gather/do.
3. Multiply amounts by # of family members. Adjust amounts for younger children,     medical needs and food allergies. For instance, you could store half the amount of         breakfast cereal for a young child as an adult.
4. Adapt, adapt, adapt! These are only suggestions. Pick and choose what you want     to work on. Change items to suit your family.
5. Each week look for store sales that match your goals.
6. Carry your list with you when you shop or put your goals on a cell phone/iPad notepad.
Disclaimer & Credit: These suggestions come from www.PreparedLDSFamily.blogspot.com.  These are only suggestions. You are the best judge of what will work best for you.

Emergency Preparation Baby Steps

Baby Step #1:  Plan for a short-term emergency

·        Build a 72-Hr Emergency Kit

·        Get a 2 week supply of fresh water

·        Build up a 3 week supply of food that you eat every day

·        Buy a water filter

·        Build an emergency supply of cash, in small bills and even coin

Baby Step #2: Prepare your vehicle

·        Put an emergency kit in your car

·        Don’t forget the water

·        Get in the habit of keeping the tank full, never let it go below half-full

·        Keep decent tires on the car

·        Can it get your family where you need to go in an evacuation emergency

·        Do you need 4WD?

Baby Step #3: Get smart about potential disasters

·        Do a disaster inventory of your community, 5 mile radius, 10-20 mile radius, 50 mile radius

·        Weather events

·        Natural disasters

·        Manmade disasters

·        Socioeconomic disasters

·        Political crises

·        Personal catastrophes

Baby Step #4: Get home, no matter what

·        Have an emergency Get Home kit at work

·        Include good walking shoes

·        Plan for the worst inclement weather you might face

·        Who will pick up the kids and care for them if you can’t get home?

Baby Step #5 Develop a survival mindset

·        Become familiar with the prophecies

·        Study the scriptures and warnings of the latter-day prophets

·        Be willing to obey the prophet with faith, no matter what, but not blindly

·        Be aware of current events, even those not in the regular news, and how they fit into fulfillment of prophecy

·        Work toward getting out of debt

·        Gradually build your food storage to 30 days, 90 days, 6 mos., 1 yr.

President Uchtdorf’s Parable of Great-Aunt Rose: A message on Emergency Preparedness?

Read Elder Uchtdorf's talk here as a basis for this blog.

At General Women’s Conference, President Uchtdorf shared a sweet story, reminding us that the Savior taught in parables and that President Monson rarely tells a story that isn’t also a parable. Parables have a straight forward message that is plain to see. However, they also have a deeper meaning, sometimes more than one, that need to be searched out, pondered and prayed about to understand completely. He invites us thus: “I invite you to listen with the Spirit. The Holy Ghost will help you to find the message for you in this parable.”

As we have pondered and discussed this with others, we have come to the conclusion that this parable has many last-days implications. (I’ve tried to consolidate 11 pages of notes & comments for this newsletter, but it just isn’t going to happen.) As you read or re-read this parable on the Church website, consider what message it may bear if we are indeed approaching the days of tribulation that prophets have foretold for thousands of years. Who are represented by little 11-year old Eva, her Great-Aunt Rose, her father & mother, and the creepy cat? Why did Eva have to leave her comfortable home while her mother has much needed surgery? Were there not closer relatives? What is represented by Aunt Rose’s old home, the plastic bins of beads, bows & buttons, or the fact that Aunt Rose had difficulty doing simple things, even getting around? Why did Eva resent and dislike everything about her great-aunt’s home that was so remote? What is significant about Eva’s age? Is it that she is about to transition from Primary into being a Young Woman, leaving childish wants behind and maturing to face more difficult challenges? Does the Hebrew meaning of the number 11 as a representation of chaos mean anything?

I am certain that while we can accept that we can all learn to make the best of a difficult situation and love others that we barely even know; learn to appreciate things that we previously detested; and develop deeper faith, hope & charity that will light a light of kindness & happiness that will be seen by all who know us, I am sure there is a deeper meaning in this parable that bears considering. Can you see any similarities to Lehi, Nephi, Limhi, Alma, the Brother of Jared, Lot, and the early Mormon Pioneers? What is the significance of the scriptures Pres. Uchtdorf chose to quote? Does any of this have any implications on your family’s emergency preparedness efforts? What about your spiritual preparedness? Review Pres. Monson’s Ensign message from last September entitled “Are We Prepared” and see if there is any correlation with this parable.

With all our preparations for unexpected events in our lives, remember this advice from the parable: “With such a glorious future, why get swallowed up in past or present things that don’t go quite the way we planned?” … “I know a poem that says, ‘Forever—is composed of Nows.’ I didn’t want my forever to be composed of dark and fearful ‘Nows.’ And I didn’t want to live in the gloom of a bunker, gritting my teeth, closing my eyes, and resentfully enduring to the bitter end. Faith gave me the hope I needed to live joyfully now!”

Even in the parable, Eva eventually grew up, married, raised children, and lived a long and wonderful life.

Let us know your thoughts & insights on this parable.  Perhaps we'll post more about it later.

Grant & Delia Madsen