Part 2 of that question is "What Are We Preparing For?"
“Life happens: Bad events will happen to you & your family. How you prepare for them will determine whether they are an adventure or a disaster.” – Jim Phillips
Life's unexpected events can be grouped into the following categories:
Emergencies
· House Fire
· Injury
· Flu
· Vehicle Accident
· Heart Attack
· Job Loss/Retirement
· Utility Outage
· Death
Disasters
· Earthquake
· Wildfire
· Tornado
· Hurricane
· HazMat
· Flood
· Epidemic
Grid-Down (or any event that results in a breakdown of our normal society structure)
· Pandemic
· Financial or Stock Market Collapse
- War or EMP Attack
- Martial Law (ultimate Police State)
For a more complete explanation of the above concepts, see "Proper Preparedness Principles" by A.H. Trimble. https://ahtrimble.com/2015/09/26/proper-preparedness-principles/
As to what are we truly preparing for, we look forward to the 2nd coming of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. We want to be prepared spiritually to live in His presence. However, there are many disturbing and even catastrophic events that have been foretold (for hundreds and even thousands of years) that we need to be prepared temporally (and emotionally) to endure so that we can even be present to enjoy the wonder of His coming.
Scriptural Basis for Preparedness:
These preparations should not be cause to fear and should not be done in haste. Here are just a few scriptures for consideration, reminding us how to prepare, including taking the Holy Spirit as our guide rather than waiting for a specific warning from the living Prophet.
D&C 38:30 I tell you these things because of your
prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of
men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall
speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth;
but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
Doctrine and Covenants 58:26 For behold, it is not meet that I should
command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a
slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
D&C 29: 32 First spiritual, secondly temporal, which
is the beginning of my work; and again, first temporal, and secondly spiritual,
which is the last of my work—
33 Speaking unto
you that you may naturally understand; but unto myself my works have no end,
neither beginning; but it is given unto you that ye may understand, because ye
have asked it of me and are agreed.
34 Wherefore,
verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any
time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the
children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.
35 Behold, I gave
unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him
commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments
are spiritual; they are not natural nor temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:57 For they that are wise and
have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and
have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and
cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
Prophetic Quotes:
Elder James E. Talmage
‘’In mercy the Lord warns and forewarns. He sees the
coming storm, knows the forces operating to produce it, and calls aloud through
His prophets, advises, counsels, exhorts, even commands—that we prepare for
what is about to befall and take shelter while yet there is time. But we go our
several ways, feasting and making merry, consoling conscience with the easy fancy
of ‘time enough’ and in idle hope that the tempest will pass us by, or that,
when it begins to gather thick and black about us we can turn back and find
shelter.’’ -- James E Talmage, The Parables of James E. Talmage, p. 50
Elder M. Russell Ballard from “Let Our Voices Be Heard” LDS.org
Within this context of the preeminent importance of
families and the threats families face today, it is not surprising that the
First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles used strong words in the
proclamation to the world on families: "We warn that individuals … who
fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before
God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon
individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and
modern prophets." (Note that the Proclamation on the Family was given 20 years before the current attacks on family structure became mainstream events.)
Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
"I hope, and this is my brief message to you today,
that no one ever reads one word about that terrible flood and the sadness that
it has brought-the loss of life, the loss of livestock, the destruction of
farms, the suffering that has come to those good people--I say again, I hope no
one here will ever read another word about that disaster without saying quietly
to himself, 'No moment will ever pass when I will not be prepared as the
Brethren tell me to do.' One year's supply of commodities, well cared for, well
selected, is a minimum. It's the minimum [President Kimball hit the podium for
emphasis], and every family, if they have only been married a day or a week,
should begin to have their year's supply.
Now that's
basic, and we mean it! [He hit the podium again.]
There
should be no family under the sound of my voice who isn't already prepared for
whatever eventuality may come. We can't anticipate it, of course. We don't know
where another dam is going out, or where a river is going to flood, or whether
an earthquake is going to come, or what's going to happen. We just are
always prepared because the Lord said, 'If ye are prepared ye shall not fear'
(D&C 38:30). And the only way to have peace and security is to be prepared.
"May the Lord bless us that not one family of us will go
from this room without a determination from this moment forward that there will
never be a time when we will not be prepared to meet the hazards that could
come." (Pure Religion p. 266-267; June 10, 1976 5 days after Teton Dam
Broke)
Pure Religion (1995) The
Story of Church Welfare Since 1930 by
Glen L. Rudd (Author)
The following quote comes from an 8-minute YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lwt7rrC7Ew&feature=youtu.be
"I have read and heard from many
members that they believe the prophet will give out a general warning before the
prophesied calamities will come upon us. Personally, I never did believe this
would be the case, but I never could find much of anything to support my
feeling until I read from Pres. Kimball's book, “Faith Precedes the Miracle.”
In it he put it all together for me. It came down to just one sentence.
Quote: With no warning, no last-minute
preparation is possible.
There will be no general warning to the
membership that things will be shortly falling apart. We have been commanded to
follow the signs of the times and that is all the warning we need or will be
given, but the membership is asleep. Like the Ten Virgins, we have been
commanded to watch and prepare, but like the people in the days of Noah, many
members have become lulled into a sense of security. This "lack of
warning" is designed to weed out the tares; the “All is well in
Zion," crowd."
Then I read on and the explanation became
completely clear.
Quote:
I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the
people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world.
All of the virgins, wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the
wedding supper; they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the
important day to come. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or the pagans,
nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they were knowing people
who were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect
their eternal lives.
They had the saving, exalting gospel, but it
had not been made the center of their lives. They knew the way but gave only a
small measure of loyalty and devotion. I ask you: What value is a car without
an engine, a cup without water, a table without food, a lamp without oil?
Rushing for their lamps to light their way
through the blackness, half of them found them empty. They had cheated
themselves. They were fools, these five unprepared virgins. Apparently, the
bridegroom had tarried for reasons that were sufficient and good. Time had
passed, and he had not come. They had heard of his coming for so long, so many
times, that the statement seemingly became meaningless to them. Would he ever
come? So long had it been since they began expecting him that they were
rationalizing that he would never appear. Perhaps it was a myth.
Hundreds of thousands of us today are in
this position. Confidence has been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard
to wait and be prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber. The
Lord has given us this parable as a special warning.
At midnight, the vital cry was made,
"Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Then all the
virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
Even the foolish ones trimmed their lamps,
but their oil was used up and they had none to refill the lamps. They hastened
to make up for lost time. Now, too late, they were becoming conscious of the
tragedy of unpreparedness. They had been taught. They had been warned all their
lives.
At midnight! Precisely at the darkest hour,
when least expected, the bridegroom came. When the world is full of tribulation
and help is needed, but it seems the time must be past and hope is vain, then
Christ will come.
The midnights of life are the times when
heaven comes to offer its joy for man's weariness. But when the cry sounds,
there is no time for preparation. The lamps then make patterns of joy on the
hillside, and the procession moves on toward the house of banqueting, and those
without lamps or oil are left in darkness. When they have belatedly sought to
fulfill the requirements and finally reach the hall, the door is shut. In the
daytime, wise and unwise seemed alike; midnight is the time of test and
judgment—and of offered gladness.
The foolish virgins were not averse to
buying oil. They knew they should have oil. They merely procrastinated, not
knowing when the bridegroom would come. --(Faith Precedes the Miracle, Ch.
23, "Preparedness: the Ten Virgins")
7 Survival Priorities
1.
Threat of violence
2.
Threat of injury or sickness
3.
Lack of or poor communications
4.
Lack of or poor organization
5.
Dehydration
6.
Hyper/Hypothermia
7.
Starvation
4 Purposes or Types of Gathering (Ponder as there was not enough time to discuss)
1.
Spiritual gathering to Christ & gospel
ordinances
2.
Physical gathering to the Promised Land
3.
Physical gathering for Safety
4.
Physical gathering for Perfection
Historical Context
Consider Joseph's experience in Egypt. He was the son of the living prophet of God, yet God did not reveal to Jacob that his favorite son was still alive, let alone the fact that he was a prisoner in Egypt. There is no record that God revealed to Jacob the coming famine that sent his remaining sons to Egypt to beg / purchase grain. The dream about the coming famine was given to the pagan Pharoah. Not a faithful believer of the true & living God, probably not even a nice man. We know how Joseph was summoned from the prisons to interpret the dream by the gift of God, and then elevated to high position to institute a national food storage program that saved not only the nation of Egypt during the 7-year famine, but also the whole family of Jacob (the House of Israel). God does not always give warnings to just the prophet, if at all. Sometimes, we learn about events and opportunities to prepare through ordinary and even unlikely people. It is up to us to follow the Holy Spirit, compare that knowledge with the scriptures and revealed words of the modern prophets and then consult with our Heavenly Father through prayer to seek guidance for our families.
Family History Story
From the journal of Johanna Catherine
Nielson, daughter of Levi Christensen and Lisa Maria Nielson, ancestor of Delia Madsen.
1859 Moroni is a pleasantly located
city in north central Sanpete county. This settlement was begun in
the spring of 1859. The colonists were strong, determined men and
women. Their first homes were dugouts on the river banks. Here they
planted gardens and grains, but Indians became troublesome, stealing
their few cattle and burning their crops. The pioneers were not to
be baffled. They organized for protection against the natives.
Other families were soon added to their strength and the settlement
grew regardless of Indians and troublesome conditions.
In the year 1860 father (a shoemaker by
profession) joined the move from Springville to Moroni taking his
family and what worldly goods he had accumulated. We were all happy
to move, for the south held great promise for a home and lands.
Numbers of the saints being sent to this colony were people from our
own native land. One settlement had been named little Denmark and
this name had a familiar ring.
In Moroni father built a small home
which, however, had to wait for windows and doors as all supplies at
this time were coming to Utah in wagons drawn by oxen. We didn’t
have much to decorate our new home with. Father often said when he
came to Moroni his possessions consisted mostly of a wife, two sons,
a tiny daughter and an old oxen. Of course we never let him forget
his chest of tools.
Father and mother were in their
fortieth year. The long trip from Denmark to Salt Lake City had
taken their strength. Father still sustained a strong cough which
weakened his endurance but they were very young in spirit and courage
and strong in faith.
The crops had been very good in the
southern colonies and there was food even though the Indians stole
large numbers of cattle and burned fields of grain. In 1864, flour
from these colonies was sold in Salt Lake City for $21.25 per 100
pounds. (Side note: yesterday, December 31, 2016, Grant and I bought
flour from Sam’s Club for under $10 for 50 pounds! ) Father
raised a nice garden, we had sheep and a cow. Some of our land was
in grain and some in potatoes. We were doing nicely and were happy
planning together.
One morning father seemed particularly
disturbed. Mother inquired as to the cause fearing for his health.
He replied he was not ill, but concerned over an impressive dream,
and then revealed it. He said during the night a strange messenger
came to him and said “Levi you are to build three strong boxes,
each one large enough to hold flour to sustain your family for one
year and store them safely away”. Mother questioned, “but why?”.
Our gardens and grains are abundant, everyone has enough to eat and
they are sending thousands of pounds of flour to the Missouri over to
the poor emigrants. That made father wonder too.
The next morning when he told us he had
received the same command from the same messenger he was fully
convinced and began at once to gather materials, which were difficult
to find. The boxes were finished and at harvest time filled with
flour and even though it had been quite a problem, father reminded us
of the works of Nephi in the Book of Mormon, “I, Nephi, will go and
do the things which the Lord had commanded, for I know that the Lord
giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare
a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth
them.” The boxes were stored safely away.
Each day our home and surroundings were
becoming more dear. My brother Christian worried mother quite often.
He had formed a friendship with the Indians and would visit them at
their camps and hunting grounds being gone for days. When he
returned he would tell wonderful stories of their way of life and was
so pleased to bring us fresh fish and game they had taught him to
catch. But every day there were new stories of whole families being
killed by these Indians. They would surround a home, set it on fire,
drive off all the cattle and kill the men, women and children. Of
course some of them were friendly, but there was a dark wave of
resentment among many of the chiefs. They felt their lands and
hunting grounds were being taken away from them. Their fishing
streams were being disturbed. Homes and grain fields were crowding
them out. This was their home. It had been given them by the great
spirit.
The years 65, 66, and 67 brought great
trials besides the Indian troubles and the Black Hawk war.
Grasshoppers came in great numbers and destroyed most of the crops in
Sanpete county. Many of the pioneers were glad to find rabbits and
roots to eat. It was at this time father understood the messenger of
his dreams and he, with his family, gave thanks to God for his
blessing to us. His flour was divided with strangers, neighbors,
Indians, each box serving plenteous for the year intended.
Questions you might ask:
Why was Levi the only one to receive this warning? ...or was he the only one who obeyed?
Why didn't this warning come from the General Authorities of the Church, or even the Prophet himself, through the local stake leaders to prepare for a coming famine?
What are the consequences (good and bad) that come from acting (or not acting) on personal promptings from the Spirit?
Please purchase and read the book from which you are quoting here: Faith Precedes the Miracle.
ReplyDeleteIf you do, you will find that the paragraph AFTER the quote:
"With no warning, no last-minute preparation is possible." is NOT in the book. This is a misquote and is a twisted version of what the entire chapter actually stands for.