| Prepare
for Times of Need
"Be prepared in all things against the day when tribulations and
desolations are sent forth upon the wicked" (Doctrine
and Covenants 29:8).
"We encourage you to follow this counsel with the assurance that a
people prepared through obedience to the commandments of God need not
fear" (First Presidency letter, 24 June 1988).
Store Basics to Sustain Life for One Year
"Perhaps if we think . . . of what it would take to keep us alive
in case we didn’t have anything else to eat, that . . . would be very
easy to put in storage for a year . . . just enough to keep us alive if we
didn’t have anything else to eat" (Harold B. Lee, quoted in Ezra
Taft Benson, "Prepare
Ye," Ensign, Jan. 1974, 81).
"We suggest that members concentrate on essential foods that
sustain life" (First Presidency letter, 24 June 1988).
Learn to Use What You Store
"Every father and mother are the family’s storekeepers. They
should store whatever their own family would like to have in the case of
an emergency. . . . Some have said, “We have followed this counsel in
the past and have never had need to use our year’s supply, so we have
difficulty keeping this in mind as a major priority.” Perhaps following
this counsel could be the reason why they have not needed to use their
reserve. By continued rotation of the supply it can be kept usable with no
waste" (James
E. Faust, in Conference Report, Apr. 1986, 26; or Ensign, May 1986,
22).
"A year's supply of food storage is beneficial in several ways:
1. It provides peace of mind as we obey the counsel to store.
2. It helps ensure survival in case of personal or natural disaster.
3. It strengthens skills in preparing and using basic foods" ("Home
Storage: Build on the Basics," Ensign, June 1989, 40).
Keep a Year's Supply and Stay out of Debt
"As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years,
let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case
of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in
every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move
forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son" (Gordon
B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89; or Ensign, Nov.
2001, 73).
"Recent surveys of Church members have shown a serious erosion in
the number of families who have a year’s supply of life’s
necessities. Most members plan to do it. Too few have begun. . . . It is
our sacred duty to care for our families, including our extended
families" (Thomas
S. Monson, Ensign, Sept. 1986, 4; emphasis in original).
"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves
through home production and storage, but others as well" (Ezra
Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, 48; or Ensign, Nov.
1980, 34).
"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their
economic lives if they had their year’s supply of food and clothing and
were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in
reverse: they have at least a year’s supply of debt and are
food-free" (Thomas S. Monson, "That Noble Gift—Love at
Home," Church News, 12 May 2001, 7).
Grow Food When Possible
"We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasiblly can on
your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if
your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from
your own yard" (Spencer
W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 171; or Ensign, May
1976, 124).
"Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an
adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce
their own" (Ezra
Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, 47; or Ensign, Nov.
1980, 33).
Those Who Faithfully Follow the Counsel Will Be Blessed
"The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have
listened to prophets and stored at least a year’s supply of survival
food" (Ezra
Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 90; or Ensign; Jan.
1974, 80).
"Consider the important (food storage) program which we must never
forget nor put in the background. As we become more affluent and our bank
accounts enlarge, there comes a feeling of security, and we feel sometimes
that we do not need the supply that has been suggested by the Brethren. .
. . We must remember that conditions could change and a year’s supply of
basic commodities could be very much appreciated by us or others. So we
would do well to listen to what we have been told and to follow it
explicitly" (Spencer
W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170; or Ensign, May
1976, 124).
"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled
with at least a year’s supply. You don’t argue why it cannot be done;
you just plan to organize and get it done" (Spencer W. Kimball,
August 1976).
The Time to Disregard This Counsel Is Over
"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 believe the
time to disregard this counsel is over. With the events in the world
today, it must be considered with all seriousness. . . . Create a plan if
you don't already have one, or update your present plan . . . We are not
in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in
purchasing and rotating the storage that we're putting away." (L.
Tom Perry, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 47; or Ensign, Nov.
1995, 36).
|
"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
