With wars and rumors of wars, with inflation and oil prices increasing again, with natural disasters increasing and brother turning against brother, nation against nation, and pestilences (like a pandemic?) is there any doubt we should be preparing? What if things go back to “normal” and droughts are behind us, severe storms lessen, the world embraces negotiation to solve problems and interest rate and food prices drop? Then you can take an amazing vacation as you live off your General Store supplies. BUT, do you really believe that is going to happen?
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we have been warned by modern day prophets since Brigham Young that tough times will come and we need to be ready, and be prepared to thrive as we survive. Ancient prophets have also sounded a warning cry as they recorded the teachings of Jesus Christ.
This scripture was referred to in my last article but it is essential we understand the warnings of things Heavenly Father has warned us will come.
“Matthew 24: 5-12: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 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. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
“Suppose you had millions of bushels(of wheat) to sell, and could sell it for twenty dollars per bushel, or for a million dollars per bushel, no matter what amount, so that you sell all your wheat, and transport it out of the country, and you are left with nothing more than a pile of gold, what good would it do you? You could not eat it, drink it, wear it, or carry it off where you could have something to eat. The time will come that gold will hold no comparison in value to a bushel of wheat. Brigham Young (Journal of Discourses, 1:, p.250)
How prepared are you? Where can you begin if you are new to prepping? A good place to start is to ask yourself a few questions. Let’s start with these 35.
- Does your family have a meeting place?
- Have you created a phone tree with family and friends?
- Do you have an out of area contact?
- Have you mailed documents and other information to out of area contact? (See Important Documents)
- Does your family have a fire escape plan?
- Have you rehearsed your fire escape plan?
- Do you and your children know how to test the door to see if the fire is outside?
- Does everyone in the family know how to use a fire extinguisher?
- Do you have a fire escape ladder for the second story of your home?
- Do you have smoke detectors?
- Are flammable liquids stored outside the house?
- Does your family have an evacuation plan?
- Have you made evacuation assignments to each family member?
- Do you have evacuation responsibilities posted?
- Have you practiced your evacuation plan?
- Do you have a first aid kit?
- Do you have a first aid manual?
- Have you practiced basic first aid skills?
- Do you know how to splint a finger, arm, leg?
- Does a family member have a CPR training?
- Does a family member know Heimlich?
- Do you know what disasters are likely in your area?
- Have you subscribed to emergency notification systems?
- Do you know your community warning system?
- Do you know which radio and TV stations are the emergency broadcast providers in your area?
- Do you have emergency phone numbers posted by each phone?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of frostbite?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of seizures?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of snow blindness?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of heat related illnesses?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of hypothermia?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of dehydration?
- Do you know the signs and treatment of poisoning?
- Do you have the number for poison control posted?
- Do all family members know how to call 911?
Now that you have read through the questions to contemplate, how are you doing? Check off the ones you are confident have been completed. You now have a list of tasks that will prepare you for the challenges that lie ahead. Tackle one at a time. Some are simple and will take just a few minutes to accomplish. Some may take longer as you educate yourself and family.
This is not all that needs to be done, it is a strong beginning and self-check for those who have been preparing. We will address more so for now just begin, and self-assess.
It’s not too late to take stock of your preparations and to become committed to becoming self-reliant.
Howard W. Hunter’s words: “Surely the Lord loves, more than anything else, an unwavering determination to obey his counsel” (October General Conference, 1982).
For help in meeting your self-reliance goals join Carolyn at http://facebook.com/TotallyReady or her blog. Carolyn’s Totally Ready Emergency Binder (today’s article is an excerpt from the Totally Ready Binder) is available to purchase and download at Totallyready.com and can be purchased complete or one section at a time.
