prepared

are you prepared? according to our stake president (SP) at the adult session of stake conference last night, a lot of people are not prepared. he talked about the financial situation in our nation, its affect on the members of our stake, and specifically of the scripture in Doctrine & Covenants 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. "

isn't it interesting how we now see revealed to us the wickedness (and greed) of men and women at the head of failed financial institutions?

the SP talked specifically about a man he had recently met with who, after reading that scripture said, "I'm not prepared so I should be afraid." i'm sure all of us can understand his logic - we too might feel fear if we are not prepared. but our SP said that isn't necessarily how the Lord would have us think. he suggested the Lord could have also phrased the scripture, "Be prepared, just be prepared." The absence of fear is one of the blessings that comes from being prepared and following the counsel to do so.

our SP went on to discuss how certain people view fast offerings as a loan to the church, to be repaid when they find themselves in financial trouble. this was a shock to me! i had never thought of my fast offering donation as money that i was entitled to. gratefully, we have never been in a situation where we have had to request aid from the church. the fast offering funds are specifically at the discretion of the bishop to be used to provide the basic necessities - food, clothing, shelter - not to pay for house payments and car payments and other consumer debt.

with all of the turmoil politically and economically lately, i've felt a deep sense of gratitude for our situation. we have employment, a home we can afford, and we are always able to make ends meet. i have felt an overwhelming feeling to not 'freak out' - to continue to save and store a little extra here and there. we have lots of work to do on our food storage but thankfully the leaders of our church have recognized the need to simplify "being prepared"with things like the "All Is Safely Gathered In" pamphlet; and providing us with ward leaders and programs to facilitate our efforts. the pamphlet includes these simple basics:

1) 3-month supply of food
2) store drinking water
3) financial reserve
4) longer-term supply (no longer specific to one year or two years...but, "food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive")

here is a link to another article that i found a few years ago that i really like and i think it helps to break down the process of preparing financially and otherwise: http://ce.byu.edu/ed/edweek/handouts/2005/22.pdf. i especially like how high on the list of steps the author places "teaching our children good financial management" and "be a financial management advocate and an example to others."

each month we try to add a little more to our financial and food stores and hopefully, faithfully, if/when the time comes, it will be enough.