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LDS (Mormon) Prophecy - Reasons for Preparedness |
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Scandinavian Area Conference Copenhagen, Denmark, August 1976
Now you probably have read of the terrible disaster in Idaho since our last conference. Brother Packer and I visited the scene of the disaster. A big dam burst and flooded many communities. The water that reached as high as twenty or thirty feet deep swished through the homes and farms and the Church buildings and wreaked great damage. Thousands of head of cattle and other animals were destroyed. We were grateful that the warning came in the daytime when all people could be warned. I think only seven people lost their lives, but the destruction was terrible. We just mention that so you will be prepared in this area. There are famines and dry periods. There are earthquakes and cyclones and divers problems that arise in the various parts of the country. The think that pleased us was that our people were partly ready. Even though their own personal supplies were washed away, yet we had a surplus in our storehouses. And almost as soon as the word went out, our trucks were moving to Idaho filled with tons of relief commodities. Ricks College, [a Church-sponsored college - A.S.] which was just above the water line, was used for homes and for the feeding of the people. Beds were made all through the college, and tens of thousands of people were taken care of. I suppse hundreds of thousands of meals were supplied. When we visited the President of the United States recently, I told him, "We are prepared." The Lord said, "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30.) Our Relief Society organizations and our bishoprics and our stake presidents all knew what to do. And the work went forward immediately while the nation was trying to get together and plan and organize. 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.
Boyd K. Packer (Asst. to the Twelve, 1961; Apostle, 1970) Scandinavian Area Conference Copenhagen, Denmark, August 1976
I would like to mention in more detail the flood in Idaho. President Kimball has mentioned our visit there were seventeen miles of water backed up behind it. All of that water was released on the valleys below. It was a quiet Saturday morning, a beautiful sunny day. There were 7,800 people livingin the immediate path of the flood, and another 25,000 or 30,000 further down the valley. Almost all of them are Latter-day Saints. ishoprics ...Wilford Ward, which was at the mouth of the canyon, was washed away - all of it - all of the houses, all of the barns, all of the gardens, everything - a whole ward gone. The chapel was gone. A mile or two downstream, Sugar City was washed away. The stake center and a few houses stood, but they were subject to terrible destruction. In all, 790 homes were completely destroyed. Most of them disappeared without a trace, except for the cement foundations. Eight hundred others were severly damaged, along with churches and schools and houses of business. ...President Kimball has mentioned what happened to the people. Only six died by drowning - six of about 35,000. How could there be such a terrible destruction with such little loss of life? They couldn't go up on theroof and be saved, because the houses were washed away. Most of them had several miles to go to high ground. Now, why did they live? prics Because they were warned! They didn't have very long, but they were warned; and every man that was warned warned his neighbor. ...But it was a miracle of tremendous proportion because as Latter-day Saints, we learn to heed the warnings. When there is a terrible destruction, we will warn our neighbors. There is page after page of miracles. Of how a father heard of the warning, but his children were scattered over the farm. He was in town, and his wife had no car. But they were saved. Miracles of how the aged and the infirm and the children were rescued. One expert said that there should have been about 5,300 people killed. But there were six, because they were warned and they heeded the warning.
Spencer W. Kimball Amsterdam Area Conference, August 1976
Elder Packer spoke to us in Copenhagen about a warning. The recent flood in Idaho, caused by the breaking of a great dam, overflowed many LDS communities. But the dam broke on a Saturday morning, so it gave an opportunity to get the warning out. Men rushed to their telephones and called all the people they could think of. The people rushed from their homes, leaving everything, and went to Ricks College, where they were housed and fed for many days because their homes and supplies were destroyed. But because they were warned early, most of the people were saved. Only six people were destroyed, and they were generally people who did not heed the warning. For instance, one older couple said they weren't going to move out of their home. They had a car that they could have gotten out with; but when the floods subsided, they were found drowned in their car. After it was too late and the flood was upon them, they tried to get out; but they were drowned. That is true of numerous youth and others if they will not listen to the warnings. And that is why we are here-to bring the warnings. And that is why we are here-to bring the warning message to all the people.
Boyd K. Packer Amsterdam Area Conference, August 1976
It was a beautiful, calm, Saturday morning, all the farmers were getting their crops in and working on their farms. There came a break in the dam, up in the mountains, seventeen miles of water backed up behind it. And finally it collapsed. The first community at the mouth of the canyon was Wilford. There were 7,800 people living just below the mountains, and down the valley a ways 25,000 or 30,000 more, almost all of them Latter-day Saints. Wilford Ward washed away - all of it, and all of the houses. The chapel stood, with just the walls and the sagging roof. But there was not a home, or a barn, or a garden, or anything left of Wilford Ward. A mile ot two downstream, Sugar City was washed away. The stake center and a few houses stood, but they were terribly damaged. In all, 790 homes disappeared, most of them without a trace. Some cement foundations were all you could find. Eight hundred other homes were badly damaged, as were schools and churches. Fourteen of our chapels were damaged or destroyed. But then you know about floods here, from your history, and sometimes you may be anxious about them. ...Now what about the people? As President Kimball told you, there were six lives lost by drowning. The experts say there should have been 5,300 deaths. But there were six: one fisherman just below the dam; two heard the warning but wouldn't leave until it was too late; three went back to get something. What about the other thousands? They were all saved. Why? Because they heeded the warning. They had almost no time when the warning first went out, but Latter-day Saints are trained to heed the warnings. We are a people who are trained to be obedient. We sustain our leaders. We uphold them and we obey them and we heed the warnings. ...You know, it is a great experience to listen to the miracles that took place in Idaho. One fourteen-year-old boy was in Rexburg when he heard the warning. He knew his little sister was home on the farm, sick in bed. When it was all over with, they were both up at the college safe. One of the teachers at the college was in his office that morning, and someone tapped at the door and said, "Turn on your radio. There is something happening." He thought of his wife out on the farm and his boys out irrigating, and he had the only car. There was no possible time for him to get there. How were they saved? They were warned by their neighbors. They were rescued by their neighbors. He prayed them out of the flood. Did you know you could do that?
Spencer W. Kimball October 1976 Regional Representatives Seminar Address
Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program.
Spencer W. Kimball October Conference, 1976
Our pride is great in the people who have listened and who have planted gardens and orchards and trees in the past months. From all directions we hear of gardens which have made an outstanding contribution. A couple in Alabama wrote, :We had vegetables all during the year. We feel it saved us quite a bit of money." One authority estimates there will be about 35 million home vegetable gardens this year, up from about 32.5 million last year, and he says that probably 41 percent of all American households will do some home canning this year, as against 37 percent a year ago. Many of the numerous gardens are found in hanging baskets, in containers on stairways, on trellises, and in window boxes. In Oklahoma a state university makes 240 plots available to married students. In Long Island some 400 plots have been turned over to residents. In Pennsylvania some 200,000 plots were under cultivation. One authority says, "I have my own garden and have found it's my sanity away from work." We would add to the garden-orchard project the clearing of yards and homes. We have mentioned it before. Still there are numerous homes with broken-down fences and barns, outbuildings that could probably be torn down or rebuilt, ditch banks that could be cleared. We congratulate all who have listened and followed counsel. From Frankfurt, Germany, this comes: "We are two families in the Frankfurt Mission, and we tell you about our garden. "It was not very easy to find a piece of land in a large city like Frankfurt-it is a tiny garden-and when we rented it, it looked like a
October 1wilderness, with a broken fence, a broken cottage, and wild grass all over. It did not discourage us. "First we made a new fence, repaired the cottage, and digged the whole garden. In the springtime we planted vegetables and the neighbours told us that it would not grow. There is a little stream where we can go on our bikes hanged with cans, and this way we carry our water. We prayed to the Lord that he would bless our garden. The Lord did answer our prayers. Every kind of vegetable came. It is so wonderful to see the plants grow. We take turns now to go to our garden and water our plants. We are happy to have a garden." ...We express our affection and sympathy to all those who have suffered in great calamities in the past months. The flood caused by the breaking of the Teton Dam brought misery and loss and suffering to numerous and good people. With its high wall of water, the flood took nearly everything before it. We are grateful that Ricks College facilities were just above the flood line and served to make a home away from home for many who had lost their homes and to furnish hundreds of thousands of meals during their dilemma. We are very proud indeed of the organization, the faithful work, the hospitality, and the self-sacrifice of numerous helpers in this great tragedy.
Victor L. Brown October Conference, 1976
Home production and storage is a very necessary element of personal and family preparedness; however, it is not the only element, nor is it necessarily the most significant element. Some people have reacted to the theme of preparedness as if it were a doomsday matter. In reality, all six elements of personal and family preparedness are to be emphasized so that the Latter-day Saints may be better prepared to meet the ordinary, day-to-day requirements of successful living. esentatives Our emphasis on this subject is not grounds for crisis thinking or panic. Quite the contrary, personal and family preparedness should be a way of provident living, an orderly approach to using the resources, gifts, and talents the Lord shares with us. So the first step is to teach our people to be self-reliant and independent through proper preparation for daily life.
Barbara B. Smith October Conference, 1976
My dear brothers and sisters, last July six stake Relief Society presidents visited me in my office; they were all from Idaho stakes affected by the Teton flood. The spoke of the labor and love given by thousands of priesthood volunteers and also of the service of countless Relief Society women who washed, scrubbed, cleaned, prepared food, cared for children, and performed other essential services for victims of that terrible disaster. today requiremen As those sisters spoke, several images came to my mind. I was reminded of one the beautiful sculptures of the Relief Society's Nauvoo monument - a woman with hands outstretched in an attitude of compassion, typifying the woman described in Proverbs: "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." (Prov. 31:20.) ...I recalled my own visit to the flood area, where I saw a cultural hall with tables with good clothing, clearly sized and marked; another room with neatly stacked food-cans of wheat, dehydrated milk, bottled fruit, nonfood items-all donated by individuals acting in spontaneous compassion and generosity. I remembered the spirit of love and unity, as members in nearby areas not affected by the flood opened their homes and shared their food and other supplies with flood victims. I thought at the time what a blessing it was that those who had been obedient to the counsel of the Brethren had sufficient personal supplies to share with the flood victims. Through this hard experience, lessons in preparedness and provident living were learned for the entire Church. ...1. Basic Food Storage. Included in the year's supply of basic foods should be life-sustaining foods that store well for a long time: grains (wheat, rice, corn, or other of the cereal grains); dried milk, dried fish or protein vegetables such as beans and peas and other fresh, canned, dried, or pickled fruits and vegetables; sugar or a sugar substitute such as honey; some form of fats; salt; and water. Fresh taro or sweet potato, and live pigs, chickens, or fish might be considered as a supply in some area of the world where it is difficult to store food. Remember that regular use of whole grains is important in building a digestive tolerance for roughage. 2. Basic Clothing and Fuel Storage 3. Emergency Storage. You may wish to consider storing, where they could be picked up at a moment's notice, such items as water, food needing no refrigeration or cooking, medications needed by family member, a first-aid booklet and first-aid supplies, an ax, shovel, and blanket. These would be used when a family or individual only has a short time to flee a disaster or needs to stay in a sheltered area within the home. It is also wisdom to have the family's important papers and documents together where they could be picked up at a moment's notice. 4. Expanded Storage. Families may also wish to expand their basic storage to include foods and other daily essentials that would supply total nutritional needs and allow for variety and personal preferences in diet and living. These would be things normally used every day, for which frequent shopping is done. ...I repeat, home storage should consist of a year's supply of basic food, clothing, and where possible, fuel. After this goal is reached, emergency and expanded storage is desirable. In all of our storage, quality products, proper containers and storage facilities, proper storage temperature, and regular rotation are important considerations. Some of the recent disasters in which Church members have been involved show that there is a need for diversification in _places_ of storage and in types of containers. Perhaps not all storage should be concentrated in one area of the houses, not all should be stored in tin or plastic containers, not all in glass containers. I outlined in the April 1976 welfare services meeting eight suggested topics for Relief Society homemaking mini-classes. I repeat these by way of review: How to save systematically for emergencies and home storage. How to, what to, and where to store. How to store seeds, prepare soil, acquire proper tools for gardening. How to grow your own vegetables. How to can and dry foods. How to teach and help your family eat foods needed for physical health. How to do basic machine and hand sewing, mending, and clothing remodeling. How to plan and prepare nutritious, appetizing meals, using the resources available and foods from home storage shelves. May I also strongly urge stake and district Relief Society leaders to encourage miniclass instruction on how to use the basic food storage items in daily diets. I ask Relief Society leaders to secure and study approved materials on home storage appropriate to local culture, climate, and area; to counsel with local priesthood leaders and make realistic storage plans available to the people in their area. Plans for storage may vary according to the circumstances of individuals or families. But always the guidelines will be helpful that are set forth in the Church Welfare Services Department bulletion, "Essentials of Home Storage," available through Church Distribution. Local university and government departments could also be a source of help.
Ezra Taft Benson April Conference, 1977
Economic and social conditions appear most ominous worldwide today. With revelation and prophecy as our guide, I think it is not extreme for me to say that when all is written about our present generation, it may truly be said that we had hardly enough time to prepare. To meet the impending crisis, I venture to say that all our spiritual and temporal resources will be taxed to the very limit. The Lord has declared: "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30.) ...Great blessings come to us as individuals and to His Church as we support the Lord's program for the care of the poor and needy. I have experienced these blessings firsthand in distributing food, clothing, and bedding to the suffering members of the Church in Europe following Word War II. I witnessed the starving, the emaciated, and the barefoot. It was a piteous sight. My heart went out in compassion to all our Heavenly Father's suffering children. I remember so well the arrival of our first Church welfare supplies in Berlin. I took with me the acting president of the mission, President Richard Ranglack. We walked to the old battered warehouse which, under armed guard, housed the precious welfare goods. St the far end of the warehouse we saw the boxes piled almost to the ceiling. "Are those boxes of food?" Richard said. "Do you mean to tell me those are boxes full of food?" "Yes, my brother," I replied, "food and clothing and bedding, and, I hope, a few medical supplies." Richard and I took down one of the boxes. We opened it. It was filled with the commonest of common foods-dried beans. As that good man saw it, he put his hands into it and ran it through his fingers, than broke down and cried like a child with gratitude. We opened another box, filled with cracked wheat, nothing added or taken away, just as the Lord made it and intended it to be. He touched a pinch of it to his mouth. After a moment he looked at me through his tearful eyes-and mine were wet, too-and he said, while slowly shaking his head, "Brother Benson, it is hard to believe that people who have never seen us could do so much for us."
Spencer W. Kimball April Conference, 1977
The Lord goes further and says: "I will...destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate." (Lev. 26:22.) Can you think how the highways could be made desolate? When fuel and power are limited, when there is none to use, when men will walk instead of ride? Have you ever thought, my good folks, that the matter of peace is in the hands of the Lord who says: "And I will bring a sword upon you..." (Lev. 26:25.) Would that be difficult? Do you read the papers? Are you acquainted with the hatreds of the world? What guarantee have you for permanent peace? "...and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy." (Lev. 26:25.) Are there enemies who could and would afflict us? Have you thought of that? "And I will make your cities waste," he says, "and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation.... "Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as longas it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. "As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest [when it could] in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it." (Lev. 26:31, 34-35.) Those are difficult and very serious situations, but they are possible. ...The Lord uses the weather sometimes to discipline his people for the violation of his laws. ...We deal with many things which are thought to be not so spiritual; but all things are spiritual with the Lord, and he expects us to listen, and to obey, and to follow the commandments.
Spencer W. Kimball October Conference, 1977
As you know, in the recent past we have placed considerable emphasis on personal and family preparedness. I hope that each member of the Church is responding appropriately to this direction. I also hope that we are understanding and accentuating the positive and not the negative. I like the way the Relief Society teaches personal and family preparedness as "provident living." This implies the husbanding of our resources, the wise planning of financial matters, full provision for As that good man personal health, and adequate preparation for education and career development, giving appropriate attention to home production and storage as well as the development of emotional resiliency. ...I hope that we understand that, while having a garden, for instance, is often useful in reducing food costs and making available delicious fresh fruits and vegetables, it does much more than this. Who can gauge the value of that special chat between daughter and Dad as they weed or water the garden? How do we evaluate the good that comes from the obvious lessons of planting, cultivating, and the eternal law of the harvest? And how do we measure the family togetherness and cooperating that must accompany successful canning? Yes, we are laying up resources in store, but perhaps the greater good is contained in the lessons of life we learn as we _live providently_ and extend to our children their pioneer heritage. In like manner we could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a lifestyle that is on a day-to-day basis its own reward. Let's do these things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord. In this spirit we will be prepared for most eventualities, and the Lord will prosper and comfort us. It is true that difficult times will come-for the Lord has foretold them-and, yes, stakes of Zion are "for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm." (D&C 115:6.) But if we live wisely and providently, we will be as safe as in the palm of his hand. I hope that in our priesthood quorums and Relief Society meetings the concepts of personal and family preparedness are being properly taught and wit the kind of positive approach that we all respond to.
Spencer W. Kimball
October Conference, 1977
..._Gardens can provide savings and pleasure._ We are highly pleased with the response to the planting of gardens. It is health-building, both from the raising of crops and the eating of them. It is delightful to see so many gardens all over the land, and reports come on from numerous families and individuals who have obtained much saving and pleasure in the planting of gardens. We hope this will be a permanent experience of our people, that they will raise much of what they use on their table.
A. Theodore Tuttle (Seventy 1976-1986) April Conference, 1978
Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead....Let every man who has a garden spot, garden it; every man who owns farm, farm it." (Conference Report, Apr. 1937, p. 26.) Cash is not food, it is not clothing, it is not coal, it is not shelter; and we have got to the place where no matter how much cash we have, we cannot secure those things in the quantities which we may need....All that you can be certain you will have is that which you produce.
Spencer W. Kimball April Conference, 1978
With the arrival of spring we hope all of you will put in your gardens and prepare to enjoy their produce this summer. We hope you are making this a family affair, with everyone, even the little ones, assigned to something. There is so much to learn and harvest from your garden, far more than just a crop itself. We also hope that you are maintaining your year's supply of food, clothing, and where possible some fuel and cash savings. ...Would you see to it that in your quorum and Relief Society meetings the principles and practices of personal and family preparedness are taught. ..._Gardening brings us close to nature._ Even if the tomato you eat is a two-dollar tomato, it will bring satisfaction anyway and remind us all of the law of the harvest, which is relentless in life. We do reap what we sow. Even if the plot of soil you cultivate, plant, and harvest is a small one, it brings human nature closer to nature as was the case in the beginning with our first parents. ..._Free agency requires self-reliance._ No amount of philosophizing, excuses, or rationalizing will ever change the fundamental need for self-reliance....With this agency [agency = freedom to choose - A..S.] we can rise to glory or fall to condemnation....The principle of self-reliance stands behind the Church's emphasis on personal and family preparedness.
Spencer W. Kimball April Conference, 1978
..._Plant gardens._ Many have done much to beautify their homes and and family yards. Many others have followed counsel to have their own gardens wherever it is possible so that we do not lost contact with the soil and so that we can have the security of being able to provide at least some of our food and necessities. Grow all the food that you possibly can on your own property, if water is available; berry bushes, grapevines, and fruit trees are most desirable. Plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat those grown in your own yard. Even those residing in apartments or condominiums can generally grow a little food in pots and planters.
Victor L. Brown October Conference, 1978
A couple serving as welfare services missionaries were asked to assist members in planting family gardens. Seeds were obtained by President Castaneda through community resources and distributed to the members. He took the lead by planting the first garden. Almost all of the members followed his example. It was soon found that in order to raise a garden, provisions had to be made to keep the pigs from running loose. Pens also had to be constructed for the chickens; it seemed that there were able to scratch out the seeds and young plants faster than they could grow. In addition to the gardens, storage also became a part of the program. Members were taught how to dry fruits and vegetables, and canning was done on a small scale. Jams and jellies were made, using appropriate local methods. Part of their year's supply included grains grown in their fields and then stored. They had to learn how to keep them from being infested by insects and rats. Wood which was brought in from the mountains and stored was later used as fuel for cooking as well as for heating water to wash dishes and clean the house. As cleanliness and sanitation were emphasized, the members began den. Almost abuilding bathrooms adjacent to their homes. Prior to the project, members in Bermejillo had no bathrooms. In this small building [slide shown], the first flush toilet in Bermejillo was installed with a septic tank dug in the courtyard to contain the waste. A shower was also built. It consisted of a fifty-gallon drum on the roof which was filled with water in the morning, warmed by the sun during the day, and was ready for a warm shower in the evening. ...Members in Bermejillo had access to water which was piped from a nearby city but which was unsafe to drink. Boiling the water was too difficult because of the scarcity of fuel. So mothers were taught to purify it by putting three drops of chlorine bleach in each quart of water. Purifying the water has reduced illness due to diarrhea, amoebae, and typhoid fever.
H. Burke Peterson October Conference, 1978
In the area of home production and storage, we still have the year's supply room in the basement with the sign designating it as the "Peterson Family Store." However, our garden and our year's supply program is not the same as it was fifteen years ago. Our family store reflects the needs of two adults, one child, and many visitors instead of the needs of two adults and five children, as it did in years past.
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