Saturday School: Progress is a Success

Goals.  We make them with lofty ideals to be better and do better.  How do we do in reaching them?  Perhaps we haven't met our new year's resolutions yet, or even haven't started trying, but there is still opportunity to work on them.  Any progress we make, large or small, is success.  Perhaps the goal to lose 10 lbs isn't going as quickly as hoped, but if any lifestyle changes have been made that has impacted health and weight at all, there is still a measure of success.  Sometimes we look at the end goal and think we are only successful if we reach that and forget that all the steps and changes we've made along the way are successes in and of themselves.

So what about the goal to have a short term or long term supply of food and other necessary items?  Or is this even one of the goals for this year?  As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have the opportunity to have reminders about home storage and other provident living aspects. We get reminded that faith is in direct correlation to our doings--faith is a principle of action not just periodic thoughts of goodness.  When it comes to food storage we have to remember that our intentions won't be what we can eat and be nourished by in times of crisis, but it is the actual physical items we store that can make the difference between being nourished and fed or being hungry.  

One of my favorite quotes that goes along with food storage is about beginning and continuing at whatever level we are able to.  Here is that quote as well as my thoughts on it, that I've already shared on my blog about page:

"The first step is to begin.  The second is to continue.  It doesn’t matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities.”  (Family Home Storage A New Message, Ensign, Mar 2009).

Isn’t that just so encouraging?  The fact that we can begin wherever we are, and work on it at our ability to move us forward.

In Mandarine Chinese there is a saying: “Jiayou!” (pronounced j-yah yo).  Which literally means add oil, but in its idiomatic expression it expresses encouragement.  Encouragement to keep working hard & put in the necessary effort to accomplish the task at hand or just general encouragement that you can have the strength to do what you need to.  

I think this is a good time to say “Jiayou”  to families to get their home storage:  follow the prophets' counsel and do it knowing the Lord is on your side, it is possible!

加油 (Jiayou)

So whether your goals include losing weight, getting a home storage, saving money, getting an education, improving your relationships or any of a multitude of other worthwhile goals, first, begin then make progress by continuing, and count that progress a success.

Wednesday Why: College Students & Food Storage

Q:  Should college students have a home storage?


A:  My opinion is that they should have something--at least a 72 hour kit.  If they have room under the bed or in a closet, they could have a few more things, but probably only like a 1 month supply rather than a year supply.  For ideas on storing in small spaces see last weeks post here.


This question has been asked before, see this article:  “The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Production and Storage,” Ensign, August 1977.  Here is what it says about college students and those who move a lot:


"Barbara B. Smith, general president of the Relief Society, when asked if Young Adult sisters should try to start a food storage program, replied:

“We’re really not encouraging them to get into an extensive food storage program while in school, but we do think they should learn provident living: how to plan, budget, and save for tomorrow. They can learn to have more than one or two weeks of supplies on hand. They can learn sound purchasing habits.” (Ensign, March 1977, p. 37.)

However, if you are in school and married or out of school and establishing yourself, and if small apartments or moving around a lot are a regular pattern in your life, you should work on overcoming the limitations of your situation: “Often in rather limited space, basic food items such as wheat, dried milk, sugar or honey, and salt can be stored. Closets, attics, space under beds, or even space made available by family or friends can be utilized for food storage.” In this case, “it is better to have food storage sufficient for a few months than to have no storage at all.” (Essentials of Home Storage pamphlet.)

Some additional methods of storage for those in this situation are:

1. Store food in dual-purpose places, e.g., as the foundation for a mattress, under a table, etc.

2. Join with other families in similar circumstances and all contribute to a “perpetual” community supply of some sort, which would continue for others even after you leave. (This is not an ideal arrangement, but is one alternative. In a real crisis we should be willing to share whatever food we have with others anyway.)

3. If possible, share with your own parents or “adopt” another permanent family and contribute to their food storage program, with the understanding that they would share with you during an emergency."

These are some ideas for those living in limited space, like a college student.  So if you have limited space, there are still things that can be done--learning to plan, to budget, menu planning, etc. as well as storing a limited amount of items.

Wednesday Why: Long-term Food Storage Encouragement

Wednesday Why:  Today I’d like to share what I think is a great question that comes from “The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Production and Storage,” Ensign, August 1977.  There are many questions in this article that are worth asking and answering, but today I want to focus on just this one:

“What are the basic food storage items, and how much of each of them is needed to last the average person a year?

In the October 1976 welfare session of general conference, Barbara B. Smith, general president of the Relief Society, outlined the basic food storage items that should be included with supplies of clothing and, where possible, fuel in a good home storage program:

“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 fruit or 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.” (Ensign, November 1976, p. 121.)

It’s obvious, of course, that exactly what to store, how much to store, and how to store it all depend on a number of factors: where we live, what customs we have, what kind of climate we live in, personal requirements or tastes, etc. Many variations and combinations of the basic items might be appropriate.

One suggested combination of these basic items would be: 300 pounds dry cereal grains, 75 pounds dry milk, 60 pounds sugar or honey, 60 pounds legumes (such as beans and peas), 20 pounds fats, and 5 pounds salt. This would supply approximately 2,150 calories a day for a year—enough for an adult female. Men need 500–700 more calories a day; small children need less; and growing teenagers need approximately as much as an adult man. All individuals and families will want to think very carefully about their particular circumstances and storage needs and plan accordingly.” (Ensign, Aug 1977)

I think that sums it up pretty good, but I want to add my own ideas, too as far as storing items people may not like or be familiar with as I know some people aren’t familiar with certain long-term food storage items like wheat or beans and how to use them.  I personally suggest storing them and learning how to use them during times when there isn’t an emergency.  This way you have the items and know how to make them tasty.

But what about items you’ve tried but don’t like or still haven’t learned to use?   I still suggest storing at least a little of them.  Why?  Because in emergencies, especially in extended emergencies, certain items (like food) become the currency both in obtaining items and in satisfying our own hunger (even if we don’t like the food, people tend to eat rather than starve).  Certain items can be bartered for other items.  So beyond the fact that the food would be useful to a person, it can be used to barter for other items or services that are necessary.

Throughout history items were the currency at times of plenty as well as times of scarcity.  During the Great Depression, as one family member who lived during that time has told me, things like a sack of potatoes or a chicken were used to pay for necessary medical or dental services.  I’ve also read that during and after the great world wars, things like oil and sugar were scarce so these items could be bartered for a lot of other items. 

“When we think in terms of our own year’s supply of those foods and materials we use on a regular basis, we may feel that every family will have to store everything.  This, of course, is not easy and seems to make storage difficult...We need to take into consideration that in difficult times, so long as there survives more than one family, there will be trading of valuable items.  A free market will begin immediately to satisfy the needs of people, and items in greatest demand will set the price, bypassing the use of money.” (“How Beautiful to Live in these Times and Be Prepared!”, Elder F. Enzio Busche, Ensign, June 1982)  

I am not saying that this gives us permission to store less, but rather I’m encouraging us to look beyond storing only food that we like and know how to prepare.  I suggest still storing those long-term food storage items that we may not be as familiar with but are items others may be.  But as always, I first suggest storing foods that we are familiar with (so we can rotate through them) and then learning to prepare what we store during non-emergency situations.  And hopefully, there won’t be a need to barter for items we don’t or didn’t store.

Here is the current home storage guidelines:  Ensign Mar 2009.  I highly recommend reading this article as it not only explains our personal responsibility to have a home storage, but it is encouraging too: 

“Perhaps in the past accumulating a year’s supply of food may have been a little intimidating and even illegal in some places,”  says Dennis Lifferth, a managing director of Church Welfare Services.  “But this new approach asks us to set aside a can or two each week.  If the prophet asks us to do something, we can find a way to fulfill the commandment and receive blessings.”

“This new program is within everyone’s grasp,” explains Bishop Burton.  “The first step is to begin.  The second is to continue.  It doesn’t matter how fast we get there so much as that we begin and continue according to our abilities.”  (Family Home Storage A New Message, Ensign, Mar 2009).

Isn’t that just so encouraging?  The fact that we can begin wherever we are, and work on it at our ability to move us forward.

In Mandarine Chinese there is a saying, “Jiayou!” (pronounced j-yah yo).  Which literally means add oil, but in its idiomatic expression it expresses encouragement.  Encouragement to keep working hard & put in the necessary effort to accomplish the task at hand or just general encouragement that you can have the strength to do what you need to.  

I think this is a good time to say “Jiayou”  to families to get there home storage:  follow the prophets counsel and do it knowing the Lord is on your side, it is possible!

加油 (Jiayou)

Miscellaneous Monday: Individual Independence

Just some thoughts for today that come from a talk given almost 30 years ago.  Counsel given by our leaders is timeless--it was wise counsel then and is just as much now.

“The only way the Church can stand independent is for its members to stand independent, for the Church IS its members.” (Elder Albert E. Bowen 1946; quoted by Elder J. Thomas Fyans, Ensign, May 1982)

“With the headlines of newspapers and cover stories of magazines full of doom and gloom about the economy, it is well for us to recall the counsel which we as a church have heard for years. That counsel has included such things as obtaining a year’s supply of food, staying out of debt, and preparing for employment. Following this counsel has meant financial salvation to many who have found themselves unemployed during the past year.

The Lord has commanded us to remain self-sufficient, thus retaining our independence.

These economically turbulent times should not come as a shock to members of the Church who have been listening. Neither should they be devastating to those who have followed the counsel which they have heard. The scriptures tell us we will have this and much more, while at the same time whispering, “Peace, be still.” (Mark 4:39.) “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30.) And “All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:7.)

Therefore, at this time of economic difficulty, let us rejoice in the fact that we have the restored gospel which gives perspective to the ups and downs in life. Let troubled times serve as a catalyst for introspection and soul searching—followed by increased spirituality. We need to be more sensitive to those around us who may be affected more than ourselves and help each other through this valley. As a people, we should rise to the challenge and grow from it. We need to proceed with optimism and not fall victim to the debilitating effects of negative, doomsday attitudes.

 (Elder J. Thomas Fyans, “Employment Challenges in the 1980s", Ensign, May 1982)

Thrifty Thursday: Getting Preparedness Supplies

Thrifty Thursday:  Getting your preparedness supplies

Being prepared:  The first step is to plan--plan what your family will need & want for emergencies, then gather the supplies needed to meet those needs/wants.  Then, you practice!  Learn how to use those items, learn what works and what doesn’t.  Practice using your storage items during non-stressful situations so that your family can become familiar with set-up, tastes, preparation methods, etc. of the supplies and food you are storing. 

Once you’ve planned as a family what you will want and need for your emergency supplies (72 hour kit, 3 month & 1 year supply).  Then comes the time to gather those items.

Pre-Gathering:

First: research the products you are looking at buying, making or getting.  Learn if they will indeed work for you, if you will be able to properly maintain them and use them, what the track record for those items are--good or bad reviews--do they break easily, etc.  Learn the average costs of buying commercial made compared to making homemade.  Also, determine if you have the skills, tools and ability to make homemade.

Gather: through buying, making or gifting

Buy: maybe for the cheaper items go ahead and buy them so you can start the gathering process; but for the more expensive items, wait and look around for sales or find them at garage sales even.  You want the best value for your money.  Not always is the cheapest the best value (like a dollar store car reflector screen is not to the same value as those obtained elsewhere), nor is always the most expensive the best value either.

Here are some examples of deals that can be found:

A simple butane stove was around $20 a couple of years ago.  But, by waiting, Walgreens had a sale for a simple one for $5!  (this was a few years ago, haven’t found/heard of this great of deal since)

Camp stoves--these often come on sale, too, in the summer.  Or occasionally you might even find some on clearance for 25-75% off--I periodically check the camping section for such deals on the things on my list.

Water:  periodically the grocery store has sales on the water bottles.  During and just before hurricane season is a time when water comes on sale often enough to spread out the buying over weeks or months.

Clothing, Shoes & Socks:  during back to school time and other times of the year, some stores have great sales on clothing--buy one get one free; don’t forget garage sales & thrift stores--just make sure that the used clothing is usable and in a condition you are happy with.

Food:  for 72 hour kits--those little fruit cups are on sale during back to school time, as are pop-tarts, and other little food items that are shelf-stable (because of being “bag lunch” items).  For 3 month or long-term supply--watch the sales & buy one get one free sales.

Make:  What about making things?  

Making your own solar oven out of a car reflector screen is much cheaper than buying one!  Chopping your own wood is cheaper than buying it prechopped.  Making a cardboard box oven is a great way to have baked goods, but for not much cost--there are a lot of instructions available online on how to make one.  

Homemade items can be made to order (in some aspects anyway):  a homemade solar oven can be dissembled and folded for easy storage, whereas a commercial sun oven takes up more storage space, a homemade box oven can be made to have a door with a oven bag window or simply made to be put over the heat & food.

Gifting:  Another great way to gather your supplies (this again is one way my family gets/gives what is wanted/needed):  when friends or family ask what you want for birthdays or Christmas--give them some ideas off of your preparedness supplies list!  And vise versa--for you giving to them--ask what things on their preparedness list they’d like to get.  For Christmas my family has been given things like:  a small first aid kit, a homemade solar still kit, toilet paper, flashlights, toothbrushes and more.  Very practical and useful gifts!  It might seem weird to give food storage or other preparedness items for a Christmas, wedding gift or college bound student gift--but hey, it sure is useful!

In all your getting, don’t forget to plan!  I’d like to share this quote from the April 2003 Liahona: Letter from the First Presidency (dated Jan.20 2002) talking about members obtaining a year supply of basic necessities:

“Members should be prudent and not panic or go to extremes in this effort. Through careful planning, most Church members can, over time, establish both a financial reserve and a year’s supply of essentials.”

I like this quote because it emphasizes the need to plan.  Plan what you’ll need/want, then get it and use it.

A Wagon-Ho Wednesday: Spiritual Preparation

What's in your wagon?  Pioneer day just past, but with it comes the remembrance of the great sacrifices and faith of the saints who filled their wagons and went westward.  What did they put in their wagons that allowed them to make it?  Food, tools, clothing?  Yes, and those things certainly were used and necessary.  But to have made the decision and then to move forward with determination they also had to have faith and a foundation of obedience.  

What do we do when the prophet speaks?  What motivates us to fill our obedience wagons and move forward?  Duty, fear, love, habit?  Obedience may not always be easy, it may feel like pushing or pulling a wagon through mud or sand (have you ever tried pushing things in sand?), but it is what gives us what we need physically (food, water, tools) and spiritually (strength, faith, peace, testimony). 

I know that when we follow the prophet, we are happy.  When we follow the counsel to have a food storage, and a major or minor emergency strikes, we are happy because we can sustain ourselves--if not by the actual food we set aside (because some disasters destroy this) we are at least able to sustain our spiritual strength to move forward.  Obedience isn't a one time occasion that automatically propels us into heaven, but rather an enduring attribute and desire associated with faith and action that leads us to do even the hard things day in and day out, during our times of ease as well as times of trial, it means being obedient in all things not just those that seem convenient.

I really like what President Henry B. Eyring had to say about spiritual preparation in the October 2005 General Conference, his whole talk is so wonderful it was hard to shorten it to just the below:

"So, the greatest test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life.  It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage.

"It will take unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to choose the way to eternal life.  It is by using that faith we can know the will of God.  It is by acting on that faith we build the strength to do the will of God.  And it is by exercising that faith in Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation and gain forgiveness through the Atonement.

"However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly.  We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure.  Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation.  Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.

"Decisions now to exercise faith and be steady in obedience will in time produce great faith and assurance.  That is the spiritual preparedness we all will need.  And it will qualify us in the moments of crisis to receive the Lord's promise that "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.'"  (Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady, Henry B. Eyring, Ensign Nov 2005)

What's in a name?

As I was debating whether to do a blog or not, I also debated over possible blog titles.  A lot of the great preparedness sites already available have such great names to go along with them.  I wanted something that meant something, I came up with a list of about 25 names, narrowed it down to about 5, and finally chose this one.  Here is the quote that inspired me:

“Some of the brethren … approached [President Wilford Woodruff] and … inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!’ I think we may well take this as a page for our own book and live as if the end might be tomorrow—and still plant cherry trees! In worrying about things that are beyond our reach, we should not overlook our opportunities with our own families and friends; in worrying about possible eventualities we should not neglect the things that need to be done here and now, and that are within our reach” (Elder Richard L. Evans, in Conference Report, Apr. 1950, 105–6). (emphasis added by me to show my inspiration)

I love the explanation Elder Evans gives to this simple, yet profound acknowledgement that we need to live and prepare for tomorrow and for eternity, we simply need to take the opportunity that is ours to be with our family, to do the things that need to be done now, and to prepare for tomorrow.