I do not wish to talk about food storage, or how to make lemon marangue pie using only wheat. I do not wish to discuss how many pounds of powdered milk you need per person (30) or whether honey is better than powedered sugar.
Instead I wish to talk about sacrifice and obedience. Throughout time, the Lord has given us the fullness of the gospel. From time to time he has had to take the fullness away and give us lesser law. But the fullness has been on the earth in every dispensation. Along with that gospel came Prophets to lead, instruct, relay the will of the Lord, call to repentance, and warn us of calamities.
In every dispensation, the living prophet gives us instruction in addition to what has been given before, and in addition to scripture. We receive this every conference. One of the reasons for this counsel is to help us deal with the reality of our current situation. As useful as it is to read the words of Brigham Young for example, they are less useful to us than the last conference address by President Monson. He is speaking to us for this day.
Preparedness is a temporal principle. It teaches us to be ready for the challenges of modern society where systems are so complex and interdependent, that a slight disturbance can create a huge disruption in the delivery of goods. But in addition to being a form of temporal salvation, it is more importantly a principle of obedience. The following story illustrates what I mean here.
A few years ago I was talking with some people of Rexburg, Idaho, about the devastating flood following the bursting of the Teton Dam.
The story of one woman is especially interesting in terms of obedience. I asked this woman if her family had been seriously affected by the flood, She drove me to a hill overlooking the city to which citizens had rushed when the flood warning was given. From there they could watch the wide path of raging water and follow the destruction of their own homes in its wake.
“Yes,” she exclaimed, “we were seriously affected. But first let me give you some background.”
Then she told me that the family had struggled for years to get adequate housing for their growing family. At last there came a day when a fine house was finished with appropriate bedrooms and storage. They had worked out a remarkable facility for their year’s supply of food and commodities.
One morning shortly before dawn broke, they smelled smoke. Their new home on rural acreage was consumed by flames. The fire took everything but their lives and the night clothing they were wearing. Everything-including the food storage gathered at the counsel of a prophet.
“But, it was wonderful to see the Lord’s blessings unfold,” she continued. “Before the day was over we had clothes to wear and places to sleep with neighbors. Within a year we were able to build another house and fill it with our children and our newly acquired year’s supply of staples.”
“That is wonderful,” I agreed.
“Yes, but shortly after we moved in the Teton Dam broke. We were right in the path of that raging mile-wide broom that swept this valley clean. From this hill where we stand, we watched our house go. We had binoculars, but because we were crying they weren’t much good.”
A neighbor who didn’t understand gospel principles had scoffed at this family’s futile preparations for some future time. When trouble came, their food storage had burned or washed away. Now that neighbor said to the family, “What good is it to collect all that food storage, all those emergency supplies? If you go through that ridiculous process again, that is your business, but don’t tell me about it. It hasn’t done you any good. Why go to that trouble if you can’t eat it when you need it?”
My friend was thoughtful before such an accusation. Then she firmly replied, “Nobody told me I had to eat it.”
In my mind, obedience to the principle of preparation is a subset to the principle of following the prophet. This woman and her family were obedient, even if the obedience DID NOT PROVIDE TEMPORAL SALVATION. They obeyed.
The second part of obedience is sacrifice. In order to be obedient, this family sacrificed other things. New cars, boats, trailers, quads. They focused on home and food storage first. I am not suggesting that we not have the other things, but rather that we prioritize them. To follow the Lord’s priorities, we must sacrifice some of the priorities the world would place on us. Economist Daniel Kanaman notes that making choices like this feels painful and that is why we avoid them. We avoid these choices because they are painful. If we do them out of love for those we will save rather than fear, we might be more successful.
If we accept that obedience is a key spiritual principle, let me talk to that component of temporal salvation through preparation. If you can look at world events and not see the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the last days and the second coming of the Lord, you are simply NOT paying attention. We are inundated by indications that the times of prosperity are short, and that we are looking at austerity, and foretold destructions. The prophecies of the last days are many and frankly quite frightening. Read D&C 29 and 45 before bed tonight if you want some interesting dreams.
So what will food storage and preparations mean in these trying times? Here are the words of modern prophets.
"Maintain a year's supply. The Lord has urged that his people save for the rainy days, prepare for the difficult times, and put away for emergencies, a year's supply or more of bare necessities so that when comes the flood, the earthquake, the famine, the hurricane, the storms of life, our families can be sustained through the dark days. How many of us have complied with this? We strive with the Lord, finding many excuses: We do not have room for storage. The food spoils. We do not have the funds to do it. We do not like these common foods. It is not needed -- there will always be someone to help in trouble. The government will come to the rescue. And some intend to obey but procrastinate." The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.375
BTW one of our key training memes is, “Do NOT go to the Superdome. No matter what, don’t go to the superdome.” Government agencies, no matter how well intentioned, do not have your best interests at heart.
"Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church -- and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing – a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned." (ETB, God, Family, Country, p. 383.)
"The revelation to produce and store food will be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." Pres. Ezra Taft Bensen
When the lord commanded Noah to go into the ark with his family, he sealed the ark. Why? Because Noah could no doubt hear the plaintive wails of his neighbors and even his family begging to be admitted. But it was too late. The Lord sealed the ark.
“Yes, but shortly after we moved in the Teton Dam broke. We were right in the path of that raging mile-wide broom that swept this valley clean. From this hill where we stand, we watched our house go. We had binoculars, but because we were crying they weren’t much good.”
A neighbor who didn’t understand gospel principles had scoffed at this family’s futile preparations for some future time. When trouble came, their food storage had burned or washed away. Now that neighbor said to the family, “What good is it to collect all that food storage, all those emergency supplies? If you go through that ridiculous process again, that is your business, but don’t tell me about it. It hasn’t done you any good. Why go to that trouble if you can’t eat it when you need it?”
My friend was thoughtful before such an accusation. Then she firmly replied, “Nobody told me I had to eat it.”
In my mind, obedience to the principle of preparation is a subset to the principle of following the prophet. This woman and her family were obedient, even if the obedience DID NOT PROVIDE TEMPORAL SALVATION. They obeyed.
The second part of obedience is sacrifice. In order to be obedient, this family sacrificed other things. New cars, boats, trailers, quads. They focused on home and food storage first. I am not suggesting that we not have the other things, but rather that we prioritize them. To follow the Lord’s priorities, we must sacrifice some of the priorities the world would place on us. Economist Daniel Kanaman notes that making choices like this feels painful and that is why we avoid them. We avoid these choices because they are painful. If we do them out of love for those we will save rather than fear, we might be more successful.
If we accept that obedience is a key spiritual principle, let me talk to that component of temporal salvation through preparation. If you can look at world events and not see the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the last days and the second coming of the Lord, you are simply NOT paying attention. We are inundated by indications that the times of prosperity are short, and that we are looking at austerity, and foretold destructions. The prophecies of the last days are many and frankly quite frightening. Read D&C 29 and 45 before bed tonight if you want some interesting dreams.
So what will food storage and preparations mean in these trying times? Here are the words of modern prophets.
"Maintain a year's supply. The Lord has urged that his people save for the rainy days, prepare for the difficult times, and put away for emergencies, a year's supply or more of bare necessities so that when comes the flood, the earthquake, the famine, the hurricane, the storms of life, our families can be sustained through the dark days. How many of us have complied with this? We strive with the Lord, finding many excuses: We do not have room for storage. The food spoils. We do not have the funds to do it. We do not like these common foods. It is not needed -- there will always be someone to help in trouble. The government will come to the rescue. And some intend to obey but procrastinate." The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p.375
BTW one of our key training memes is, “Do NOT go to the Superdome. No matter what, don’t go to the superdome.” Government agencies, no matter how well intentioned, do not have your best interests at heart.
"Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church -- and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing – a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned." (ETB, God, Family, Country, p. 383.)
"The revelation to produce and store food will be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." Pres. Ezra Taft Bensen
When the lord commanded Noah to go into the ark with his family, he sealed the ark. Why? Because Noah could no doubt hear the plaintive wails of his neighbors and even his family begging to be admitted. But it was too late. The Lord sealed the ark.
If the pattern established here is true, we cannot expect our neighbors to save us if we fail to do as we are commanded. The parable of the 10 virgins illustrates that those who are prepared (spiritually and temporally) could NOT share their oil with the foolish virgins.
A common reaction, when people see my food storage is to say, “Hey buddy, I am coming here when things go bad.” I typically laugh hysterically and say, “Ha Ha, That’s a good one. But seriously, you have to have a better plan than that. What are you going to do?”
It will not be selfishness that keeps the prepared from sharing with the unprepared. I believe there will be other factors at work. If it were up to me, I would welcome all who are in need to my house. I just do not believe that will be an option.
The commandment to store food and supplies is as valid and important today as the ark was to Noah. If that is the case, I hope and pray we will be as obedient as Noah, who built his ark when there were no storm clouds, enduring derision from friends and family who thought he was crazy. I am that crazy guy. Crazy like Noah. Act in faith, not in fear. Fear causes you to make stupid mistakes. Fast, pray, and seek the will of the Lord in these matters. Obey what you are given. If we are faithful, we will live to see the great and terrible day of the Lord, when he returns in his glory, and we will be called to go forth and build the city of Zion.
A common reaction, when people see my food storage is to say, “Hey buddy, I am coming here when things go bad.” I typically laugh hysterically and say, “Ha Ha, That’s a good one. But seriously, you have to have a better plan than that. What are you going to do?”
It will not be selfishness that keeps the prepared from sharing with the unprepared. I believe there will be other factors at work. If it were up to me, I would welcome all who are in need to my house. I just do not believe that will be an option.
The commandment to store food and supplies is as valid and important today as the ark was to Noah. If that is the case, I hope and pray we will be as obedient as Noah, who built his ark when there were no storm clouds, enduring derision from friends and family who thought he was crazy. I am that crazy guy. Crazy like Noah. Act in faith, not in fear. Fear causes you to make stupid mistakes. Fast, pray, and seek the will of the Lord in these matters. Obey what you are given. If we are faithful, we will live to see the great and terrible day of the Lord, when he returns in his glory, and we will be called to go forth and build the city of Zion.
By Trackster, AVOW, July 19, 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment