A few voices of warning...

Here are a few thought provoking quotes I ran across tonight on a great blog (http://www.preparetodaynewsletter.blogspot.com/) I thought I would share. I don't post these to scare anyone, or to cause fear, just to help us realize we have been admonished to be prepared and it is our chance to listen and follow the prophets--and be blessed ;)

"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." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.265)

"Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion." (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.265)

Roger K. Young said, "The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel? It is hard for me to understand why or how so many good and wonderful people can discount what the prophets have said, again, and again, and concerning what will suddenly happen to the world in the future. President Benson said: "The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." (CR October 1980, Ensign 10 [November 1980]: 33.) Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.266)

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Life's Lessons

I don't know about you, but the last few weeks of economic uncertainty have had me ponder more deeply on the affairs of my family-economically, spiritually, financially. I was reading online an article written by Glenn Beck and thought it had some good advice in it on how we can prepare our families for what is to come. The link is
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/16799/?ck=1 . I think sometimes Glenn Beck can be a little much, but overall he had some great ideas to keep in mind with the upcoming election, the stock market 'crash' and how to prepare our families for what is to come. It isn't something we have never heard before, but another great reminder. He was talking the other day on his show about how for many of us the hardships of the economy have not hit home and that we need to prepare NOW, before they do--because he claims they will effect everyone eventually.

I can testify of the importance of this! About 5 months ago my husband lost his job of 10 loyal years. It came at us without any warning and has been a life changing experience for him and our family. Our income was cut more than in half and we soon realized how volatile and unsure a persons future can be. Just when life seems to be going smoothly it seems to throw you a curve ball that helps you learn many important lessons. I tell you this not for sympathy (there are obviously much worse trials we could go through), but to encourage those of you who have not been effected by the curant economic downturn to NOT delay and begin to get your houses in order. We have learned many things in these last 5 months and I thought I would share a few (thanks for humoring me :)
*There is safety in counsel! One of my favorite talks was given by President Henry B. Eyring titled "Safety in Counsel"..here is a link if you are interested(http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=22a73b4c3713a110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1 )
*When we listen to the counsel of our inspired leaders we will be blessed! I can't tell you the peace of mind it brings knowing that our family has plenty of food to eat and our basic necessities taken care of. It seems silly to say that food storage is a spiritual matter--but it truly is! As you follow the counsel and begin to get prepared you will find that it becomes a spiritual and an uplifting experience, for you and your whole family.
*There has been counsel given to 'treat debt like the plague'. Thankfully we have been able to do this and what a blessing this has been for our family! When income has been scarce, it has been a blessing to not be obligated to pay anyone (except our mortgage company). President Monson has said, "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food...and were debt free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in revers: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."
*Material items don't mean as much as I thought they did. The peace of mind that comes when we are prepared is MUCH more important than having material goods. It has been a great wake up call for us to focus on the things that bring true happiness and lasting joy.
*We should not get overwhelmed. President Hinckley has said, "Begin in a small way...and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." We will be blessed if we will begin!

I am grateful for life's lessons, and trials, that help us to become better. May God bless each of you as you strive to prepare your family for an uncertain future and may you find 'joy in the journey' as we all are learning and growing together!

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"If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"

I was forwarded this email from a friend and I am posting it to my blog because there are simple and important reminders that each of us can use to help become better prepared. I have a cousin that lives near the path that hurricane Ike striked and her story sounds similar to this womans story. As of a few days ago they are STILL out of power, stores are nearly empty and without food storage and emergency preparedness items, life would be MUCH harder for their family as well. What an amazing blessing we have to know that if we listen to the counsel of the latter day prophet we will be blessed!

"Dear Friends: We have a 6'x6' hole in our roof, no electricity or running water, Trees down everywhere. How ever, because we listened to the counsel of our prophet we are prepared. In fact it seems to me that it's only the members of the church who seem to be calm, prepared, and helping one another with trees in roofs, flooding, etc. There is a POD or Point of Distribution in> Tomball where we live. There you get water and ice IF you have enough fuel to wait in the 3-hour lines. We don't have to do that because we have 3 full water barrels, 75 juice bottles filled with water, and our pool, which is dirty, but we use it to flush. It is very difficult to get gas. Police guard the stations when fuel is delivered and you might wait half a day to get up to the pump just to have them say, 'Too bad, we are out'. I am grateful that we have a generator. We run it 4 hours a day to keep our fridge and light. I am grateful that we have had fuel for it. You can't even by gas containers as they are rationed. We can only by bread once a week and limite d to 2 loaves at a time. Water is rationed by the case at the grocery store - 3 cases per family. The ATM machines do not have power. For the past 6 months I have stashed small bills away because I have had such a feeling of foreboding. We have >cash because of that. LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT. Get cash in small bills because the stores can't make change and credit and debit cards often don't work. I had to pay 5 dollars more for an item because they couldn't make change for me. and . . . PHONES ONLY WORK OCCASIONALY. Believe it or not...I have not had a bath in 4 days, Today was the first day I got to wash my hair with pool water. I haven't fixed my hair in a week!!! It just doesn't matter anymore. We cannot do laundry because we don't have water. So, we wear our clothes until they are literally disgusting. When we do finally get water we will have to boil it since it is contaminated.I am grateful for my parents. When we got low on generator fuel they drove 45 minutes to help us. They filled up their cans and brought us 10 gallons of fuel, which kept us going until this morning at 6:oo, am when we finally found some gas. A prepared Family and a loving extended family is the key to survival and making it through right now. I know that my parents would drive to the end of the earth to help me and it's nice knowing they are there. I know that I would do the same for my children. I want all of you to know that I have such a testimony of following the counsel of our living prophet. There really is safety and peace in your heart if you are prepared. Please get your generators, 5 gas cans full of gas, canned goods, baby items, baby wipes to bathe, and all the water you can store...even if you have to trip on it in your home. Have your lanterns, crank flashlights, tarps, rope, etc. ready to go because you never know when it will be your turn to endure the test. It's overwhelming, but it's going to be ok eventually. I have a> home, I have food, and I have water, because I listened to the counsel of the prophet. Please make sure you do the same. It's time to have your life in order. Tomorrow may be too late. "

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