I've been wrestling with myself lately, and the fear that I feel inside when it comes to the safety and welfare of my family and me. Sometimes I get anxious, and I am not wanting to fear.
"We know, of course, that the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust (see Matt. 5:45). But even though the just die they are not lost, but are saved through the Atonement of the Redeemer. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord” (Rom. 14:8). -President Hinckley
I have been hearing so many things on the radio and news and papers, that Utah is past its prime for an earthquake. Or that more floods and tornado are happening...etc. I want to be prepared. I want to have a plan for myself and my loved ones. So, I started preparing! And young, might I add. My parents always had food storage, and we always had emergency backpacks as kids. It meant a lot to be and feel prepared.
I also remembering hearing this quote from Pres. Hinckley:
"We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day."
So for my bridal shower, I asked for the gifts from all my family members to be something with emergency preparedness. I got two of these awesome backpacks from everyone, filled to the brim with supplies for Erwin and me.
I also got a fire extinguisher, some written info about being prepared and a family history book, put together by my Aunt and cousin for my mom's side. It goes back very many generations with stories, pictures and everything! They told me I needed to be prepared with understanding and knowing my family history. :)
Since then, we now have a separate food storage.
I also grew up having my mom teach me to save spare water for emergencies. So now, I take all the plastic bottles that were once filled with juice, pop or anything else, and wash and fill them up with water for storage.
It's a start! I can't wait to have a house one day and have even more room for some of this stuff, and whatever we else we might add to it. I remember learning from my parents about this, then teaching this concept on my mission to the people of Ecuador, then my Relief Society and now actually practicing myself. I am so thankful for leaders who continue to support us, teach us and offer us resources to be prepared.
Erwin and I also have our cars prepared with blankets, water, oil and some snacks.
President Hinckley also said:
"We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments. We in this Church have evidence enough of the penalties of disobedience in the examples of both the Jaredite and the Nephite nations. Each went from glory to utter destruction because of wickedness."
"I have faith, my dear brethren, that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments. He is our Father and our God, and we are His children, and we must be in every way deserving of His love and concern. That we may do so is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." -President Hinckley
The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).
I do not always
understand God, or His ways. But as I've been reading the Bible and Book of
Mormon, I see that it is not uncommon for there to be wars, floods, fires,
death and fear. When I was little, I used to think that all these trials came
upon the wicked only. With obvious more study and learning, I know that is not
so. I will be the first to admit, that I am not neccesarily scared of death,
but more in how I am going to die. Same for my loved ones. This quote and
scripture has always brought me comfort:
"We know, of course, that the rain falls on the just as well as the unjust (see Matt. 5:45). But even though the just die they are not lost, but are saved through the Atonement of the Redeemer. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord” (Rom. 14:8). -President Hinckley
I have been hearing so many things on the radio and news and papers, that Utah is past its prime for an earthquake. Or that more floods and tornado are happening...etc. I want to be prepared. I want to have a plan for myself and my loved ones. So, I started preparing! And young, might I add. My parents always had food storage, and we always had emergency backpacks as kids. It meant a lot to be and feel prepared.
I also remembering hearing this quote from Pres. Hinckley:
"We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day."
So for my bridal shower, I asked for the gifts from all my family members to be something with emergency preparedness. I got two of these awesome backpacks from everyone, filled to the brim with supplies for Erwin and me.
I also got a fire extinguisher, some written info about being prepared and a family history book, put together by my Aunt and cousin for my mom's side. It goes back very many generations with stories, pictures and everything! They told me I needed to be prepared with understanding and knowing my family history. :)
Since then, we now have a separate food storage.
I also grew up having my mom teach me to save spare water for emergencies. So now, I take all the plastic bottles that were once filled with juice, pop or anything else, and wash and fill them up with water for storage.
It's a start! I can't wait to have a house one day and have even more room for some of this stuff, and whatever we else we might add to it. I remember learning from my parents about this, then teaching this concept on my mission to the people of Ecuador, then my Relief Society and now actually practicing myself. I am so thankful for leaders who continue to support us, teach us and offer us resources to be prepared.
Erwin and I also have our cars prepared with blankets, water, oil and some snacks.
President Hinckley also said:
"We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments. We in this Church have evidence enough of the penalties of disobedience in the examples of both the Jaredite and the Nephite nations. Each went from glory to utter destruction because of wickedness."
I remember once I had to
give a talk in church about spiritual preparedness as well. It was a
wonderful opportunity to recognize how we need to be just as prepared
spiritually as we do physically. I will write a blog about that as well later.
For now, my desire is to
serve the Lord. To listen to His counsel through the mouths of the Prophets and
to keep His commandments. I am working on my faith driving out completely
my fear. I yearn to be prepared both temporally and spiritually and to live
knowing that my Heavenly Father will protect me, my family, loved ones and keep
us in His tender care, no matter what happens on this earth.
Another quote I
love:
"I have faith, my dear brethren, that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments. He is our Father and our God, and we are His children, and we must be in every way deserving of His love and concern. That we may do so is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." -President Hinckley
And
last but not least, the scripture that I live by, in all aspects of life:
The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).
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