Autumn is here, my favourite time of year, time for warm socks and hot chocolate curled up on the couch with a good book. I love autumn, traditionally it is a time of plenty, harvest time, festivals and feasts to celebrate the success of the crop. I love the changing colour of the leaves, the crisp smell in the air of coming winter, the cooler change in the weather, all of it.
It reminds me of the first recorded account of welfare and food storage. In Genesis, the Pharaohs dream of years of plenty followed by years of famine and Joseph putting that wisdom into practise.
For us it is just as important to listen to the promptings of the Lord today as it was for the ancient Egyptians back in Joseph’s day.
I found it particularly interesting that President Benson said ‘survival food’. As much as we joke about a years worth of chocolate, it is important that we realise what is and isn’t survival food. The outline for this is basically wheat (or other grain if you can’t eat wheat), milk powder, honey, sugar, pulses and legumes and water. I know I am not telling you anything new here, but the fact is we need to store these foods first then add our other ‘survival’ foods such as chocolate, cordial and such.
For the students studying here from overseas you need to consider getting a three days supply of basic foods stored. It is impractical to expect you to store a years worth of supplies and probably not financially something that you can do. But in storing a three-day supply, like the 72-hour kits it is something to keep you going until such times as you can either be brought into the home of one of the members or evacuated back home, should an emergency occur.
Other things we need to include in our survival foods is herbs and spices, a range of flavourings means you don’t have to eat the same thing all the time…
In looking at provident living.org I had some thoughts… how prepared are we making our kids? Let’s be real here for a moment, given the overall demographic of our ward there is no point harping on about getting prepared and being prepared and food storage and every other topic when the majority of members are financially secure, have the basics stored, are long term members and have heard it all before and if you haven’t learnt it by now and are doing something about it you never will. So let’s turn our attention to our young adults, our youth, our primary kids, what are we doing for them? Are we helping them to understand the principals of welfare so that they may be prepared? Or are we leading and teaching them by example of nodding and smiling and making all the right noises but in actual fact are doing nothing because we feel we are above such things as needing a back up plan? Honestly, here are some things EVERYONE should know how to do.
Sew… basic repairs to clothing, sew on a button, hem a trouser leg or skirt or mend a tear. You don’t need to have the best sewing room this side of Martha Stewart’s place to do these things; a needle and thread will suffice. And not just the girlies, men need to know these things too. Need your pants taken up… do it yourself; there is no shame in being seen with a nice neat hem that you did. The greatest clothing manufacturers in the world have always been men… that is why they are tailors and not just seamstresses.
Cook… know how to make more than two minute noodles, our young men and women heading off on missions need to be able to cook nutritious healthy food. Just because members like to feed missionaries doesn’t mean they don’t need to know how to cook, they do, they won’t be fed every day, and its not just for their mission, when they get home we expect them to marry some day and they will need to know how unless you plan on having them live with you forever. Again the greatest chef’s in the world have always been and will always be men, so get in the kitchen fellas and get cooking… just don’t forget the washing up.
Household chores… vacuuming, washing the clothes, ironing, changing light bulbs, mowing the lawn, dusting you name it if it involves tending house we all need to know how to do it. Mowing the lawn is not just man’s work any more than vacuuming is women’s work.
Car maintenance… tyre pressure, changing tyres, checking all the fluids in the car, changing the oil, replacing wiper blades etc. RACV have better things to do than change a tyre. And though many people take their car to a mechanic to do all the services including changing the oil you still need to know how… just in case.
Gardening … know how to plant and maintain a garden, it doesn’t have to be on the scale of the botanical gardens or large enough to feed a nation, simple everyday gardening just in case.
Other handy skills to know could include camping skills, making a fire safely even fishing: including cleaning the fish. Water purification, the list could quite possibly be endless.
Having said all of the above I fully expect a few people to have thought I don’t need to know how to do that or I don’t need that… I have enough money not to worry about that etc… well good for you, but one-day money may not be enough.
President Hinckley encouraged everyone to get an education, the best education they could get and to keep learning new skills, so even if you are 80 not out or 3 turning 4 learn learn learn, nothing you learn will ever be wasted, and should you never need what you have learned then you can consider yourself blessed. President Hinckley also encouraged us to instil in our children a good strong work ethic, teach them the value of hard work. Paying someone else to do things that we can do ourselves is not leading by example the value of hard work. I am not saying we should never get in a handy man, but we should be able to help ourselves as much as possible first.
The law of consecration to my meagre understanding is among other things about sharing our skills and our provisions for the benefit of others and ourselves. Being a Zion people, of one heart and one mind. It is more than just paying a fast offering and considering our duty done, it is about giving - these hands - this heart - all that we have to the Lord for His purposes. And right now is when we need to gather the skills needed so that we or those who will follow us will not be left without aid, if we cannot be a Zion people now and teach our children to be a Zion people now then we may never be ready when it is required of us to be so.
Brothers and Sisters, I feel it keenly that we need to get ready, we need to know all we can now. It is said the most valiant Saints will be kept till last, we need to prepare the way for them, they will have enough to deal with in the world without adding the burden of learning the principals we should have weaned them on.
Until next week remember it is good to be a Latter Day Saint. It is an honour and a privilege.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
Autumn cleaning and preparing for the coming winter is here again. Well it will be as soon as this hot spell is over… Time to clean out air conditioners and ensure they are fully drained before being shut off for the cooler seasons. Packing away the summer wardrobe and summer sports equipment. Turning over the garden beds and re mulching to help the soil remain warm, sowing seeds of winter crops such as:
Beetroot, cabbage, carrots (year round), broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, lettuce (year round), onions, parsley, pak choi, peas, radishes, turnips, parsnips, spinach, silverbeet and swedes.
A perfect time for donating goods and items you don’t use anymore that someone else may get great use from.
Now onto this weeks topic… Emotional health and strength.
I found this on the wall at a choir I visited this past week.
Which are you?
Some members make the Church so strong
While others join simply to belong
Some dig in and serve with pride
Some go along just for the ride
Some volunteer and do their share
While others lay back and don’t seem to care
Some do their best, some help, some make
Some do nothing only take and take
Some greet members with a smile
Making coming worth the while
While some go their merry way
With never a greeting or word to say
Some help the Church to grow and grow
When asked for help they never say No
Some drag, some pull, some don’t, some do
Now just consider it seriously and ask
When put to the task
Which one are you?
At some point we are all of these things.
Sometimes it is all we can do just to be here on a Sunday, life may be more of a struggle than normal and we can do no more than just be here. Other times we are those who serve willingly, tirelessly. The important thing is to try not to be the one who doesn’t care for too long. We are on a progression to exaltation; we need to keep moving forward even if it feels like a snail pace. Moving forward is better than moving backwards.
The words of a Michael McLean song ‘Arise and shine forth’ have been particularly meaningful to me this week. “We are standing for something, prayerful in all things, comforting those that mourn. We are gathering Zion, we can rely on this refuge from the storm, we are strengthened on every side in this light that we cannot hide, we are united spirits ignited…”
A beautiful song with a beautiful message, one that we can all take heart from.
As a Zion bound people we can look to Christ for guidance in our lives, He in His wisdom and mercy has given us the many great programs that are within our gospel walls. Welfare being one of them. He also told us how to do it when He bade us to love one another, to be our brothers keeper, to care for those that mourn, comfort those that weep, strengthen those who are alone, feed his sheep, to clothe the naked and care for the hungry and thirsty, be prepared to leave the ninety and nine to seek after the one.
We have it within us to do all this, to be all this for ourselves, for others and for the Lord. And best of all it is not a burden to be so. All we have to do is to be mindful of each other. Visiting and Home Teaching set us up to do this. But not just the list of members we have been assigned. Fellowship new members, new converts, old members you haven’t gotten to know yet… anyone… everyone. Look around you; we are of one heart and one mind when it comes to our love of Christ, our membership in this His Church. We don’t need to live in each other’s pockets but we do need to be there for each other in times of need, in times of great sorrow and in times of great joy, uplifting each other and rejoicing together in the greatness of our creator. Strengthening each other so that we can stand as one in all things.
If we can help lift each others burdens, lighten each others loads and share our strengthens and weaknesses with each other we will accomplish more for our personal emotional health and strength, and, lighten the load on LDS services. We have ears to hear and eyes to see, and we have hands to lift and carry. We should use them.
Emotional Health is more than just being happy. It is being well rounded and whole in body and spirit. Just because we have the gospel in our lives does not mean our lives are going to fall into perfect harmony. Things happen, we are here to be tested, being tested not just with how we endure but how we help others to endure too.
Listen to the choir, not just because you are here and you have no choice, listen to them because they are singing gospel principals. Our hymns are lessons and instructions just as clearly as our speakers are.
Today the choir is singing about self-evaluation. Have I done any good in the world? Not we but I as an individual, as an instrument in the Hands of the Lord.
We don’t need to rush about doing everything for everyone, but we do need to be open to the spirit guiding us, directing us to those we can help. Those who have need of us.
Doing good is a pleasure. We feel it and the people we help feel it, the spirit testifies to us and blesses us because of it.
My dear brothers and sisters, I know that Jesus Christ lives, I know it to be true, and I give thanks for it. I know that He loves each of us, He knows us and cares about each of us. Not just because of our membership in His Church but because He chose to suffer for us, to take upon Him our sins, our sorrows and our pain. He knows us personally and we can know Him personally. In this world of gain and sin I am grateful for the knowledge I have that our Church leaders, all of them, are called of God. That they lead and guide us by His word and not by their own design. I give thanks for the freedom I have to worship Him.
In the name of Jesus Christ
Amen
Until next week remember it is good to be a faithful, uplifting, serving with love, thanks giving, Zion gathering Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Once before I talked about being prepared for an emergency by having identification on you and your children at all times. At school where everyone has the same bag, an ID tag with your child’s photo on it makes it easy for him or her to find his or her bag.
Other types of information we need to consider having on our personage should the worst happen is a list of current medications we are taking, their dosage and frequency of use. Include any naturopathic medications as they can effect the medication given.
Also what illnesses we may be suffering from. Not oh I have a cold this week. But on going illnesses that require our constant care. If you have a specialist include their contact details.
A list of known allergies is also very important. For myself, among other allergies, there is an anti nausea medication all doctors generally prescribe, that medication makes me sick but the alternative doesn’t. I should probably even go so far as to include a site map of the best spot to try and get blood from, as that is a problem as well.
Any extra information you can include will not be wasted and you can never be over prepared. It will certainly make it a difference to anyone treating you. And it is not just for when you are in an accident, with our youth heading off to trek (well just back from trek) and all the other activities we participate in as a ward it is handy to know in case an accident happens.
At least once a year I travel interstate and anywhere up to 4 days at a time with the choir I am in, the choir leader has assigned herself as my buddy in case something happens and I need medical assistance, so before each trip I update her to what medications I may be on at the time and the activity level of my Lupus and any other relevant medical information she may need. This way we both feel at ease during the trip away. In turn I am keeper of her medical history in case her husband who is also a member of the choir is unavailable in an emergency. Thankfully so far we have not needed it but it gives us both a sense of peace knowing we will be o.k. The choir even goes so far as to organise as many indoors or under cover performances as possible so that I am not in the sunlight.
It can be easy to start thinking… it would be better not to leave home then remember all the things we could carry, not to mention lugging them everywhere. But it is not that much really. Most of the things we could stand in need of carrying could be contained in your average handbag… or briefcase, backpack or anything else you carry.
So here is a brief look at preparedness in your pocket.
A hanky (a clean one) two hankies would be better
Cover a cut to ease bleeding
Wrap around a wound
Strap up injuries
Wave down help
Band Aids
You only need three or four
Great for blisters and other small wounds
50 cents
Make a phone call - don’t rely on your mobile
KFC wipe or pack of baby wipes
Cleaning everything possible
Water
Even if it is small 250ml bottle, some water is better than none
Used to clean as well as drink
Food
Whether it is a muesli bar a chocolate bar or just chewing gum
You may need something to distract you and your stomach
Pen and paper
Even a small note pad and pencil will help
Can be used to play games with the children
Make note of sequence of events
Names and other information if in an accident
Of course you can go further and keep a change of underwear or anything else you feel you may need, such as matches, a torch or anything else, though as you see it can be as simple as the above list.
Until next week remember it is good to be a goal making, pocket prepared, easy identifying, storage gathering Latter Day Saint.
Yours in preparedness
Georgia
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