September, National Preparedness Month

It's September and this is National Preparedness month.  It is the last month for the goal of having a one year supply of food storage by October General Conference.  I want to include part of the message that President Monson wrote in this month's Ensign magazine.

"We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt. Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had a supply of food and clothing and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have a supply of debt and are food-free.

I repeat what the First Presidency declared a few years ago:

“Latter-day Saints have been counseled for many years to prepare for adversity by having a little money set aside. Doing so adds immeasurably to security and well-being. Every family has a responsibility to provide for its own needs to the extent possible.

“We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. Pay off debt as quickly as you can, and free yourselves from this bondage. Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.”¹

Are we prepared for the emergencies in our lives? Are our skills perfected? Do we live providently? Do we have our reserve supply on hand? Are we obedient to the commandments of God? Are we responsive to the teachings of prophets? Are we prepared to give of our substance to the poor, the needy? Are we square with the Lord?

We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past."

Re-read the last sentence.  When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past! 

We have been admonished by SEVERAL Prophets and General Authorities to become prepared.

 To name just a few, Lehi was warned to leave Jerusalem and take his family with him because the city would be destroyed. He listened and obeyed and was blessed.  In the Old Testament in Numbers when the Lord sent serpents down as a result of the people speaking against God and Moses, Moses made a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and told the people that had been bitten that if they would look up upon the pole at the fiery serpent, they would live.  There were those who would not look and died.  The only thing they had to prepare was their hearts and faith to be saved.  There are many more instances where Prophets had warned their followers and some would not listen and perished.  Another example of that was at Hauns Mill in Missouri.  Had they listened to the Prophet Joseph Smith, they would not have been killed.  Click on the link and re-listen or re-read President Hinkley's address in the October 1998 General Conference titled "To the Boys and to the Men".  President Hinkley 

September food storage tips: Dried whole eggs and dried egg whites:  For real tasting scrambled eggs, purchase Ova Easy Egg Crystals.  A #10 an contains the equivalent of 72 eggs.  Use whole powdered eggs in a #10 can for your recipes.  A few ways to use dried whole eggs: in baking, making mayonnaise or miracle whip, pancakes, puddings. Dried egg whites are excellent in angel food cake, frostings using egg whites, etc. Unopened, they store at least 5 years in a cool/dry/dark place. After opening, will keep for several months if refrigerated (in #10 can with lid secured).  If you purchased this last year in September, work on something else this month that you might need more of.

Honeyville Farms is having a 35% off of selected items sale for the first two weeks in September.  Here is another GREAT buy there.  The new All American Sun Oven.  

This is a bargain price at $289.79.  If you have been considering one, now is the time to get one.  

Don't procrastinate building your food storage supply.  If you can only afford to spend $5 a payday, do that and put that purchase under your bed or in your closet and add to it when you can purchase more.  You will be blessed as you do, miracles will take place, your food storage will grow and you will start to receive that peaceful feeling knowing you are becoming more prepared.

Have fun with your food storage.

Bob and LouAnn Singer