Weekly wisdom

WEEKLY WISDOM

#5

Motivational Monday – Harold B. Lee said, "During the last eleven years, there have been occasional "dress rehearsals" in the Welfare Program with floods and disasters, wars and overwhelming destructions, all no doubt, looking to a day when greater problems confronting this people may demand greater abilities and facilities to meet them." December 20, Church News 1947. Even back then the Lord gave them "mini- classes" to teach them.

"The Lord and his prophets over many generations have focused considerable attention on the events leading up to the Millennium. They have described in detail the great turmoil and tribulation that will occur during that time. Realizing that only a prepared people will be able to safely survive the events that will unfold, we have been given instructions, preparatory experiences, opportunity and – with some sacrifice – the financial means necessary to become a prepared people." Neil H. Leash Author of Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for Latter Day Saints.

Timely Tuesday – Winter preparedness - Winter weather too often catches people unprepared. Researchers say that 70 percent of the fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles, and about 25 percent of all winter related fatalities are people that are caught off guard, out in the storm. What winter weather preparations are you making? Do you have an emergency kit in each of your vehicles. As well as this kit in your vehicles you should have a shovel, scraper, flashlight, wind up radio or battery, water, extra warm clothes, blankets, sand, booster cables, emergency flares, and fluorescent distress triangle.

Workin' Wednesday - If you have to evacuate your house, you may have as little as 10 minutes. Under these circumstances, trying to think of what to save is very difficult. Take some time now to think about what items you would try to take with you. Write down a list of the high priority items you would take if you only had 10 minutes to evacuate your house. Remember, you may have to carry everything. If you have time during an evacuation, you may want to take steps to secure your house. Give some thought to what things you need to do to secure your house. Write down your plans and keep the paper in a safe and accessible location. Practise a drill for your Family Home Evening.

Thrifty Thursday - Flu pandemics occur three or four times each century. There were three flu pandemics in the last century (1918, 1957 and 1968). It is certain that another influenza pandemic will occur, but there is no way of predicting when that might be, nor the level of illness that may result. If it isn't the bird flu, it will be another strain of influenza virus. Historically, pandemics have occurred about three times every century; there is no reason to believe that our century will be any different. Do you have enough medications in your home if you had to shelter in? Make a list of what you would need and start gathering.

Food Storage Friday – Tomatoes are a great source of calcium and iron. They are also a great source of vitamin C, some B's, and A. The vitamin C content increases as the vegetable ripens. The nutritional value of the tomato is good for weight loss, eye disorders, liver disorders, diabetes, and many other health problems. They are just an all around great fruit / vegetable. And we can get them for soooo cheap. At least here where we live. Tomatoes could be that major source to prevent "scurvey" in our food storage. Have some home canned or store bought canned tomatoes in your food storage and learn how to use them!

SAUSAGE LENTIL STEW

2 quarts water

2-1/4 cups (about 1 pound) lentils, picked over and rinsed

9 to 12 ounces summer sausage, sliced and quartered

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons dried onion

1 can diced tomatoes or 1 quart

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

4 beef bouillon cubes

Combine ingredients in a 4 quart Dutch oven or soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover. Simmer 1 hour. Serves 6 to 8.

WEEKLY WISDOM

#4

For all of you reading this that are not in our ward or stake, we have had a "Trucker's Strike" (mock) this week and we are to refrain from doing any shopping for food or supplies this week, if at all possible, and see if we can live off of our food storage. Thus I am refering to this in my thoughts this week.

Motivational Monday - We never know what emergency may befall us during which we may not be able to obtain food (such as a "trucker's strike"). Natural catastrophe such as flood, earthquake or storms may result in temporary inability to distribute food to supermarkets. Under these conditions even having money to purchase food does not mean it can be obtained.

A food storage program is essential to provide for ourselves and our family members in an emergency. The biggest motivator most adults have is to avoid hearing a hungry child cry. Even the most "macho" man is distraught if he cannot provide food to prevent a child from suffering.

Ouote from Harold B. Lee, "There is no person who knows the real purpose for which this welfare program is being instituted but hardly before sufficient preparation has been made the real purpose will be revealed and when that time comes it will challenge every resource of the church to meet it." The responsibility lies with each family to do what we can.

Timely Tuesday – This is a great time to sit down with your family – remember it should always include the family – and decide what you could do with the money you saved from not shopping at the store this week. There should be a bit extra, what about that extra movie we really don't need, or that extra game we might rent, or the magazine at the check out stand. I think you get the picture. There are ways to find extra money. And what do you do with this extra money. GET PREPARED! Perhaps you can plan to invest a little in the wheat order coming up, or plan for your 3 month supply. " The time will come that gold will hold no comparison in value to a bushel of wheat." President Brigham Young

Workin' Wednesday – In the back of your brain you know about 72 hour kits and 3 month food storage. We can't add to our kits today, so get planning and thinking, what if you had to "shelter in" because of a pandemic, it could be alot longer than one week, it could be 3 months. Are you ready? If you are great! If not, what are you doing about it? This is all about prayerfully inspired priorities and choices.

Thrifty Thursday – Take time today to show your family where your emergency shut off's are in your house. Where do you turn off your electrical if you need to? Where is your gas valve, and your water intake? If the water is contaminated, you can quickly shut off the main valve coming into your house and use up the good stuff that is in your tanks and lines. If you have a gas leak, you need to know how to shut off the main valve, remembering that you need to contact the city to have them help you turn it back on. If you have a generator make sure your family knows how to use it.

Food Storage Friday – My kids absolutely love these. You can buy them at Safeway and other locations for quite expensive for what it really costs to make them....pennies! My kids have taken them to school as snacks and all of the other kids can't keep their hands off them. They are Talia's favorite! Also watch for our class in November on cooking with Wheat! I will let you know when.

Roasted Wheat Kernals1/4 cup wheat berries (whole kernels of wheat)
1/2 tablespoon oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
Method One: Soak kernels for 6 – 8 hours, drain well, and deep fry in oil until crispie snack. Sprinkle with salt while hot, or popcorn seasoning. Note, you may want to do more than the above amount, your family will like them.

Method Two: Heat a small amount of oil in a skillet. Add wheat berries and pop like popcorn. They won't puff quite as much as popcorn, but they will pop. Swirl around in the pan they will burn easy. Sprinkle with salt while hot.
Makes 1/3 cup.

weekly wisdom #3

WEEKLY WISDOM

#3

Motivational Monday – President Harold B. Lee said in 1966, regarding food storage, "Perhaps if we think not in terms of a year's supply of what we ordinarily would use, and think more in terms of what it would take to keep us alive in case we didn't have anything to eat, that last would be very easy to put in storage for a year....just enough to keep us alive if we didn't have anything else to eat. We wouldn't get fat on it, but we would live; and if you think in terms of that kind of annual storage rather than a whole year's supply of everything that you are accustomed to eat which, in most cases, is utterly impossible for the average family, I think we will come nearer to what President J. Reuben Clark advised us way back in 1937."

Timely Tuesday- We should ask ourselves today (and everyday), "What would the Lord have me do today?" Or even better yet, in the book written by Neal H. Leash, titled Prophetic Statements on Food Storage for the Latter Days, he says "Perhaps we could ask more specifically, 'Today, or during this week's activities, what would the Lord have me do about obtaining essential foods for storage?' How we answer these questions will ultimately determine our response to the Lord's counsel to be prepared." So throughout this week and each week following, ask yourself what it is that the Lord would have you do to get prepared, and you will find amazing opportunities and blessings.

Workin' Wednesday – Add a little bit of cash to your emergency kit this week. After a disaster, the power is often out and our debit machines are down and we won't be able to use debit or credit cards. This means that most cash registers will be down also and stores will only accept cash. Most of these stores will not be able to make change easily, so you need to have small bills, like $1, $2, and $5 amounts. Keeping coins on hand are also important, for if your cell phones or home phones are not working, pay phones might be up and running sooner than these other services.

Thrifty Thursday – How is your car emergency kit? Are you ready for the winter cold months? Do you have extra blankets that you carry in your car? Do you have a 72 hour kit in your car? Think about what you might need for you family, to carry in you car in case of a winter storm, and prepare accordingly. Plan first and then we don't have to be caught unprepared.

Food Storage Friday – We have been working on planning a 3 month supply of our favorite foods our families like. Following is one idea to help figure out your list, if You choose your families 7 favorite meals, (which you should have already done), and then make a list of ingredients to make each meal, then take each ingredient on your list and multiply it by 12 to give you 3 months worth of supplies. Make sure you have added your families two week supply of water, and purification ideas, and personal items such as medication, femine hygiene, laundry soaps, dish soaps, and so forth. Keep working on it on a regular basis until you have completely gathered in your 3 month supply. Next week we will start working on some long term storage and recipe ideas.

72 hour kits

*** 72 Hour Kit Info You Need To Know ***
This is information coming from the Homeland Security Page on 72 hr kits.

There are many types of disasters and emergencies: floods, fires, earthquakes,hurricanes and tornadoes. in many cases, a 72 hour kit could mean the difference between life and death. It is estimated that after a major disaster, it may take up to three days for relief workers to reach some areas. It would be wise to consider a 72 hour kit that you could live on for 7-10 days. In such a case, If you live in a disaster prone area a 72-hour kit is the minimum you should have available. Plan your 72 hour kit according to your familys’ size.

1) Your 72 hour kit should be in a portable container located near an exit of your house or even, sheltered in your backyard.
2) Each family member should have their own 72 hour kit with food, clothing and water. Distribute heavy items between kits.
3) Enclose the extra clothing, matches, personal documents, and other items damageable by smoke or water in plastic to protect them.
4) Keep a light source in the top of your 72 hour kit, so you can find it quickly in the dark.
5) Personalize your 72 hour kit. Make sure you fill the needs of each family member.
6) Inspect your 72 hour kit at least twice a year. Rotate food and water every six months. Don't forget to check your medications. Check children's clothing for proper fit. Adjust clothing for winter or summer needs. Check expiration dates on batteries, light sticks, warm packs, food and water.
7) Consider the needs of elderly people as well as those with handicaps or other special needs when building your 72 hour kit. For example: for babies, store diapers, washcloth, ointment, bottles and pacifiers, and other special supplies.

Weekly Wisdom

#2

Motivational Monday – President Benson said, "For over 100 years we have been admonished to store up grain. 'Remember the counsel that is given,' said Elder Orson Hyde, 'Store up all your grain, and take care of it!...And I tell you it is almost as necessary to have bread to sustain the body as it is to have food for the spirit.' (Journal of Discourses, Vol 5, p.17) And he also said: "There is more to salvation and security in wheat, than in all the political schemes of the world....." "From the standpoint of food production, storage, handling, and the Lord's counsel, wheat should have high priority. Water, of course, is essential. Other basics could include honey or sugar, legumes, milk products or substitutes, and salt or its equivalent. The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." (October Conference, 1973).

Timely Tuesday – Go over your families medical coverage and insurances (medical, home, and car). Make sure you have what you need. Make sure you have all of your information in a place where you can find it easily if you need to. Make any changes or adjustments to fit the needs of your family and situation.

Workin' Wednesday – Today, check you sources of alternate lighting. Winter is fast approaching, and power outages could happen with winter storms. Make sure you have matches or a full lighter in the same place as your candles. Make sure you have them easily accessible if the power goes out. Also check your lanterns, for whatever kinds you may have, and make sure you have fuel stored properly and close by. There is nothing more frustrating than going to grab a candle in the dark, only to find that you don't have a match anywhere in the house. Buy a box of wooden ones and have them close.

Thrifty Thursday – Make a detailed list of everything that is in your 72 hour kits, and another list of everything you want to add to your kits. This way when things are on sale, it will be fresh on your mind because you have that list, and you will save money by being prepared. Find some small item that you could add to your kits, such as an emergency blanket. They are inexpensive, but a huge blessing in time of need.

Food Storage Friday – Hopefully you took time to choose some of your favorite meals last week with your family. This week, make a list of all of the items you would need to prepare each meal. This may take some time, but worth it when you are compiling a food storage list of your 3 month supply of familiar meals. Watch for the sales in the stores and if you find anything that is on your list, get more than one item, buy a few and put the extras on your storage shelf. Keep this mental list in your mind at all times, so you can watch for items on sale.