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 #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.