GARLAND 4th PREPARE NOW NEWSLETTER

Issue 4

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The blessings of temporal self-reliance become especially obvious in times of crises such as natural disasters, unemployment, or financial turmoil.  But spiritual self-reliance is equally crucial in such times.  The more self-reliant we are – both spiritually and temporally – the greater our ability to be an agent for good.  Living the principles of Self Reliance, Ensign, March 2013

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ten Principles of Preparedness

By Kellene Bishop, The Preparedness Pro; http://preparednesspro.com/ten-principles-of-preparedness-2/

Italics indicate what church leaders have touched on.

Church members are respon­sible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being.  Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege of setting their own course, solving their own prob­lems, and striving to become self-reliant.  Self-reliance is the ability, com­mitment, and effort to provide the necessities of life for self and family.  As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others.  There are ten vital areas of preparedness to being prepared for an emergency whether it be a natural disaster, act of war, financial collapse, or just everyday situations in which you might need items from your preparedness pantry.  

 #1: Spiritual:  This has everything to do with your belief system.  It’s where you draw on peace even in the midst of chaos.  It’s also where you draw on knowledge and understanding of that which is to come.  Your spiritual preparedness needs to be fed on a regular basis.   If your spiritual preparedness is lacking, not much else you focus on will be of benefit to you.  Spirituality is essential to a person’s temporal and eternal well-being. Church members should exercise faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, obey God’s commandments, pray daily, study the scriptures and teachings of the latter-day proph­ets, attend Church meetings, and serve in Church callings and as­signments.

 #2: Mental: This deals with your knowledge level, skills, & mental rehearsals for chaotic scenarios and life.  This area requires constant nourishment, education, and deliberate thought.   The mental preparation is what prepares you in spite of the crazy looks and comments you get from friends and loved ones.  Expose yourself to as much learning experiences as you are able.  It will serve you well in a time of crisis as well as long-term survival.  Education provides understanding and skills that can help people develop self-reliance. Church members should study the scriptures and other good books. They should improve in their ability to read, write, and do basic mathematics. They should obtain as much education as they can, including formal or technical schooling where possible. This will help them develop their talents, find suitable employment, and make a valuable contribution to their families, the Church, and the community.  Education can en­rich, ennoble, and provide under­standing that leads to a happier life.

 #3: Physical:  Physical preparedness has to do with your physical strength and ability to maximize your physical strength, such as the use of wagons/wheel barrels, your ability to protect yourself & your family, as well as planning for any travel needs.  Keep in mind that your physical strength will be your primary asset when it comes to travel.  Strengthen your physical preparedness by adjusting your diet now to avoid foods that impede your performance or you won’t have access to later.  Exercise is critical for your physical preparedness as well.  You will inevitably be called upon to be more physical in your survival efforts in an emergency.  Perhaps you will need to trek 30 miles, do some heavy lifting to create a suitable shelter, or function w/out air conditioning/heat like you’re accustomed to.  Take precautions now so that you are better physically prepared later.  The Lord has commanded members to take care of their minds and bodies. They should obey the Word of Wisdom, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, control their weight, and get adequate sleep. They should shun substances or practices that abuse their bodies or minds and that could lead to addiction. They should practice good sanitation and hygiene and obtain adequate medical and dental care. They should also strive to cultivate good relationships with family members and others.

 #4: Medical:  This includes having what you need for first-aid, existing medical needs, as well as sanitation.  First-aid needs include bandages, a field surgical kit, pain relievers, herbs/essential oils, as well as the knowledge to use such items.  Your existing medical needs will be a challenge since most individuals can’t get a year’s supply of prescription medicines.  Study up on alternative options available, such as herbal nutrition, essential oils, homeopathic care, etc.  If you can, set a goal to eliminate most, if not all of your prescription drugs.    As far as sanitation is concerned, you have to be sure you’ve thought this one through.  Digging a hole out in your back yard will not do. You’ve got to have the chemicals on hand to break down the waste, and holes have to be dug deep.  Plan on using some type of a disposal breakdown chemical regularly.  Disposing of waste, keeping it covered, and minimizing its location and effect on everything else around you will be critical in a time of emergency.  Understand that this aspect of preparation will not be simple.

 #5: Clothing/Shelter:  Many folks really overlook this area.  While being able to survive in your own home is ideal, it’s not necessarily possible for a myriad of different reasons.  Be sure that you’ve got SPARE clothing available for everyone & have it readily accessible.  Sturdy shoes will be critical—especially if you have to walk long distances to get to safety.  Be mindful of your clothing & your shelter accommodating either warm or cold weather.   Even if you are able to survive in your home, be sure you have tools on hand to reinforce it, such as hammers, nails, sheeting, duct tape, and even some plywood.  Be sure that you don’t have to rely on electricity & batteries for the use of your tools as well in the event of a solar flare or an EMP attack.

 #6: Fuel:  Your fuel should be usable on as many tools as possible, & every responsible member of the family should be familiar with its use.  It’s critical that you know how much fuel you need for your family.  It’s also critical you know that the lights you’re relying on can actually put out enough light.   

 #7: Water:  A two week supply of water is short-term.  As overwhelming as it may sound, you need one gallon of water/person/day.  That’s 365 gallons per person.  Yes, that’s a lot of barrels.  That’s just the MINIMUM.  You’ll be using water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, sanitation, and bathing.  There are different ways to conserve water, but you’ll want to employ those even if you do have the 365 gallons per person.  Water is the only thing that will keep your organs functioning properly.  You need water just as much in the cold as you do in the heat.  You use more energy to benefit from flavored water than you do just straight water.  You don’t need to treat your water before storing it if using tap water.  Treat it afterwards if necessary (8 drops of Clorox for 1 gallon of water). 

Items to consider for March Purchases *Baking supplies: baking powder, Baking Soda, Salt, etc *Set aside at least $5 cash every payday in your house NOT the bank. *Keep your vehicle gas tank ½ full & fill up a 5 gallon gas can to store (add a product to prolong shelf life). *When shopping for groceries buy extra items to help build your EXTREMELY IMPORTANT 3 MONTH SUPPLY OF EVERY DAY ITEMS. *BIG ITEM: Solar Oven *72 hour kit: Heat Cell™ Fuel (beprepared.com under essential gear – cooking) *Plus whatever else you feel inspired to do for your family’s needs. * Have you been to the Temple this month?

#8: Food:  Be familiar with the food that you’ve stored.  Be prepared to cook it without electricity.  Be sure that it’s nutritious.  90 days of food is SHORT-TERM.  Be sure that you have all of the tools on hand you will need that don’t require electricity.  Be sure you have nothing in your equipment stores that you have not used yet.  (In other words, don’t just buy that solar oven and put it in your basement.  Use it.)  To help care for themselves and their families, members should build a three-month supply of food that is part of their normal diet. Where local laws and circumstances permit, they should gradually build a longer-term supply of basic foods that will sustain life. They should also store drinking water in case the water supply becomes polluted or disrupted. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, 3.)

 #9: Financial:  Financial preparation isn’t just about having debt.  Most of us will

have a mortgage if nothing else.  It’s critical that you have goods with which to trade

such as wheat, sugar, and other stores that will be in high demand.  If you don’t

already have what you need, you will NOT be able to buy it amidst a mob of crazy

people who are unprepared.  To become financially self-reliant, members should pay

 tithes and offerings, avoid unnecessary debt, use a budget, and live within a plan.

They should gradually build a financial reserve by regularly saving a portion of their

 income. (See All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, 3.)

#10: Communication:  In order to be prepared for communication in an emergency,

you should have a very specific plan of communication with your family and friends.

 You should have a specific point of gathering agreed upon for everyone to meet in

the event of a disaster.  Additionally, plan on other forms of communication such as

a HAM radio, accompanied by the license and skill to operate.  Also plan on old

fashioned message delivery.  Being able to coordinate with the outside world will

become important during and after your initial crisis reaction.  Look for opportunities

to learn & strengthen your spiritual & mental preparedness first & foremost.  Everything else will appropriately follow.

#11 Employment

Work is the foun­dation upon which self-reliance and temporal well-being rest.  Members should prepare for and carefully select a suitable occu­pation or self-employment that will provide for their own and their families’ needs.  They should become skilled at their jobs, be diligent and trustworthy, and give honest work for the pay and benefits they receive.

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