Preparations

July 2008
Preparations

As I considered my topic for this month my mind kept returning to preparedness. And though I tried to write about something else I just could not.
To write about this subject I suppose I must first ask what the preparation is for? It would be pointless to explore the topic without a purpose, and understanding the object of the preparation certainly effects the direction of this paper.
So, what should we prepare for? Answers might include the following; natural disasters, war, famine, plagues, civil unrest, economic disasters, social deterioration, the assault on the family, moral decline, invasions from outer space, persecution, exponential growth of the church, law of consecration, Zion, the coming of Christ, and the final judgement. You can add a few of your own. The point is that there is quite a diversity of things to prepare for.
Most anyone that you ask will agree that there are two general areas of preparedness, spiritual and temporal. Temporal preparedness can be argued endlessly and what will be found in the end is that everyone has their own method of doing it. Suffice it to say that we have been counseled to prepare using methods of production and storage, and returning to the pantry style living of our forebearers (Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, May 1981, 79). I suppose that’s clear enough. Spiritual preparedness is most often described as sensitivity to the spirit. Both spiritual and temporal preparedness are essential for the day that we live in.
The reasons for being prepared might seem obvious, but if we look a little closer, we will find some interesting things.
First, it’s easy to see that if there were a disaster of some kind and we found ourselves unprepared, that we would suffer some physical discomfort, but experience has shown that relief would be quick in coming and most of us have family and friends that would run to our aid. Mostly, we don’t worry too much about it. But, those who have experienced a disaster of some kind, can testify that there is much more to it. The emotional trauma, and physical discomfort can result in feelings of uncertainty and doubt, hopelessness and despair, even disbelief and loss of faith even though help is on the way. Furthermore, most often, the help that does comes is designed to meet a present need, and not a long term recovery. Temporal preparedness is as essential to our spiritual well being today as boarding the ark was for the people in the days of Noah (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 61; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 49). As mother nature continues to wind up for the last days, food supplies will become increasingly less, prices continue to rise, aid becomes scarce, and desperation fills the air. Relief agencies are already running out of funds, government agencies are strained, and crops are being wiped out. In a global market, disasters have wide spread consequences, and without the means of recovery, everyone will be effected. Thus, the need for local or personal preparations. This however will require a change in habits. I have been told by some that there is really no need to change my diet as long as my favorite foods are available. But, when my favorite foods are no longer available, will I have the skills to supply my needs? I have spent years learning how to garden. I have planted and killed more fruit trees than I care to reveal. I have fed the wild animals on chickens and turkeys, I have the healthiest corn fed racoons in the state, and I have failed at raising beef. The fact is, that there is a learning curve, and when you’re out of food and your children are crying of hunger, you don’t have years to learn the skills of production. Production is the foundation of food storage. Our forebearers knew this, and lived it. They ate what they grew, and grew what they ate. In fact, it would be safe to say that the real purpose for storing food is to get from one season to the next. We must be learning the skills while it is called today, for the night cometh wherein no man labors.
Obviously, if the answer is to produce and store food, and other items of need, then it would be important to decide what those things will be, and I don’t think the local nursery will have a chicken and steak fajita tree.
Many complain that it is just too hard to grow a garden, plant fruit trees, raise animals and so forth. The city lot is too small, or ordinances don’t allow animals. Well, if the pants don’t fit, you take them back and get something that does fits. If that’s not possible at the present time, then we should do what we can with what we have to work with, looking and praying for alternatives.
Some argue that these are drastic measures not necessary for our time. Whether they are or not for our time is irrelevant. First of all, we have been counseled by our prophets to prepare in this manner. Secondly, we believe that someone down the line will have to live this way in real time. It is our responsibility to break ground, at least. Furthermore, there is the promise that when council is heeded and obeyed, protection and help is on the way. Therefor, there is safety and peace in obeying for the sake of obeying, regardless of the time that we live in.
The other matter, spiritual preparedness gets even less attention. It is however the most important. Spiritual sensitivity is the lifeline to survival in this world, regardless of the age that we live in. Imagine that you are crossing a vast desert with nothing but a GPS gizmo to get through to the other side. Your course would be straight and direct, and little time would be wasted. But if the GPS failed, disaster would result, even with all of the water and food you could carry. And so it is with spiritual preparation. Without the guidance of the spirit, you may find that all your preparation can not save you.
Nephi may have been well prepared to make the trip back to Jerusalem, and he may have had skills in etiquette, argument, and we know he had access to great wealth, but all of these combined were not enough to get the plates. He had to turn to the guidance of the spirit to accomplish his task. Laman and Lemuel, who had made no spiritual preparations failed miserably, and had they continued the course they were on, they undoubtably would have been killed.
Being prepared and succeeding for Nephi was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. To achieve this he needed a spiritual GPS, the Spirit of God. Certain questions had to be asked and answered. Where should I go? What should I do? Lehi and his family journeyed into the wilderness with the aid of a Celestial GPS called the Liahona. This God-given guide provided both the spiritual, as well as the temporal preservation that they needed. Without it, they would have perished. This story is filled with amazing metaphors. It worked according to the heed and diligence that they gave to it’s instructions. Likewise, our preservation will depend upon the heed and diligence that we give to the prompting voice of the Holy Ghost.
The Liahona led them into the more fertile areas of the land. Places where there would be water, wild fruits, and game. Obviously they could not carry with them enough food and supplies to meet the needs of an 8 year journey through the Arabian Peninsula. They did take provisions, tools, and tents, but much of what they would need to survive would have to be found on the way. We too must be led into the more fertile parts of the land, where we will be able to provide for our needs, wether that be green surroundings or career opportunity. I thought it interesting that Nephi does not indicate that they traveled the well know roads, most accepted and traveled in his day. If I were in business in those days, I would send my freight down the well traveled roads, seeking the quickest and least expensive routs, so that I could make the highest profits for my goods. Speed, efficiency, and return would be my main concerns. We tend to think that way today of course. What will make the most for the least amount of effort. Where can I go to make the most of my skills. I have to wonder what would have happened to Lehi and his family if he would have used his knowledge and skills in trade and travel, rather than the Liahona to direct his family through the wilderness. We face a similar wilderness with real dangers and uncertainty. It must be equally important for us to follow the directions of our latter-day Liahonas, and live lives worthy of direction.
When the party atmosphere of the world overtook there humility and obedience they were nearly destroyed by a natural disaster. When the desperate need for food caused them to murmur, and to complain, they nearly starved in the desert. When the plenty and the ease of Bountiful caused them to lax in their duty, they lost site of the promised land. Likewise, we are called by other voices, voices of the world that sing loud, and sweet, long and inviting. They distract us away from our course, and draw our minds away from that still small voice.
History has a number of examples of this principle. Abraham was led away from Sodom and Gomorrah. It would have been disastrous if he had stayed. Lehi and others were led away from Jerusalem just before the Babylonian conquest. Jared was led away from the tower. Nephi was led away from the Lamanites. Mosiah was led away from the land of Nephi. Alma was led away from King Noah. Lamoni and Ammon were led away from the Lamanites, the Latter-day Saints were led to the west, and the list goes on. At the same time, many would not heed the spirit and suffered the consequences. Knowing where to be, and when to be there is more important than having a food storage.
In today’s culture we should ask those important questions where, when, how, when deciding on a career, or how to invest money, or when we are in desperate need. All to often the answers are self made and self fulfilling. When we make these important decisions for the wrong reasons everything else in our lives has to be made to fit that decision, or bend into place. Where we live, how we serve in the Kingdom of God, family time, morality, honesty, all fall captive to our choices. The very practice of serving Mammon.
In God’s culture we ask those questions when we have decided to serve him. He answers, and sends us. We go, and all else including career, bend to that. Serving and sacrificing all for the Kingdom of God is a matter of covenant. If one is to keep that covenant then it stands to reason that one must also ask how, where, when and so forth. Getting answers to such questions will require a spiritual in-tuneness, and they must be asked. Ask yourself these questions; Am I living where Father would have me live? Am I serving where Father would have me serve? Am I doing what Father would have me do? Or am I serving my own desires and asking Him to bless me in doing so? Interestingly, we can do that you know, ask for what we want, and get it? It happens all of the time. We choose what we want, we ask for it, and many times the Lord blesses us with it, even though He can see something better for us. Ultimately, we do get what we want. But if we can surrender our will to His, we will find a happiness far greater than what we could ever have devised by our own cunning and planning.
Finally, being prepared spiritually is the insurance that our temporal preparedness will serve it’s purpose. It would be particularly wise of us in this day to ask the important questions first. "Where would Thou have me go? What would Thou have me do? How would Thou have me serve?" We can build the storage up, save and invest but no amount of temporal preparation can compensate for not knowing where to be and when to be there.