Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2008
© David Edwards, 2008
PRINCIPLES: For many years, the counsel to latter-day saints was to obtain a year’s supply of food. Recently, the counsel of the First Presidency has shifted to first, obtaining a three-month’s supply of foods that our families normally eat, and after that, working on a longer-term supply – one that will provide us with sufficient food to stay alive for a long time. They suggest that we include in our longer-term supply grains and legumes – items that may keep for up to 30 years if properly packaged and stored. The Brethren realize that some of us have financial constraints or space issues limiting how much we can acquire and maintain. However, they suggest that we get and store as much as our individual situations allow. For some of us, whose supplies have dwindled, it may mean getting a new “year’s supply”.
Why do home storage? The First Presidency has indicated that the Lord, out of His love for us, has commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8). He wants us to be ready so that, when difficulties arise, we can take care of ourselves and our neighbors, and we can also provide support to our bishop as he cares for others. Let’s resolve this new year to get a supply.
PRACTICES: Let’s consider what would be required to extend a three-month’s supply to a year’s supply for one adult using just grain and legumes. For a nine-month supply of grain and legumes, using the food storage calculator found at http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7498-1-4070-1,00.html, we see that the amount of grain needed would be 225 lbs, and the amount of dry beans and other legumes would be 45 lbs. Let’s say that, for grains, for example, we get half wheat, one-quarter rice, and one-quarter oats. For legumes, let’s say that we get one-third black beans, one-third pinto beans, and one-third white beans. Going to the LDS Home Storage Center price list at http://providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/120132_HSOrderForm_US_JAN_09_pdf.pdf, we see that the grain (51 cans) would cost $155, and the beans (9 cans) would cost $47, for a total of $202. The sixty cans would fill exactly 10 cases or boxes. 10 cases can often be stacked in one corner of a closet to the ceiling, occupying only about 1.7 sq. ft. of floor space.
So, for $202 and 1.7 sq. ft. of extra floor space, you can extend a three-month supply for one adult to a year supply. Expenses for a small child may be somewhat less. For a family, you basically multiply the dollar and space amounts by the number in the family.
Do we believe the prophets’ warnings that, upon this land, there will come economic disaster, destructive hail, famine, plague, earthquake, war and desolation? Will we be ready? Will we act while it is still possible to act? If, after all we can do, we still haven’t stored as much food as we would like, then the Lord will bless us for what we have done. If we ignore the Lord’s counsel, however, we have no promise. We need to ask ourselves, “What is stopping me?”
Which of your children and/or grandchildren would you like to go hungry if times get rough?See Church counsel on obtaining a reserve of food at http://providentliving.org/fhs/pdf/WE_FamilyResourcesGuide_International_04008_000.pdf
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