Recent Counsel on Provident Living and Faith

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2009

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PRINCIPLES: “To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.” – Robert D. Hales

“The obedient soul should not be surprised if disappointments or even disasters interrupt his peace. . . . In times of distress, let your covenants be paramount and let your obedience be exact. Then you can ask in faith, nothing wavering, according to your need, and God will answer.” – D. Todd Christofferson

“The scripture goes on to praise those of us who prepared for adversity in the more prosperous times. Many of you had the faith to try to qualify for the help you now need, before the crisis came.” – Henry B. Eyring

“A life of fun and games and expensive toys has come to an abrupt end. We move from a generation of ease and entertainment to a generation of hard work and responsibility. We do not know how long that will last. . . . Some of you live in countries where most of what you eat and some of what you wear will depend on what can be produced by the family.” – Boyd K. Packer

“It usually just takes a few phone calls from presiding authorities to local leaders to mobilize hundreds and sometimes thousands of individuals to go to the rescue of their fellow brothers and sisters in distress. . . . we now call upon you to mobilize our priesthood quorums in response to the employment and financial challenges facing our members. Consider this your personal phone call. Now is the time to rally around, lift up, and help the families in our quorums who may be in distress . . . . Many wards and stakes have called employment specialists to provide bishops and quorum leaders with additional support. Do not hesitate to call upon them for help. . . . In many areas of the Church, we have established employment resource centers. The staff in these centers have been trained to assist you with your quorum, ward, and stake employment needs. Their close relationships with employers will be an asset with career development and employment. . . . The responsibility for finding employment or improving your employment rests with you. Continued guidance comes from the Lord through regular fasting and prayer. Your quorum leaders, bishops, specialists, and employment resource center staff will help in your efforts.” – Richard C. Edgely

“Although our journey through mortality will at times place us in harm’s way, may I offer you tonight three suggestions which, when observed and followed, will lead us to safety. They are: 1. Study diligently. 2. Pray fervently. 3. Live righteously. . . . If we incorporate them into our lives . . . we will have the strength to withstand the adversary. Should we ignore them, we will be opening the door for Satan to have influence and power over us.” – Thomas S. Monson

Graphics:

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Photo of Elder Henry B. Eyring: www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/images/20080529-2_utah-515h.jpg (modified in Paint to focus on Elder Eyring)

Digital representation of painting of President Thomas S. Monson downloaded with permission from www.dochristensen.com/TSM-Download.html

Vegetable Gardening

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2009

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PRINCIPLES: Spencer W. Kimball encouraged us as Church members during the April Conference in 1976 to plant and grow vegetables in our own yards. He indicated that even those living in condominiums can usually plant and grow some vegetables in small containers. He counseled us to apply ourselves and learn best practices for growing our own food.

Marion G. Romney in April Conference in 1975 echoed prophetic counsel from the past when he affirmed that the time will come when it will be our own produced goods that will keep us alive.

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PRACTICES: As President Kimball said, you can grow vegetables in above-ground containers, such as pots or planters. The reference at the close of this posting gives additional information.

On a somewhat larger scale, it is possible to grow vegetables above ground in lasagna gardens, kiddie-pool gardens, or raised-bed gardens. Each of these generally share the characteristic of using “soil” mix created from compost, mulch, aged manure, peat moss, grass clippings, or other organic-rich natural materials as well as native soil materials, all added to a well-drained container. 8-10” of the mix is usually sufficient for vegetables. Cardboard is often put down first to prevent weeds from growing up into the garden. If the soil mix is weed-free, then so may your garden be for a while.

You can learn about lasagna gardens, which use organic materials laid down in layers, at http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/1999-04-01/Lasagna-Gardening.aspx. See descriptions of kiddie-pool gardens at http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6298 and http://www.ehow.com/how_4562661_grow-pumpkins-kiddie-pool.html.Read about raised-bed gardens at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/raisedbed/index.html and http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/hort/g06985.htm.

A method that many people enjoy is the Mittleider method. It is said to provide large yields of food per unit area, minimize the amount of work involved in gardening, permit the use of only simple tools, decrease the amount of water used, produce healthier plants, and allow for growth of nearly any vegetable in nearly any climate. Books are available to assist in learning this method. (See http://foodforeveryone.org/vegetable_gardening/22/how-is-this-method-different)

Experts say that your garden generally needs six to eight hours of sunlight per day. In hot climates, it may be necessary to put shade cloth some distance above plants to block part of the midday heat.

You may need to alter soil pH. It generally should be in the 6.0-7.0 range. If pH is too high, as is typical in the arid southwest, then you can mix in pure, elemental sulfur to moist, well-aerated soil to increase soil acidity after a few weeks (http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~blpprt/lowerpH.html#table2).

To understand more about soil preparation, bed development, planting, watering, fertilizing, weed control, and harvesting, you can read books and articles and talk with successful local gardeners.

More at www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/HG600Containerveggardening.pdf

Graphics credits:

Harvested carrots: www.cdc.gov/Features/GrowingVegetables/

Tomatoes: www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/oct07/k9208-1i.jpg

Grow a garden poster: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/history/can.htm

Other graphics: D. or S. Edwards

Look to the First Presidency

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2009

PRINCIPLES: “Look to the Presidency and receive instruction. Every man who is afraid, covetous, will be taken in a snare. The time is soon coming when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her stakes.” – Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, vol. 3, 1905, edited by B.H. Roberts, and published by the Church, p. 391.

Harold B. Lee, speaking in General Conference in April 1943, averred that we as Church members will have security only to the extent that we obey God's commandments, live in such a way that we are entitled to a close and comforting association with the Holy Ghost, give heed to the instruction of the Lord's servants, and follow the instructions given to the Church.

Nearly three decades later, Harold B. Lee said further that there will be only one way to have safety, and that will be to follow explicitly the counsels and commandments of the President of this Church, ‘as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me . . . as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.’” (D&C 21: 4-5) – Harold B. Lee, General Conference, October 1970

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In General Conference, October 1973, Ezra Taft Benson reminded us of the Savior's prophecy in Matthew, chapter 24, wherein we are promised “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes . . . ” (Matt. 24:7). Yet, despite these calamities, the Lord has said: “. . . if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). President Benson gave us the key for becoming ready for these calamities, referring to Doctrine and Covenants, Section 1, when he said that this key was to listen to and pay attention to the word of the Lord through his the prophets, which will guide us as to how we may best prepare.

Bruce R. McConkie told us in General Conference in April 1980 what we must do for all things, from the perspective of eternity, to combine to effect good in our lives. What is required on our part for this to happen? We must take a stand backing the Church on every point, whether spiritual or political, listen to and obey the Holy Gost, and follow the counsel of the prophets and apostles.

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Speaking in General Conference in October 2005, Keith B. McMullin instructed us that we will be blessed as we heed the counsel of the prophets, keeping our expenses under our incomes, staying away from debts not necessary for us to contract, and storing enough of the necessities of life to support our families for a year or more. As we do so, living these principles fully to the extent of our ability, that which we have stored will be blessed to provide abundantly for our needs.

PRACTICES: Perilous times are upon us. The only safety is in following the Lord Jesus Christ and His servants. Look to the First Presidency and receive instruction. Listen to these men whom God has called to preside. They will show us how to prepare for calamities now and in the future. Obey their counsel. Live within your means, avoid debt, and store necessities of life to sustain yourselves and your families for at least a year. As you do this, all things will work together for your good.

Graphics:

Joseph Smith: www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0506-8/images/smith.jpg

Ezra Taft Benson: www.usda.gov/img/content/benson.gif

First Aid Kits and Medical Supplies

Provident Principles and Practices

© David Edwards, 2009

PRINCIPLES: Ezra Taft Benson, in General Conference, April 1967, taught that not only should a man be ready to physically protect himself, but that he should also store enough supplies to take care of his family in a crisis.

Ezra Taft Benson also said that, in regard to our storage programs, it would be well for us to store at least a year's supply of family medical supplies (General Conference, October 1973).

The booklet called Essentials of Home production and Storage, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978, encourages all members to include first aid supplies as part of our storage program. Storage containers can be made of metal, wood, straw or plastic. They should have various storage compartments and should be closed with tightly fitting covers. Family physicians can suggest specific supplies that might be needed for a family in a crisis. Supplies in first aid kits need to be periodically checked. Some supplies need to be regularly rotated, with expired or degraded supplies being discarded. Supplies need to be labeled and easily accessible for quick use.

President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled us in General Conference, October 2005, to set aside not only food and water, but also medicine.

PRACTICES: The following items are among those suggested for storage in a first aid kit in the EHP&S (1978) booklet and/or at the American Red Cross (ARC) Web site (2009) . You may also wish to include a flashlight and batteries for nighttime work. Be sure to include medications prescribed by a physician and any other type of health or medical aids or remedies on which you depend.

Absorbent compress dressings (2, 5 x 9 inches)
Adhesive bandages (25, assorted sizes)
Adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
Antibiotic ointment packets (5, ~1 gram each)
Antiseptic wipe packets (5)
Aspirin (2 packets, 81 mg each)
Breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
Consecrated oil
Elastic bandages
First aid instruction booklet
Hydrocortisone ointment packets (2, ~1 gm each)
Instant cold compress
Knife
Matches
Measuring cup
Medications prescribed by physician
Medicine dropper
Needles
Non-latex gloves (2 pair, size large)
Oral thermometer, non-glass, non-mercury
Roller bandage (3 inches wide)
Roller bandage (4 inches wide)
Safety pins
Scissors
Soap
Space blanket
Sterile gauze pads (5, 3 x 3 inches)
Sterile gauze pads (5, 4 x 4 inches)
Triangular bandages (2)
Tweezers

The ARC (2009) list is found at http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/lifeline/fakit.html

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Graphics credits:

Gauze supplies:
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/images/gauze.jpg
First aid kit:
www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/images/first_aid_kit.jpg
Medicines:
www.cdc.gov/Partners/Archive/MedicationRecord/MedicationRecord_355px.jpg