Shoes, Boots, Socks and Other Footwear

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2009

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PRINCIPLES: Over the years, the Lord has counseled us to store a year’s supply of clothing (see, for example, J. Reuben Clark, General Conference, April 1937; John. H. Vandenberg, General Conference, October 1966). Clothing includes footwear, such as shoes, boots, and socks. We can store footwear in our homes and our disaster supply kits. Extra sets of footwear, and warmer or sturdier footwear, may be needed in wars, depressions, earthquakes, floods and tornadoes. Such events have been given as examples for us to think of when anticipating possible future needs and preparing to safeguard our families (First Presidency Message, 6 October 1973).

Those of us with limited income may wish to put our money into food and clothing (J. Reuben Clark, Jr., General Conference, April 1937). Consider buying and storing shoes, boots and socks for working outdoors and for staying warm (see Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, October 1973).

Supplies for creating our own clothing or shoes, such as leather, might be considered for home storage (Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, October 1973). As President Wilford Woodruff said, a time will come when making our own shoes will be necessary (Discourses, p. 166-67). The value of making or producing items that become part of our year’s supply of clothing is echoed by more recent general authorities as well (see L. Tom Perry, General Conference, October 1980).

PRACTICES: Consider storing not only at home but also in disaster supply kits extra sets of durable, well-fitting socks, shoes and boots for each member of your family. You may need extra footwear to help protect your feet and body against nature, especially if you must travel. You may need to do so during an evacuation or a trip involving the rescue or aid of family members or others.

For summer wear, you may wish to store well-ventilated socks and shoes or boots.

Cold weather, even in Arizona, may present risks during a winter emergency, especially in the mountains. Hypothermia can kill. Frostbite can damage feet and make survival difficult. Having warm footwear is essential. Consider winter boots rated below the coldest temperatures expected. Ratings are good only for those who are active or moving.

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Wool socks can help provide needed warmth. Merino wool tends to be least scratchy. Avoid cotton, which holds moisture. Silk or synthetic liner socks wick moisture away from feet. Use of liner socks can help prevent blisters.

Moisture is the enemy of warmth and comfort. Avoid getting footwear wet if possible. If footwear does get wet or sweaty, swap it out for socks and shoes or boots that are dry. Dry out wet footwear in the sunlight or in front of a fire – gently. This may take several hours or more. Do not dry shoes or boots too quickly. In cold weather, never wear socks worn that day to bed; instead, wear fresh, dry socks to bed.

Thick moleskin, available in drugstores, can protect feet against blistering or enable one to endure walking on feet with blisters. Cut out a hole in the moleskin slightly larger than the blister, and stick the moleskin on the foot around the blister so that the moleskin and shoe or boot do not rub on it.

More on blister care at http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_blisters_sma.htm

Photo Credits:

Blister: http://www.catalog.niddk.nih.gov/ImageLibrary/NIDDKimages/Thumbnails/N00362_T.jpg

Other photos: D. and S. Edwards

Historic Counsel: Clothing Creation and Storage

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2009

PRINCIPLES: President Wilford Woodruff said, “The day will come when, as we have been told, we shall all see the necessity of making our own shoes and clothing and raising our own food, and uniting together to carry out the purposes of the Lord. . . .” (Discourses, p. 166-67).
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President J. Reuben Clark, Jr. asked for every household leader to ensure that the household has food, clothing, and, if possible, fuel storage for at least a year. He further suggested that those without large incomes purchase clothing and food rather than bonds and stocks (General Conference, April 1937). He quipped that, when the time comes that food, clothing and shelter are not readily available and cannot easily be purchased, money may have limited value, because people will not be able to eat money, clothe themselves with it, or burn a sufficient quantity of it to stay warm (Church News, November 21, 1953, p.4).

Bishop John. H. Vandenberg asked that we seek to remove from ourselves any debt and obtain a supply of food, clothing and money in sufficient quantity to deal with an emergency (General Conference, October 1966).

In a message to the Church delivered on 6 October 1973, the First Presidency suggested that we consider both manmade and natural disasters when anticipating and planning for needs of our families. Manmade disasters that they mentioned include wars and depressions. Natural disasters that they mentioned include earthquakes, floods, and tornadoes. They also mentioned famines, which can have both natural and manmade causes. The First Presidency also recommended that those who need to move frequently or who live in smaller homes, who have limited capacity for storage, nevertheless store as much food, clothing and fuel as they can.

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Elder Ezra Taft Benson in General Conference, 1973, suggested that we plan and prepare to keep ourselves warm during winter months when shortages may exist by storing clothes for work and warmth. He also suggested that we think about accumulating leather and rolls of fabric.

L. Tom Perry encouraged Church members to elevate their priorities in regard to obtaining a one-year supply. He asked us whether we could help accomplish this by producing our own clothes, doing our own gardening, and preserving our own food (General Conference, October 1980).

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The Church counseled its members in a home production and storage guideline booklet to store enough clothing for the whole family for a year or more. The clothing ought to be able to meet the needs of different seasons. In addition, the Church encouraged members to store fabric, thread, needles and other sewing notions where possible (Essentials of Home Production & Storage, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978.)

Marion G. Romney said that it is vital for us to follow counsel to have a year’s supply of food and clothing (Ensign, April 1981, p. 6-7).

PRACTICES: Current Church counsel is to get out of debt, put aside a store of money, and obtain a three-month supply of foods that we regularly eat on an everyday basis. Following this, we are to obtain an extended supply of long-term storage foods. Beyond these objectives, the Church counsels us that we may choose to store other items that may be of use to us and our families in times of crisis. This may include clothing.

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Clothing can be stored both at home and in disaster supply kits. As intimated by some Church leaders historically, clothing may someday become scarce or unavailable in stores. We may thus greatly benefit from creating a long-term supply of work clothes and warm clothes, particularly if weather changes or we need to travel through colder areas. Consider also buying leather and bolts of cloth for storage. In addition, those of us without much knowledge or experience in sewing may wish to learn better how to make and mend clothes.

More: http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7636-1-4104-1,00.html