Becoming Provident Providers

Be Prepared

Email from Sister Tracy Friend - Hello from Colorado

I was just reading the RS blog and reminiscing on old friends. Looks like things are moving right along without us!

We are still looking for a job, but Mark has 3 companies now that are keenly interested in him. He is in Texas right now, getting our van with Marcus. We are looking to rent a house in October. We have been living in my sister’s basement since July 1^st!

The kids are happy in school and church. There are 3 seminary classes that meet at our chapel M-F! (That’s 3 wards of kids.) Casey misses Sis. Han sorely. She says seminary is boring here. I think she misses Sis. Han’s love, and her treats! From seminary they walk to school, which is right next door.

I’m my sister’s cook. That was part of the bargain of me staying here. It’s great though. I love it!

I found a great volunteer job at the Office of Emergency Management. I can work as much and whenever I want! I got put in charge of a big project the first week. I love it!! More on that later.

The food here is great. Of course. My favorite so far – Horchata. It’s a rice milk drink flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. Yum!!!! I sometimes I get a big cup of it (it’s called a SMALL!!) and bring it home for Mark for a treat. Too much sugar for me. The weirdest thing I’ve had? Celery soda, and yesterday – Alligator!!

Back to my job – the RS asked me to prepare regular Emergency Preparedness tips for their newsletter. I included the first one with this email (Click here). If you want, I’m happy to send them to you guys as well! Not only are they going to be used in our ward, but perhaps in the Stake (District) and a few Housing complexes here that have asked our office (at my work) for monthly tips.

Well, I’d better go. Miss you guys!

Tracy

Emergency Preparedness

Today, we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting and President Renner was moved upon to chastise us for not being obedient to the counsel of the Lord to have our 72-hour kits and 3-month home storage fully prepared.

President Renner quoted from Alma 5:6 which says, "And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, have you sufficiently retained in ^aremembrance the captivity of your fathers? Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long-suffering towards them? And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has ^bdelivered their souls from hell?

We were also told that blessings were being withheld from our branch due to this disobedience. I felt really sorry that the Lord was displeased with me. It made feel really bad that I had let the Lord down. I need to repent.

Sisters, we can't deny that we have been reminded over and over again to do this. There must be a good reason that this is happening. Let us be diligent and obedient and do all that we can. I know that the Lord will bless our efforts.

Let us go and do!

This Is Your Phone Call

President Monson tells the story of a retired executive named Ed who lived the example of a quorum member. On one occasion President Monson was speaking with Ed and asked him, “ ‘Ed, what are you doing in the Church?’ He replied, ‘I have the best assignment in the ward. My responsibility is to help men who are unemployed find permanent employment. This year I have helped 12 of my brethren who were out of work to obtain good jobs. I have never been happier in my entire life.’ “ President Monson continues, “Short in stature, ‘Little Ed,’ as we affectionately called him, stood tall that evening as his eyes glistened and his voice quavered. He showed his love by helping those in need. He restored human dignity. He opened doors for those who knew not how to do so themselves.”

There are many ways bishops and quorum members can help to relieve the suffering and anxiety of the unemployed. Phil’s Auto of Centerville, Utah, is a testament of what priesthood leadership and a quorum can accomplish. Phil was a member of an elders quorum and worked as a mechanic at a local automobile repair shop. Unfortunately, the repair shop where Phil worked experienced economic trouble and had to let Phil go from his job. He was devastated by this turn of events.

On hearing about Phil’s job loss, his bishop, Leon Olson, and his elders quorum presidency prayerfully considered ways they could help Phil get back on his feet. After all, he was a fellow quorum member, a brother, and he needed help. They concluded that Phil had the skills to run his own business. One of the quorum members offered that he had an old barn that perhaps could be used as a repair shop. Other quorum members could help gather needed tools and supplies to equip the new shop. Almost everyone in the quorum could at least help clean the old barn.

They shared their ideas with Phil; then they shared their plan with the members of their quorum. The barn was cleaned and renovated, the tools gathered, and all was put in order. Phil’s Auto was a success and eventually moved to better and more permanent quarters—all because his quorum brothers offered help in a time of crisis. Priesthood quorums can and must make a difference.

Bishops, the sisters have a role in this effort. Because of the economy, many mothers are finding it necessary to make budget and other living adjustments. Some are even finding it necessary to leave the home to find work. The Relief Society sisters, with their specially endowed, compassionate hearts, can help. They can help identify the needy. They can teach. They can babysit, console, comfort, and encourage. They can make a difference.

(For the full talk, click here)

Self-reliance

Sisters, here's an example of a family in Kansas City, whom we can all really emulate.  Take a look at the pictures and see how organized they are.

This also gives us an idea of how to go about doing our own home storage, garden, etc.  I hope all of us will read this article before the Enrichment Activity on the 27th of this month.

(For the full article, click here, and for the photos, click here)

Quote - Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady

"Most of us have thought about how to prepare for storms. We have seen and felt the suffering of women, men, and children, and of the aged and the weak, caught in hurricanes, tsunamis, wars, and droughts. One reaction is to ask, “How can I be prepared?” And there is a rush to buy and put away whatever people think they might need for the day they might face such calamities.

But there is another even more important preparation we must make for tests that are certain to come to each of us. That preparation must be started far in advance because it takes time. What we will need then can’t be bought. It can’t be borrowed. It doesn’t store well. And it has to have been used regularly and recently.

What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which everything for us in eternity depends. That test is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation."

--Henry B Eyring, "Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady", Ensign, November 2005

(For the full article, click here)

Scriptural Perspectives on How to Survive the Calamities of the Last Days by Hugh Nibley

Remember when we were at the Renners' home and President Renner mentioned an excerpt from a Hugh Nibley book that he highly recommended?

First of all, who was Hugh Nibley? Read his brief history here.

The excerpt that President Renner was talking about is called: "Scriptural Perspectives on How to Survive the Calamities of the Last Days". You can read all of it here.

President Renner also mentioned that he had ordered the book where this excerpt was taken from, called: "The Prophetic Book of Mormon". For those of us who are interested to read the book but have difficulty obtaining it, we can read it online or have the whole book printed out chapter by chapter for free, from here. As you can see, the excerpt is taken from Number 23, which is Chapter 21 when opened or printed.

So sisters, enjoy!

Personal Righteousness

I was privileged to teach yesterday and I'd just like to post some quotes used in the lesson on the Ten Virgins.

Someone proposed a serious question to me a few years ago by asking, "What is the most important item to have stored in your year's supply?" My response was seriously given - personal righteousness.

--Marion G Romney, Ensign, April 7, 1981, 6

In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures, each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added

to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity, these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.

--Spencer W Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle, 256