Christmas is around the corner. Why not make it a Preparedness Christmas?

Buy “survival” presents for your family and friends (canned food, flashlights, batteries, first-aid kits, water storage containers, camping equipment, seeds, sleeping bag, warm clothes, the possibilities are endless.....)

Herbs and Spices

Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com) has a large selection of herb and spices at competitive prices. They offer quantity discounts so combine your order with friends and family to receive up to 40% off.

Did you know that Marshmallow Root is good for a sore throat and Mullein is good for a cough? Mountain Rose Herbs offers a Profile on each of their herbs so you can learn what they are used for and how to prepare them. It's easy! Read up on this natural form of medicine and start stocking up your medicine cabinet today!

Offering these discounted items to your neighbors is a good way to start a food storage conversation with them. Are your neighbors prepared for an emergency? You can help them do so by implementing the 3 Step Program in your neighborhood (www.3steps.org). It is a simple program that will benefit the entire neighborhood.

Cumin-Scented Sesame Flatbread

Simple flatbreads are made throughtout the world---some with yeast, others without. This version uses no yeast and can, therefore, be prepared quickly. The cumin in this bread makes it especially complementary to Mexican or Indian foods. Leave the cumin out and serve it with any meal. (Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson)

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 t salt
3/4 cup water, or as needed
Olive oil for brushing
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
3/4 t ground cumin

1. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add enough water for the dough to hold together. Knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Wrap in plastic and set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Divide the dough into 6 pieces. Lightly flour your hands and work surface, then shape the dough into balls and flatten them. Roll out into circles about 6 inches in diameter. Brush lightly with olive oil. then sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cumin, pressing lightly so the seeds adhere to the dough.
3. Lightly oil a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Place a dough circle in the skillet and cook, turning once, until brown spots begin to appear, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter and cover with aluminum foil or a clean towel to keep warm while you cook the rest. Serve at once.

Black Bean Burgers

Printed from COOKS.COM

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1 can (14 oz.) black beans
1 small onion
2 cloves garlic (crushed)-substitute appx. 1/4 tsp. garlic powder or minced garlic if desired
2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 cup egg substitute (or one whole egg)

1) Place onion and garlic in food processor and process until fine.

2) Add well drained black beans.

3) Process until beans are in mashed consistency

4) Place in medium mixing bowl, add cajun seasoning, bread crumbs and egg substitute.

5) Mix thoroughly and shape in to 4 patties.

6) Place in well-greased grill basket, or grill. Cook 5-7 minutes on each side. BROIL in the oven- 10-12 minutes each side, on a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil, and sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray.

Sprouting

Have you tried sprouting yet? It is a fun, simple, and delicious way to use your food storage. Check out www.sproutman.com. They have the products and tips you'll need to get started. (Sprouting is a great way to use your wheat if you don't yet have a wheat grinder.)

Fruit Cocktail Cake

3 cups whole wheat flour (I prefer spelt flour)

¼ t salt

1 T baking powder

1 cup real maple syrup

½ cup extra light olive oil

2 eggs, beaten (or egg replacer)

1 t vanilla extract

1 cup plain milk

1 can Natural Fruit Cocktail (naturally sweetened in its own juices. I buy mine at Fry’s.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil and flour a 9-inch round or square cake pan.

In a large bowl, sift together the flours, salt, and baking powder. In another bowl, beat together the m ale syrup and oil. Stir the eggs, vanilla, and soy beverage into the maple syrup mixture. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Pour 1 can of Fruit Cocktail (naturally sweetened in its own juices) into bottom of baking dish.

Pour batter into baking pan over the fruit cocktail. Bake until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the cent comes out clean, 40-45 minutes (or longer).

(I used a 9” x 13” pan and baked the cake for 30 minutes.)

"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46)

"We encourage families to have on hand this (one) year's supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where He says, "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so-called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says.
As we become more affluent and our bank accounts enlarge, there comes a feeling of security, and we feel sometimes that we do not need the supply that has been suggested by the Brethren.
...We must remember that conditions could change and a year's supply of basic commodities could be very much appreciated by us or others. So we would do well to listen to what we have been told and to follow it explicitly."

---President Spencer W. Kimball

I love quotes like this because they nudge me out of my comfort zone and create a sense of urgency to get prepared. So often I get lost in the every day hustle and bustle of life and forget that these are the last days. Wow! These are really the last days! It really is exciting! Am I prepared? Spiritually? Physically? Ahhh...so much left to do. One step at a time.....

The Haunting Message of Haun's Mill

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istock/Serfei Sverdelov

http://www.ldsmag.com/lineuponline/070914haunsmill.html

The morning was fresh and beautiful at the Haun’s Mill settlement. The children laughed and played and chased each other while the adults went about their daily tasks with no premonition. Yet many were living their last hours on this earth. The saddest part of that story is, that if Jacob Haun had followed the Prophet’s counsel the mob would have ridden in to find the settlement deserted.

John Lee was an eyewitness to an important conversation on 26 October 1838. He recorded the Prophet Joseph’s words to Jacob Haun: "Move in, by all means, if you wish to save your lives." Haun replied that if the settlers left their homes all of their property would be lost and the Gentiles would burn their houses and other buildings. Joseph replied, “You had better lose your property than your lives, but there is no danger of losing either if you will do as you are commanded."

You know what happened and you know the pattern. A prophet speaks. Some give heed. Many others do not. The consequence follows—and sometimes the consequence is death.

Thousands disregarded the Prophet Noah's warning and lost their lives in the flood. Neither the mob at Haun’s Mill nor the rising waters cared one whit for the excuses the people had for their disobedience. Neither would calamity or famine care for ours.

A Modern-day Warning
Recently we, as members of the Church have received yet another warning from our prophets. A plain spoken, specific message of guidance from our First Presidency in regard to food storage inserted in the July Ensign. Members of the Church were told in clear terms to build a three-month supply of food that is part of our daily diet, to store drinking water, establish a financial reserve, and finally, to “build a supply of food that lasts a long time and that you can use to stay alive, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.” I highly recommend that every member take another look at this important insert. The title message: “Family Home Storage: Get Started!” is a encouraging one, really, because the very wording indicates there is still time to start, time to heed, time to accomplish the necessary preparation. But there is no doubt that the time for action is NOW.

Roger K. Young has written and lectured extensively on this subject and has given me permission to draw from his material at will. I want to share some of the best ideas and quotes he has gathered.

As I sit here at my computer working on this article, the date is 9/11—six years after the tragedy that shook Americans out of their false belief that such things never happen here. On October 6, 2001, in the Sunday morning session of October General Conference, just days after the planes hit the twin towers, President Hinckley said, “We cannot provide against every contingency. But we can provide against many contingencies. Let the present situation remind us that this is we should do. As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect.”

Three months later, (January 20, 2002) the First Presidency took the unprecedented step of issuing a special letter to leadership asking that food storage (specifically having a one year supply), be taught in every branch, ward, district and stake in the Church.

For the first time, on the back of this letter, the First Presidency outlined the minimum of basic food items to be included in such storage: 400 pounds of grains per adult; 60 pounds of legumes (beans, split peas or lentils, etc.) 16 pounds of powdered milk, 10 quarts of cooking oil, 60 pounds of sugar or honey; eight pound of salt; and 14 gallons (a two-week supply) of water.

Following this, the Church made a major change at the Bishops storehouses, creating monthly survival food storage boxes for one person at tremendously low prices. A person could purchase one a month. When they had twelve of these boxes they would have a years supply of basic food storage. This plan made the step-by-step completion of President Hinckley’s counsel possible for almost any member (with the obvious exception of those who live in countries where food storage is prohibited by law).

Since then, we have all heard many lessons and talks on this subject. We can never say that we have not been sufficiently warned.

Has Counsel Ever Been More Plain?
What will the consequences be if we choose to disregard the straight forward, consistent counsel of our leaders? Will our excuses feed our children when the time for preparation is past? Personal spiritual righteousness and gospel zeal in every other gospel arena cannot guarantee the temporal protection of the Lord and excuse an individual from obeying this counsel of the Prophets and Apostles.

We can think of many precedents where a member or a leader was trying hard in so many areas and be doing a tremendous amount of good. Yet if they, like the Haun’s Mill settlers, at the same time, ignore counsel given repeatedly by prophets, they can suffer terrible consequences.

Another famous historical example of this very issue is the Martin and Willey handcart experience. Here we see a group of good, righteous individuals and their local leaders ignoring counsel from Prophets and Apostles and suffering the consequences. They believed that their personal righteousness would protect them in their disregard for following the counsel of the Apostles. (See B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.4, Ch.98, p.91)

How Does All This Apply to Us?
Roger K. Young said, “I can’t tell you how many times I have talked with people who are wonderful, faithful members of the Church, some even who are ward and stake leaders, who don’t have enough food storage to last more than a week or so. (Even when they have been well blessed in material possessions and income.) In our discussions about how the counsel for food storage has been repeated by every prophet for over 60 years they commonly respond that with all of the other issues they are dealing with, food storage just isn’t very high on the priority list. Temple work, family history, missionary work are all much more important to them than food storage. However, some explain that if the Prophet made it a commandment, like they did with the Word of Wisdom by including it on the temple recommend interview, instead of just counsel, then they would move it up on the priority list.

They believe the very same false doctrines as did the members of the two ill-fated groups mentioned above. First, they falsely believe that their personal righteousness will save them. After all, they are busy going to the temple, fulfilling Church callings, sending missionaries out, etc. in other words, doing the works of the righteous. Surely, the Lord will be merciful to them and take care of them despite their lack of attention to this small item. They discount what President Benson taught on this point:

“Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church--and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing--a famine in this land of one year's duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned.” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.265)

Additionally, they commonly believe that those terrible things that have been prophesied won’t happen to the righteous and so they need not prepare for them. Many prophets, including President Lee and President Kimball addressed this terribly false notion, but President Benson said it best in his “Rue The Day” statement:
“Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion.” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.265)

Conclusion
Roger K. Young said, “The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel? It is hard for me to understand why or how so many good and wonderful people can discount what the prophets have said, again, and again, and concerning what will suddenly happen to the world in the future. President Benson said: “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of
Noah.” (CR October 1980, Ensign 10 [November 1980]: 33.) Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.266)

It is important to note that the people who didn’t get on the ark, suffered and died by the very calamity that for 300 years had been prophesied would come upon them.
People, including members of the Church, have always had a habit of believing that things won’t change drastically, or that since it hasn’t happened after so long, terrible things couldn’t happen to them. It is a part of human nature. However, the scriptures are very clear that these terrible cataclysmic events, some perhaps 20-30 years prior to the actual return of the Savior in power and great glory, will come suddenly upon the heart of the Church, and then be poured out upon the rest of the world.

“Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
“And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
“First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.” (D&C 112:24-26)

It is noteworthy that President Hinckley quoted from this scripture in his famous Sunday morning talk given in general conference following immediately following 9-11.
Are we listening? Are we heeding the words of our leaders? I’m remembering today the haunting messages of 9-11, the haunting messages of Haun’s Mill and the ill-fated handcart companies. I’m taking an inventory and taking action to fill any gaps in my family’s food storage. I hope you will too.

family’s food storage. I hope you will too.

Food Storage Recipes

I will regularly be posting recipes that can easily be made with your food storage items. Many of the recipes can also be made using a dutch oven, solar oven, propane camp stove, etc. Experiment with different methods of cooking. It's fun! And the learning experience may just prove to be invaluable.

From the recipes, you can also get ideas of additional food items to add to your storage. These additional items will add variety to your food---something you will really appreciate if you ever have to live off your food storage.

Set a goal to make one food storage recipe a week. You'll find that they are delicious and easy to make and you will have quite a collection of recipes in no time. You might find it convenient to put the food storage recipes in a separate recipe binder.

Homemade Granola

7 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 1/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

1 cup chopped nuts (I use almonds)

1 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup sesame seeds

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup dried fruit: raisins, dates, prunes, apples (I use dates)

Mix oats, coconut, nuts, sunflower and sesame seeds in a large roasting pan. Measure honey and oil into a nonmetal 2-cup measuring cup. Heat in microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, or until warm. Pour honey mixture over cereal and mix and stir well. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.

After the cereal mixture has cooled, stir in dried fruit and store in an airtight container.

72 - Hour Kit for Emergency Preparedness

Food and Water
(A three day supply of food and water, per person, when no refrigeration or cooking is available)

• Protein/Granola Bars
• Trail Mix/Dried Fruit
• Crackers/Cereals (for munching)
• Canned Tuna, Beans, Turkey, Beef, Vienna Sausages, etc ("pop-top" cans that open without a can-opener might not be a good idea, read this warning from one site visitor.)
• Canned Juice
• Candy/Gum
• Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters Per Person)

Bedding and Clothing

• Change of Clothing (short and long sleeved shirts, pants, jackets, socks, etc.)
• Undergarments
• Rain Coat/Poncho
• Sleeping Bag
  
• Blankets and Emergency Heat Blanks (that keep in warmth)
• Cloth Sheet
• Plastic Sheet

Fuel and Light

• Battery Lighting (Flashlights, Lamps, etc.) Don't forget batteries!
• Extra Batteries
• Flares
• Candles
• Lighter
• Water-Proof Matches

Equipment

• Can Opener
• Dishes/Utensils
• Shovel
• Radio (with batteries!)
• Pen and Paper
• Axe
• Pocket Knife
• Rope

Personal Supplies and Medication

• First Aid Supplies
• Toiletries (roll of toilet paper- remove the center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag, feminine hygiene, folding brush, etc.)
• Cleaning Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc.)

***Advice from my mom: "We put bar soap in zip lock bags and put in our kits. When we opened the kits later, EVERYTHING tasted like soap. We no longer put soap near the food."

• Immunizations Up-to Date
• Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, children's medication etc.)
• Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

Personal Documents and Money
(Place these items in a water-proof container!)

• Scriptures
• Genealogy Records
• Patriarchal Blessing
• Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts, etc)
• Vaccination Papers
• Insurance Policies
• Cash
• Credit Card
• Pre-Paid Phone Cards

Miscellaneous

• Bag(s) to put 72 Hour Kit items in (such as duffel bags or back packs, which work great) Make sure you can lift/carry it!
• Infant Needs (if applicable)

Notes:

1. Update your 72 Hour Kit every six months (put a note in your calendar/planner) to make sure that: all food, water, and medication is fresh and has not expired; clothing fits; personal documents and credit cards are up to date; and batteries are charged.
2. Small toys/games are important too as they will provide some comfort and entertainment during a stressful time.
3. Older children can be responsible for their own pack of items/clothes too.
4. You can include any other items in your 72 Hour Kit that you feel are necessary for your family's survival.

LDS.org

Whole Grain Herb Bread

2 1/4 t active dry yeast
2 1/4 c warm water
1 T pure maple syrup
2 T olive oil
1 T salt
6 1/2 cups spelt flour
2 T minced fresh parsley leaves
1 t minced fresh chives
1 t dried marjoram
1/2 t dried thyme

1. In a large bowl, combine the yeast and 1/4 cup of the water. Add the maple syrup and stir to dissolve. Let the mixture stand for 10 minutes, then stir in the remaining 2 cups water, the olive oil, and salt.
2. In a separate large bowl, combine the flours and stir until well mixed. Add about half of the flour mixture to the liquid mixture, stirring to blend, then work in the remaining flour mixture to form a stiff dough. Transfer to a lightly floured board.
3. Add the herbs and, with lightly floured hands, knead briefly to incorporate them. Dust you work surface with spelt flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking and continue to knead well until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes.
4. Place in a lightly oiled large bowl and turn over once to coat with oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm place until double in bulk, 1-2 hours.
5. Meanwhile, lightly oil 2 small baking sheets and set aside. Punch the dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough in half, shape into 2 round or long loaves, and place on the prepared baking sheets. Flatten the loves slightly and cover with clean damp towels. Set aside in a warm place and let rise again until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
6. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Use a sharp knife to cut one to three 1/4-inch-deep diagonal slashes in each loaf. Bake on the center oven rack for 10 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue to bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes more. Tap the bottom of the loaves---if they sound hollow, the bread is done. Remove from the sheets and let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

All Day Baked Beans Recipe

3 cups dried white (navy or great northern) beans

1 large onion, peeled and diced small

1/3 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons barley malt syrup

2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard

plus (optional) 1 teaspoon dry powdered mustard

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

28 oz can of tomatoes, diced

Soak beans overnight in 9 cups water, refrigerated. Drain.

Bring to a boil in 9 cups fresh water. Reduce heat to low,

cover and cook until nearly tender, about 45 minutes. Drain

beans, reserving two cups of liquid (I save it all and use the

remainder as a soup base). Combine beans and other

ingredients in a 4-quart covered casserole. Cover and bake

at 250 degrees F for 6 to 9 hours. If you are home, occasionally

check after a few hours, and add a little bean liquid if necessary.

As the sauce develops, tinker with the seasoning if necessary.

Leave uncovered for the last hour or so.

Yield: about 8 servings

Cooking time: 6 to 9 hours in 250 degree F oven or solar oven;

or up to 12 hours in a crock pot on low

LDS Living Article - National Preparedness Month

LDS Living Article

Natural Disasters Prompt National Preparedness Month

Kiku Beaufort
09/25/2007 12:00 AM MDT

A UN agent recently reported that an increasing number of people are being caught in the path of natural disasters occurring around the world.

Roughly 254 million people were affected by natural disasters this last year. That number is almost 3 times higher than the number of people affected in 1990. That increase is likely due to the increased frequency of natural disasters: 337 were reported in 2003, which is almost one hundred more than the 261 disasters recorded in 1990.

While the cause of this trend is unknown, it is impossible to ignore the increase. In the wake of Hurricane Felix’s strike in Central America earlier this month and an 8.5 magnitude earthquake that shook Indonesia two weeks ago, many are feeling the need to be prepared for what the future may bring.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emergency preparedness has been emphasized for many years. Church members are counseled to acquire a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, if possible, fuel. These provisions are meant to safeguard families and individuals from the possibility of harm in a natural disaster as well as potential unemployment.

The United States government has also expressed an interest in emergency preparedness, marking its desire to help safeguard America by declaring September 2007 as National Preparedness Month. “National Preparedness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness and to encourage all Americans to better prepare their homes and communities for emergencies,” said President George W. Bush. “Protecting America's homeland and citizens is the shared responsibility of the entire Nation. Individuals can prepare themselves and their families for emergencies by taking simple steps such as organizing an emergency supply kit, making a personal preparedness plan, becoming informed about different threats, and getting involved in preparing their community. These activities create a culture of preparedness and can help save lives.”

The Department of Homeland Security promoted preparedness by organizing conferences for business managers in Los Angeles, sponsoring camps for children in Alabama, and distributing informational pamphlets in New York City. The purpose of the activities is to help Americans be aware of the need to prepare, and encourage them to take the necessary steps to assure the long-term safety of our families, businesses, and homes.

You can prepare yourself by building up your food storage and having an emergency kit in your home. If you are short on time there are more convenient solutions than the traditional mass shopping excursions. The National Survival Supply provides ready-made emergency survival kits for your home, car, and even business. Visit SurvivalSupplys.com for more information.

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LDS Living