Prepping and LDS teaching


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Hi new buddies

 

I'm a brand new newbie. I like wine, food, making toy houses and discussing how to make the world a better place. I'm not a mormon, but I'm not anti-mormon either.

 

So, one of the other things I do is prep for bad times, in a fairly haphazard sort of way. One thing I have noticed is that the LDS church is well represented on prepping forums, and I'm wondering if this is a group  theological thing or just a demonstration of like-minded individual common sense?

 

If it's a group thing, does LDS teaching have an end-times position, and what is it? If it's individual common sense, does the LDS support philosophically a prepping mentality, to make so many of you so sensible?

 

Best wishes, 2RM.

 

 

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Industry, thrift, self-sufficiency, and provident living have been parts of LDS culture from the time of Joseph Smith (he was a city builder after all, so of necessity everyone needed to contribute and reduce the burden on the centralized leadership). "Provident living" continues to be a buzzword as members are encouraged (by local and general leadership) to "save for a rainy day" both in terms of food storage (where it's allowed) and financially. You can see a lot of the common sense principles outlined on a site the Church has set up for it: http://www.providentliving.org/?lang=eng.

 

What's not expressly LDS culture is the "hard-core" prepper mentality with bunkers and well-stocked bullets (for when the government collapses or what-have-you), but you can easily see how easily you can slide into that once you've got the fundamentals down.

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Thanks for that, and the link. Interesting.

 

I'm an Englishman, so we don't do guns and bullets and surface to air missiles and stuff to quite the same extent you guys seem to in the States. For most of us, prepping is about having stores to last us if we need to stay in, and a place to go, and the equipment as needed, if we need to leave home. Killing people is discouraged, even in emergencies.

 

Cheers, 2RM.

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Hi new buddies

 

I'm a brand new newbie. I like wine, food, making toy houses and discussing how to make the world a better place. I'm not a mormon, but I'm not anti-mormon either.

 

So, one of the other things I do is prep for bad times, in a fairly haphazard sort of way. One thing I have noticed is that the LDS church is well represented on prepping forums, and I'm wondering if this is a group  theological thing or just a demonstration of like-minded individual common sense?

 

If it's a group thing, does LDS teaching have an end-times position, and what is it? If it's individual common sense, does the LDS support philosophically a prepping mentality, to make so many of you so sensible?

 

Best wishes, 2RM.

 

Welcome to you too, new buddy :),

 

I think a lot of LDS "prepper" mentality comes from the strong encouragement to have food storage. It has commonly been encouraged to have one full year in supply. It has also been strongly encouraged in the past to grow a garden, which some would speculate is to have knowledge of how to do so should the food supply break.

 

As for end-times the LDS position is found in the scriptures that no one knows when the end is coming, but there are many signs that suggest the end is approaching speedily. While physical preparedness is important to this end for surviving rough times, the focus has always been more on spiritual preparation and learning to rely on the Lord for our needs to be met, while not taking this to mean we have no responsibility to do our part to prepare for everything foreseeable and possibly the unforeseeable.

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It is also to have long term non-food storage. Though not all LDS seem to do that. Back when I was in Mutual (what Young Men & Young Women were once called - 1965 when I was a teen) we were taught to store fabric, thread, buttons, snaps, etc. Patterns in sizes for all of our family for every day wear.

 

Grandma & Mom taught how to make an apron pattern, then make the apron to my Mutual class.( My parents were not LDS - us kids were. ) They also taught how to take a dress apart and make two different articles of clothing out of it. I wish I had paid closer attention and practiced more- sure could use that skill today!!

 

Emergency Preparedness is more than just 72 hours - you need to be prepared to go for weeks, months or even years. For myself and my husband, I have a strong feeling that we won't be without water or electricity completely, that we need to get barrels set up to collect rain water, and get alternative cooking - also I feel a great need to turn my side section of the lot, and the back into a raised, intensive food garden, complete with greenhouse. 

 

We both feel that we need to get some form of generators - to power our refrigerator and small freezer. I want to have professionals come in and set up my wood/coal burning parlor stove - to use to heat the entire house. It can also be a small cook stove. 

 

Some LDS are into guns and ammo - to be used to protect what they have. I am for guns and ammo to kill animals for food. BUT first I must learn how to dress out those animals - which in reality won't happen. I am 62, husband is 72 and the most I have ever in my life have done is gut and clean trout and salmon! BUT I know two young families (one of which is LDS) who do butcher livestock! The LDS family is willing to raise the livestock then butcher it for a fee and homemade bread from scratch! So - we can pay them :money:  and with their grain that I will grind, make them bread to total up the $$ amount. 

 

My parents were raised during the Great Depression, their homes were mini mercantile stores. When they shopped for food that they didn't raise or grow themselves, they shopped for several months worth at a time, not by the week or meal.

 

We canned, preserved, pickled, jammed and jellied during the entire harvest season. We had wooden apple crates in the cellar filled with straw that held root vegetables for consumption during the winter and into spring - until the garden was ready to harvest. We had two apple trees in our yard, a neighbor had plums, and another had a different type of plums, still another had pears. We swapped fruits. Our two trees produced so much fruit that we, a family of 12, just could not consume, preserve, jam/jelly all of it. Same with our neighbors. 

 

Mom taught some of the young wive's how to can. The only thing Mom didn't can was meats. She did not have a pressure cooker - she cold canned everything. 

 

When I first separated from hubby #1 - I took the food and half of the cooking appliances. Money was tight- really tight. Every month I bought $5.00 worth of extra food. I also quit buying bread and bought flour and yeast so I could make my own bread. I also quit buying noodles and made my own. A year later I lost my job, and my unemployment benefits were not enough to pay all of my bills AND purchase food. I went on Food Stamps and got assistance from church. The assistance was personal hygiene items, laundry soap, necessary items that food stamps won't pay for. The food stamps was only $45.00 a month - thankfully I had enough food storage to make up for it. 

 

I worked odd jobs, and cleaned homes for money to pay for gas to go out on job interviews. I also turned my yard and neglected flower beds into vegetable gardens. One house I lived in had a *to die for* porch. It was protected from the worst of the storms and from the street and neighbors. The hardware store in town sold me six huge peat pots that were cracked down the side for $0.05 each and I cleaned three houses from top to bottom for the money to buy potting soil, veggie starts & some seeds. 

 

Three sisters in the branch gave me the turntables from their busted microwaves (they had three each) to use as plant saucers for those huge pots. I had fresh salad makings for three months! My HT/VT couple also gave me 1/3 of their greenhouse space to grow veggies - they helped me grow fall and winter vegetables!

 

I bartered my cleaning skills, and bread making skill with members of the church. One sister sewed church clothes for me. Another cut my hair and gave me manicures. One brother installed some light fixtures and helped me make screens for my windows and screen doors (I had 4 exterior doors) for loaves of bread. All he wanted was 4 loaves - I made him 8 loaves a month for a year. 

 

In June, Husband and I gave a 5th Sunday presentation on Emergency Preparedness - Food Storage. We emphasized that it is more than 72 hours, 3 or 6 months, that it is more than just food. 

 

It was like discussing my Mother's shopping habits, and what was in her pantry. It was also about the bolts of fabric, tins of thread spools, upteen tins of buttons, zippers, etc. removed from garments too worn to wear anymore and that had been *re-purposed* into rag rugs, rag hot pads, etc. 

 

Spirit Dragon said: 

While physical preparedness is important to this end for surviving rough times, the focus has always been more on spiritual preparation and learning to rely on the Lord for our needs to be met, while not taking this to mean we have no responsibility to do our part to prepare for everything foreseeable and possibly the unforeseeable.

 

 

To me, the Lord will provide by giving me the skills, knowledge and siblings in Zion who have the skill sets I do not have that I can barter and trade with. By living a spiritual life, I will then be in-tune with the Holy Spirit to receive all of this. 

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What's not expressly LDS culture is the "hard-core" prepper mentality with bunkers and well-stocked bullets (for when the government collapses or what-have-you), but you can easily see how easily you can slide into that once you've got the fundamentals down.

 

Although most preparedness experts in the church do suggest having a firearm. There are two reasons for this. One is hunting.  If you don't have food, a gun gives you an opportunity to obtain more.  Second and more importantly, the guy with the gun gets your stuff.  That doesn't mean you need a bunker full, but something for defense is vital. 

 

Some say this is paranoia, but we need look no further than recent disasters to see examples of stronger individuals taking supplies from less physically able individuals. Unless you have a way to defend it, keeping food is simply taking care of it for the first armed thug that comes along.

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I was into food storage before I was LDS.  I was widowed young and had a child to care for. I also didn't know how to drive and really didn't have anyone to depend on  but myself in most of the places I've lived. So, whether the emergency is being laid up with the flu for a week or an ice storm w/no electricity, I knew I had to have food and supplies laid up. I usually had a couple of months worth, plus the lanterns, batteries, feminine products, candles, etc.  I tried to convince all of my single woman friends that I wasn't crazy and that they'd be a lot happier and a lot more secure if they had at least 2 weeks of food and some  survival supplies at home.  I also believe in being armed, but more to protect the stash (and my beautiful self) than to kill an animal. 

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Guest Kathleen O'Meal

I cant speak for the Church, but personally, I think we use preparedness as a vehicle for greater opportunity to serve others.  Rationale for this is that as we take personal responsibility for our own welfare, in paying our own way,  we seem to look ahead for possibilities of hard times, personal and widespread challenges.  As such, when we are prepared, we are more apt to be able to help others who aren't as prepared. 

 

We love to lift and help others....that's the LatterDay Saint way....this brings us happiness and joy.

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That's a nice thought, Kathleen, and so different from the usual prepper mentality, which is to take care of oneself, one's family, and view the unprepped sheeple hordes as a threat to survival to be neutralised with as much weaponry as one can legally obtain.

 

Best wishes, 2RM

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We have a couple of rifles, but that's it for guns so far. Though, politically speaking, I am generally for gun rights, I'm not a fan of them. Husband is, though I won't let the collectiongrow until we get some decent gun storage. I do feel safe having the rifles, I admit, and like their contribution to preparedness. But we always figured if worse came to worse we would be heading to his parents' place--in the middle of nowhere, where we doubt raiders would find us. Really, we actually plan to buy a bit of land from thrm and build a cabin and keep supplies there. If hiding works, why spend your day defending?

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We have a couple of rifles, but that's it for guns so far. Though, politically speaking, I am generally for gun rights, I'm not a fan of them. Husband is, though I won't let the collectiongrow until we get some decent gun storage. I do feel safe having the rifles, I admit, and like their contribution to preparedness. But we always figured if worse came to worse we would be heading to his parents' place--in the middle of nowhere, where we doubt raiders would find us. Really, we actually plan to buy a bit of land from thrm and build a cabin and keep supplies there. If hiding works, why spend your day defending?

When our kids were.all at home my wife was not a "have a gun in the house" person at all. When they all left home we got our carry and conceal and we will soon have two hand guns in the house.

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When our kids were.all at home my wife was not a "have a gun in the house" person at all. When they all left home we got our carry and conceal and we will soon have two hand guns in the house.

 

Also as a Canadian the idea of guns is strange... hand guns at least, since they are totally illegal.

I can buy a hunting rifle but there are much more strict laws about it (eg it has to be locked and unloaded, the ammo must be locked in a different place).

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Although most preparedness experts in the church do suggest having a firearm. There are two reasons for this. One is hunting.  If you don't have food, a gun gives you an opportunity to obtain more.  Second and more importantly, the guy with the gun gets your stuff.  That doesn't mean you need a bunker full, but something for defense is vital. 

 

Some say this is paranoia, but we need look no further than recent disasters to see examples of stronger individuals taking supplies from less physically able individuals. Unless you have a way to defend it, keeping food is simply taking care of it for the first armed thug that comes along.

 

Are you saying it's an LDS teaching that part of preparation (like having food storage and savings) is gun ownership? Or are simply saying the experts you know who are LDS are also gun advocates? because my understanding is that the Church doesn't include that as part of its teachings (I just did a search on providentliving for "gun" and didn't see anything), but that there are many people who, having the Church-taught fundamentals down, move on to include other elements in their preparation - including guns.

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Hi 2RM,

 

You are seeking to be prepared like so many of us, because it spiritually "feels right". Jesus has taught us to watch and pray , understand the signs of His coming, that we may be those who are "prepared, shall not fear". I add that seeking answers from the words of the Lord in His scriptures, latterday prophets, and by heeding the  whispering's of the light of the Holy Spirit has guided me with my family's preparations to endure what is coming very soon. My opinions may or may not be shared by members of this community.

 

Yes, Christian LDS teachings testify of the teachings of Jesus Christ, including His words in the Holy Bible dealing with this subject (Book of Revelations, Daniel, Ezekial, Isaiah, Joel, Matthew 24...). LDS scriptures harmonized are in the Book of Mormon, which is prophecy for the destruction of those who God deems wicked for the American continent (Jared, Nephites and soon to be wicked Gentiles). The Book of Revelation prophecies regarding the "great and abominable beast" is specific to all other nations outside of the American continent during the great trials and tribulations. LDS scripture called the "Doctrine and Covenants" sections 45 also harmonize with Biblical prophecies of the end of times. 

 

Jesus Christ does not use "fear" to bring us to action or to worship Him, he teaches us His truth and it is wholly our decision to "follow". He has given direction in our religion, to be faithful in having one year supply of long term foods, 3 months supply of readily edible foods and a 72 hour emergency kit. He has also given direction to avoid unneccessary debt, and to live within our means. There are many of us who live a life in reversal of these principles.

 

Regarding the question of self defense, and respecting the laws of each nation, the U.S.A. allows personal firearm ownership. The US Constitution was inspired by the Lord (see Doctrine and Covenants section 101 and 109 includes the 2nd amendment). The Book of Mormon describes the right of self defense, principles of just war and how we are to act in times of war. I would emphasize reading Jesus Himself directly teaching this principle by His action, read Luke 22:35 - 38. Peter misused the Lords "defense only" principle by actively going on the offense when the soldiers came to take Jesus in the same chapter of the Bible. Although you live in Europe, you still have a right to defend your family and yourself by means within the law of your nation.

 

No amount of food, gold or silver, clothing or self defense protection alone can prepare us for what is coming unless we truly love and live the commandments of God. Neither will God grant us protection if we have no heeded  His call regarding "preparation", that is to "watch and pray" and to prepare with those things that are needful, to survive the days of tribulation that precede His return.

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Are you saying it's an LDS teaching that part of preparation (like having food storage and savings) is gun ownership? Or are simply saying the experts you know who are LDS are also gun advocates? because my understanding is that the Church doesn't include that as part of its teachings (I just did a search on providentliving for "gun" and didn't see anything), but that there are many people who, having the Church-taught fundamentals down, move on to include other elements in their preparation - including guns.

I can tell you that the state preparedness guy was going from ward to ward giving talks about it during sacrament meeting and counseled the wards to have the ability to defend themselves and their supplies, and to have the ability to kill food should such become necessary.  To my knowledge he was not corrected. 

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I can tell you that the state preparedness guy was going from ward to ward giving talks about it during sacrament meeting and counseled the wards to have the ability to defend themselves and their supplies, and to have the ability to kill food should such become necessary.  To my knowledge he was not corrected. 

 

He would have been giving his opinion.  But I see nothing wrong with that way of thinking.

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I'm a huge advocate of the 2nd Amendment.  I am a huge advocate of food storage and emergency preparedness.  The church does not currently counsel you to have a firearm as part of preparedness.  The church does not currently counsel you not to have a firearm as part of preparedness.  The church teaches the right of self defense.  The church teaches you to have every needful thing.  Each person/family must pray and make their own decision.  In all my years of teaching preparedness at the ward and stake level I have never been told to leave out the part of my lesson on self defense.  I have been prompted in certain homes to leave the topic out, as I have been prompted in some homes I had not intended to include that topic, to add it back in.

 

 

My specific feelings can be found here: www.preppercop.blogspot.com.  Scroll down about 3/4 of the way and find the heading Self Defense.

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