December 2010 - Preparing to not be deceived

One clear theme in our recent Conference was on following the living prophet. That so many speakers were inspired on this topic makes me feel that in our future there will be increasing difficulty in following the words of the prophets, whether due to our own weaknesses or increased pressure from the world, and recent protests against President Packer seem to confirm that.

This should not be surprising. The scriptures are full of admonitions to not be deceived, warning about efforts to deceive, especially in the last days. There will be many messages, that can sound very reasonable, but they will lead you astray if you listen. Fortunately, the scriptural warnings are also full of lessons on how we can stay grounded in the truth.

Consider the parable of the Ten Virgins. They are all virgins, and invited to the wedding—they are covenant people—but some do not have a store of oil, and so they fall short, and miss what should have been theirs.

The oil is frequently identified as representing the Spirit, and this makes sense. Like oil in a lamp, the Spirit is a source of light, and warmth. People are easily able to feel the Spirit, and this is where they obtain testimonies, but if they start giving in to temptations, and other messages, they turn off their ability to hear and feel. This makes a testimony as easy to lose as it is to gain. Clearly, we need to stay close to the Spirit.

One familiar image is that of people clinging to the iron rod in Lehi’s dream (1st Nephi 8). The mists of darkness come, so they cannot see what is right, but if they are clinging to the rod they continue to feel what is right and know the path. The iron rod is the Word of God. This can mean the scriptures, so one part of not being deceived is regular scripture study. Not only does this strengthen our knowledge of what is right, doing so gives us time to concentrate on the spiritual, keeping the Holy Ghost nearby.

The word of God is also that spoken by modern prophets, so scripture study can and should include conference talks, and those talks should be taken just as seriously. Whether your study method is underlining, or cross-referencing, or some other method that helps you take things to heart, apply it to living prophets as well as past ones—as last conference reminded us, they are worth more because they are speaking directly to us, now.

The Word of God is also a name for the Savior, and we certainly must cling to him. It may not always be obvious how, but one clear way would be through repenting, asking for forgiveness and healing as we need it. Sin separates us from God, so throwing off our sins is important, but also these gifts come through the Atonement, so as we use them, we should be growing in gratitude and closeness to Christ.

Casting off our sins would also indicate righteousness and obedience. That means that we are attending our church meetings, and the temple, and fulfilling our callings—especially home and visiting teaching as a natural extension of the charity that we are seeking after.
As you can see, much of what helps to avoid deception ends up falling under the typical answers given so frequently in Sunday school, but I would like to suggest two other things.

One is keeping your own personal record. Even very good people struggle with consistency sometimes, and most of us struggle often. The scriptures function as a collective spiritual record, but individual records are important too. Recording your testimony when it is strong will help you when your testimony suffers, as you can look back and remember, and find that knowledge again.

Record how you got your testimony, experiences that strengthened it, times when it struggled and how it recovered. Also, record your knowledge of prophecy being fulfilled, whether from past or present prophets. The act of recording will deepen your knowledge and understanding first, but there may be many additional blessings as going back and re-reading reinforces your testimony. Your record may at times even be a blessing to others, as there may be times when it is appropriate to share.

The other advice I would give is to remember that things can and will be hard. Again, the scriptures tell us this many times—opposition will come, and other people have their agency, and we need to be tested—but still, when hard times come we frequently take it personally. This can lead to self-doubts, doubts about our understanding of the world, and even doubt about God or His love for us.

There is no scriptural guarantee that being righteous will result in you never dying, losing your job, struggling with money, getting caught in the rain, losing people you love, being picked on by mean people, having your heart broken, or ever getting sick. All of those things will happen. There are promises of comfort, resurrection, healing, having needs met (but not always wants), forgiveness, and exaltation, and the knowledge that families can be together forever. Don’t let temporary hardships cause you to lose your focus on eternal truths.

And that leads to one last thought. In Doctrine & Covenants 38, as wars and wickedness are predicted, we are told “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear”. One thing that will help you feel safe and comforted, and one way to be obedient, is to work on your personal and family preparedness.

This may be the last newsletter, as I am moving to another ward, and your next preparedness person may use different methods to motivate and teach you. There are many ways to learn more about preparedness, though, and I will leave you with some other good sources.

First of all, based on the “All is Safely Gathered In” pamphlets, we see a clear priority by the Church on food storage and finances. If you do nothing other than gather a three-month food supply and pay off your debts, you will have done a lot. These pamphlets, and other information, can be found at www.providentliving.org.

One thing about the Church, however, is that they know that there are many different methods to achieve different goals, so they often focus on guiding principles, rather than step-by-step instructions. You should definitely start with www.providentliving.org, but may find that you want more. Some good additional sites on emergency preparedness are www.ocem.org, and http://www.oregonredcross.org/.
For good practical experience, consider taking the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, training. Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Portland all have programs, though Portland is called NERT (for Neighborhood):

http://www.hillsborocert.org/
http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/emergency/cert/
http://www.portlandonline.com/oem/index.cfm?c=31667

Usually you are eligible whether you live or work in the city limits or school districts (in my experience, they hate turning people away).

Also, sometimes there is knowledge in books. Here are some I have found especially helpful.

Food storage: Food Storage for the Clueless, by Clark and Kathryn Kidd
Personal Finance: The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need, by Andrew Tobias
Earthquakes: Living With Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest by Robert S. Yeats (especially chapters 10-12)
Attitude: The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why, by Amanda Ripley

Certainly, there are many other sources, and not all can be included, but if you will set goals for preparedness and stay aware, you will find rich resources everywhere. Also, you can find all of these newsletters archived at http://preparedspork.blogspot.com/.

November 2010 - Preparing to be more attractive

As singles hoping to not stay single, attraction is a perilous topic. Many of us feel insecure about our own powers of attraction, and perhaps resentful that such a superficial thing should matter. It does matter, though, so it is reasonable to examine it. Let’s keep two things in mind.

First of all, attractiveness is not binary, with the attraction switch being either on or off. Much of it comes down to overall presentation rather than a simple breakdown of features. That is why we are preparing to be more attractive, rather than just wishing we could be attractive at all.

Also important, remember to keep perspective. Not only is physical appearance merely one factor in attraction, but some changes can be costly, or require time. If you find an area where a change could be helpful, but is not immediately possible, just keep it in mind for the future, and focus on other areas. Maybe you will know what to ask for when your birthday rolls around.

The three most immediately noticeable things that we will cover are skin, hair, and clothes. Hair is tricky, because experimenting can be dangerous, and failed experiments can take a long time to grow out. A good hair stylist can make recommendations for what is most flattering, but that can be expensive as well. For now, it may just be worthwhile taking what you have and arranging it differently. Do you look better with a side or middle part? George Clooney can comb his hair straight forward, but that does not work for everyone. Loosely flowing hair can soften sharp features, where having the hair tightly pulled back will make them look more severe. That tight bun can work for someone with more delicate features.

You are looking for what works best for you, and it will not necessarily match anyone else. That is one key rule right there--you are learning to be attractive as you, not as anyone else. The same applies to clothes. It has been said that fashion is following others, but style is finding what works for your body and your personality combined.

Experimenting with clothes is a lot safer than it is with hair. You can try on the clothes that you already own or try on clothes at a store without spending a dime. The point is to make note of what looks best on you. In determining this, there will be three basic areas to look at: color, pattern/texture, and cuts.

Your best colors will primarily depend on your complexion and hair color, but the rest will be largely a matter of body size and shape. Different textures (and this can be both a matter of the type of fabric and weave, or whether there is a print on the fabric) can either slim you down or bulk you up. For the cut, it is a little more complicated because there are so many points of impact, but basically you are looking at seams and lines.

Let's start with the neckline. Common shapes are V, round, and square, and they will look better or worse depending on the shape of your face. A high collar or no color will have an impact based on your face and neck. See which looks better.

Going down from the neckline, you have the waistline. Having it fall right on the waist works for some body types, but either skimming past the hips, or going further up for an empire waistline, is better for others. A shorter or longer hemline can make you look taller or shorter, and wider or slimmer. If you have flabby upper arms, 1/4-length sleeves (falling halfway above the elbow) will probably not be as flattering as 1/2 or 3/4 sleeves (elbow or mid-forearm, respectively), but then you might find that full-length sleeves make your arms, and you, look shorter.

Besides just the length, also pay attention to the seam of the sleeves. Curving inward, towards the neck, will widen you, whereas going outward, falling on the arm, narrows you. Accessories can create other lines and boundaries, like a necklace creating a V-neck, or earrings framing a face, as well as showing that you took an extra moment.

Ultimately, what you are doing is becoming aware of the visual effects you can produce, and which ones you should produce. By taking the time to stop and look in the mirror (rather than avoiding looking because Ugh!) and to notice things (Hey, I look better in blue than yellow) becomes an empowering thing.

Men may feel like they have less choices here than women. That is partly true, but really, all of your clothes have seams and lines too, and colors, and those will affect how you look, and where the tie falls adds one more length issues. Since it is common to only have one suit for Sunday, instead of several skirts and dresses, that is all the more reason to select a suit carefully and then to get it tailored. Work with the clerk to select compatible shirts and socks. After doing so, you have taken most of the work out of getting ready for church, because it's already been done.

Both men and women should pay attention to how the clothes feel, because it will be hard to exude confidence if you are not comfortable.

Even though we have left high school behind, we may still be prone to acne flare-ups, which does not help anyone feel more attractive. Besides the various remedies, you may be surprised to know that one of the best things that you can do for your skin is regular exercise. The increased circulation, stress relief, hormonal influence, and even the perspiration all play a part in keeping your skin clean, healthy, and glowing, with a tendency towards anti-aging as well.

While we are talking about working up a sweat, which is very good for you, we should also mention washing it off. No matter how good you may look, unpleasant odor can eradicate the positive impression with devastating speed. You need to wash yourself regularly, and if you wash your body, but not your hair, or not your clothes, or you don't brush your teeth--any of those things can be a problem. Sadly, you may be immune to the problem, and other people will usually not feel comfortable mentioning it, so you may need to ask. We have five senses, and only thinking about our effect on one is not enough.

Exercise helps other areas besides the skin. We will not get into exercise for weight loss, because there is a lot to weight loss, including a minefield relationship with attractiveness that is just too much for a single newsletter. However, in general exercise has a positive effect on attractiveness. Exercise relieves stress and improves mood, which should make you more fun to talk to, and give you a better smile. Exercise improves sleep, providing increased energy to complement that improved mood. Exercise also stimulates and regulates production of various hormones, which play an important part in attraction.

These issues bring us beyond basic appearance, and yet the physical appearance is still affected. Think of being attracted to a smile, or a pair of eyes. Is the smile attractive merely because of the shape of the mouth and teeth, or because it conveys happiness and good humor? Do the eyes hold your attention because of the kindness in their expression? There are physical manifestations of emotional and spiritual matters. It would not be true to say that physical attraction does not matter, but it would also be completely untrue to say that it matters to the exclusion of all else.

Attraction gets the attention, but building a successful relationship requires compatibility in values and viewpoints and mutual kindness and respect. Therefore, some part of attraction does need to include having an attractive personality, but also having reasonable expectations. If we want someone who is kind, but we are not kind, we are likely to be disappointed (or to disappoint them). Ultimately, it is not fair to expect someone to be much better than us.

That also means that we should be as good as them. For example, clothing can be worn in a way that is immodest, and some people will find this attractive. Righteous men tend to feel uncomfortable around it though, so it becomes a turnoff. If you want a respectful, moral man, skimpy clothing is not the way to his heart, and it does not make him a snob, or hard-hearted or anything like when he is not attracted. There is no reason for it to work.

Similarly, many women like to see that a man has a good job. It can indicate intelligence, a focus on goals, hard work, or persistence— good traits for all aspects of life. Only the most shallow of females would not be disappointed to learn that while the high income is there, it is accompanied by apathy, ego, or materialism over spirituality. Two very shallow people might get on smashingly, but we should want more.

Awareness again becomes an important factor. As well as being aware of what makes us more attractive, we need to be aware of what attracts us, and whether it is good, or needs changing. A preference for curly hair or pale skin is probably neutral, but if you find yourself perpetually attracted to the bad boy or the ice queen, you have probably picked up some bad patterns that you will need to resolve before you can move forward.

The good thing is that despite apparent superficiality, working on your own attractiveness can improve your self-worth. By taking that action, you remind yourself that you are worth caring about, worth money and time invested, and that you have potential. And that can lead to confidence, which many people find attractive.


For girls only:

For the first time ever I am sending a separate version based on gender, to have a word about your bras. Many of you have already gotten the message that it is common, and bad, for women to wear the wrong bra size. This is not just a matter of attractiveness, but also one of health. Improper support can lead to pain, posture issues that can also affect breathing, and it hampers exercise. Actually, not getting proper support during exercise can become an aggravated issue over time as ligaments break down. Getting the right fit is a worthwhile investment. After all, having them migrate down to the waist is not good for anyone.

Many department stores have certified fit specialists who will help you find the correct size, but you can find information for self-measurement at http://www.herroom.com/bra-fitting-advice,901,30.html. Since Oprah is strongly associated with this issue, we will link to her site as well: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Bra-Fitting-Tips

Since proper sizing is so important, and it needs to be exact, why three sets of hooks? Those are there because the stretchy fabric eventually gets stretched out, and as the band gets stretched out, moving to the inner hooks extends the life of the bra. Start with the outermost just fitting, then move inward, maintaining a snug, supportive fit.

Just think about it.

October 2010 - Preparing for a hard winter

If you have not heard by now, everyone is predicting a rough winter. In this case, everyone includes the American Meteorological Society, the state climatologist, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

La Nina weather patterns indicate that it should be colder and wetter. They have not said if it will be simultaneously wet and cold enough for two consecutive two-week periods of being frozen in, like we had two years ago, but we can’t rule that out. Instead, they are commonly referring to the La Nina winter of 1995. That season featured a record setting flood, arctic air, and snow, but they are especially referring to the windstorm that happened on December 12th. This storm blew the roof off a building at the coast, blew signs out of their frames, and downed many power lines.

Although we cannot know exactly what will happen this year, we can take the recommendations, and with a closer look find ways to prepare for whatever comes. Here is one quote: “Emergency officials urge area residents to gather the following essentials: a first aid kit, battery operated flashlights, a carbon monoxide detector, emergency survival blankets and plenty of drinking water.” Breaking this list down into individual items provides some additional guidance.

Battery-operated flashlights: I don’t think they are really saying that you shouldn’t use the hand-cranked flashlights, but the mention of batteries is probably to remind you that you can’t count on having electricity. After the December 12th 1995 storm, some areas did not get power back for two weeks.

Emergency survival blankets: Okay, so maybe power will be lost, and it will affect heat, but won’t having plenty of regular blankets work? Probably. The emergency survival blankets to which they are referring efficiently preserve your body heat, but they are also lightweight and don’t take up much space. They can work at home, but they may be even better tucked away in a coat pocket, glove box, or desk at work, just in case you end up stranded somewhere. You can find them at very inexpensive prices, so consider stocking up and stashing them in key locations.

Carbon monoxide detector: If the heat and power are off, people may try other methods of cooking and heating. Some of them are fire hazards (candles for light can also fall under this), but some are also asphyxiation hazards. On the most basic level, you should never burn charcoal indoors. Really, if it is designed for outdoor or camping use, chances are good that you should not use it indoors.

Even if you use all items only as directed, you will be running the heat more, windows will be closed, ventilation can get blocked, and a carbon monoxide detector is still good to have. You can easily go your entire life without a leak, but if one does happen you really need to know.

A first aid kit: Even assuming you have flashlights and so will not be burning yourself lighting matches, there are still plenty of opportunities for injuries. Slippery sidewalks can result in sprains, scrapes, or bruises, clearing snow can result in muscle strain, and any received injuries can be worse if the roads are in bad condition. Some injuries do not require professional attention but are still helped by having the right supplies. These can include pain relievers (like aspirin or ibuprofin), antibiotic ointment (like Neosporin), bandages, gauze and medical tape, and warm and cold packs.

It is also important to know when it would be worth braving the roads or calling an ambulance. Bone breaks should be set professionally, so those rate a trip. Chest pains or possible stroke symptoms at least rate the 9-1-1 call, because the operator can help you assess the risks.

Take falls seriously, pausing to make sure that everything feels right before getting up. If there is a head injury, whether from a fall or some other cause, watch for signs of concussion, bleeding, or swelling. Keep an eye out for lethargy, trouble focusing, feeling foggy, nausea, or lapses in consciousness, and if you see these issues, make that call. This is really a case of better safe than sorry.

Plenty of drinking water: There are two distinct possibilities where having water is important. Your pipes could freeze, not allowing water to come through. Having water is good, but so is taking steps to prevent your pipes from freezing. This can include leaving a trickle of water running, leaving cupboards and doors open so that pipes get more heat, and maybe even wrapping pipes or covering spigots.

If your pipes do freeze, let them thaw on their own. Creative ways of warming the pipes tend to go badly. (Having a first aid kit is good, but not having to use it is even better.)

Your other issue is that with flooding, local water systems may become contaminated and unsafe for drinking. This is another thing that happened in the winter of 1995. When things like this happen, everyone runs to the store to buy bottled water, but by planning ahead you can avoid the stampede.

On the prevention side, there is not a lot you can do to prevent flooding contamination, but as a good citizen you should keep an eye out for clogged storm drains. Also, keep an eye on the news so you at least know what’s likely. A battery-operated radio is probably a good idea as well.

Other Preparation:

Oddly, that particular message did not mention food, but if we do run into poor road conditions, getting out to buy groceries may be difficult. Sure, some places keep delivering pizza, even in the worst conditions, but if they lose power they may not be able to cook it.

Ultimately, even if you are not ready to get in your three-month supply of food, you should always have some extra on hand, ideally including some that does not require cooking. Obviously, that message did not cover everything that might be useful. One message usually can’t.

The Red Cross recommends having a three-day supply of food (a 72-hour kit perhaps?), as well as three days worth of medicine (meaning you should not wait until the day before your prescription runs out to renew). For more from the Red Cross, please visit http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/WinterStorms.pdf.

You can also find many useful tip sheets through Oregon Consolidated Emergency Management, including this one:

http://www.ocem.org/pdf_resources/10-Winter_Prep.pdf

Finally, imagine an ice or snow storm, where you still have power but can’t leave the house (you should find out your employer’s inclement weather policy in advance as well). All of the local television stations will switch to 24-hour snow coverage, even though nothing new really happens. If we lose power you don’t even have that. Have a backup plan for amusement—books, games, crafts—and if you need extra lanterns or yarn or a pencil sharpener to make it work, get ready for that now. Sanity is a great thing to keep in an emergency.

September 2010 - Preparing to not let your heart wax cold

When Christ was teaching his disciples about the end times, one of the signs he mentioned was that “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

There is nothing surprising about this. Look around briefly and you will see suffering caused by greed, depraved immorality, and a harshness and coarseness to modern life. Whether personally injured or merely disgusted, it is easy to want to withdraw, resulting in a cycle where cold hearts commit iniquity, leading other hearts to turn cold. We must not be a part of this cycle.

Everything that we are supposed to do in the Gospel is based in love, following our example of Jesus Christ. Desiring to be like him, we know that will mean being filled with charity. Smaller assignments and larger responsibilities should have love as their motivation. If your heart is cold, how likely are you to want to share the Gospel, or to do a good job if you try anyway?

How do we keep our hearts warm? A good start is turning to the warmth of the Spirit. Doesn’t “burning in the bosom” sound like there’s a warm heart in there? Isn’t love the first of the fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22?

We know that sin chases away the Spirit, so it makes sense that it is the abundance of iniquity putting a damper on the love of many. Therefore, one of our first tasks will be repentance. What are we doing wrong? How do we need to change? Do we need the guidance of the Bishop? We all have weaknesses and shortcomings. Praying for forgiveness for our sins and for strength to leave them behind is an important part of keeping our hearts soft and loving.

The mention of prayer may make you think, “Well of course we were going to start bringing in the ‘Sunday school answers’”. Yes, that is a given, but let’s not think of them that lightly. It is completely possible to do all of them without feeling the Spirit, but that would be a sign that you are doing them wrong.

Let’s look at prayer. When we teach people to pray, we teach that they should give thanks for what they have and ask for what they need. That is reasonable, but also very simplistic. As we gain a more mature understanding, we find more things that we are grateful for, and our requests become based more in trying to learn and accept God’s will for us than asking Him to grant our will.

You may also want to consider sometimes just telling your Heavenly Father how you feel—how your testimony grew, or why you are feeling scared, or what has made you frustrated. Yes, He already knows, but that sharing and confiding, where you open yourself up completely, helps you better feel the parent-child aspect of the relationship, and this is truly something that will warm and soften your heart. You will feel yourself even more to be a child of God, and this is a powerful thing.

Scripture study also brings the Spirit, and so is important, but there is so much more to it than that. When we study, we fill our minds with good things, and lay in fortifications against hard times. We need to do that, but it is also vital to not be taking in bad things that will weaken us.

It is absolutely imperative that you avoid pornography in all of its forms. Nothing will kill love faster than subverting it to lust, and there is a flood of lustful messages out there. If you need to change what you watch or listen to, do it. Do not give in to immodest dress and become pornography. Obey the law of chastity completely, and use fasting to strengthen control over your mind and body. Romantic relationships can lead to great joy or great bitterness, and very small things can make the difference.

To have a warm heart you must be looking outside of yourself. How well do you know your coworkers? Would they feel like they could trust you to be sympathetic instead of judgmental if they needed a confidante? Would they feel like you know something about happiness? You can start small, just by making a point of smiling at people as you encounter them, but these are your brothers and sisters, and you should care about them.

This also applies to our contacts at church. We come to church to renew our baptismal covenants with the sacrament, but part of that promise is to “bear one another’s burdens”, which makes them light (Mosiah 18:8). We are reminded to do our home and visiting teaching on a regular basis, until it becomes almost a joke, but really, if you are not doing that very basic service and watchcare and fulfilling of a stewardship, you’ve missed the point of the Gospel. And that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be attending church, because maybe if you keep attending at some point it will sink in, but if you think it’s true enough to warrant showing up, isn’t it true enough to live?

As we reach out to others in the ward, and serve them, we can build cherished relationships that will strengthen us. Loneliness is another thing that can make our hearts grow cold. Often it is at least partially self-inflicted. Don’t wait for someone to reach out to you.

I know I get a lot of my strength from my sisters. Having two other people getting ready for church, and having that ride and someone to sit with, makes it easier to go. Having someone to vent to, or talk things out with, helps. We don’t all have family in the church, but we can find friends at the church who will strengthen us while we strengthen them.

This leads to another important topic. If having a supportive family can help strengthen us and warm our hearts, then it seems logical that going too long without this can lead to weakness and coldness. I have seen this many times, as friends give up on finding someone who will take them to the temple. As the anger and frustration grows it creates a wedge and they fall away.

As common as it is to hear complaints that the men do not ask out the women, I am more disturbed by the reports I hear of women who get asked out saying “no”. Here is someone trying to do something good, that is his duty, but a fairly intimidating duty, and he is only encountering negative reinforcement. That will teach them!

It can be possible to know someone well enough that you feel there is no way you can pass an enjoyable two hours together, and then it may be a kindness to say “no”. Certainly, if there are any concerns about safety, or premonitions that it should not happen, it would also be right to say “no”. However, if rejections are happening based on wanting someone else to ask you instead, or thinking that you are not likely to marry this person, you may not understand how dating is supposed to work.

If the rejection is based on something specific for that date, and not the person, please provide the addition information: “I hate Will Ferrell” or “I can’t possibly go out with anyone until my finals are over.” Otherwise, what he will probably hear is “I don’t like you,” which often really gets heard as “You are not likable.” We should not be saying that.

Ultimately we have a lot of room for improvement in this area, and as important as spirituality and prayerful seeking is, other aspects also play a role, which is why the October newsletter will be on preparing to be more attractive. Until then, work on keeping your love strong.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen” Moroni 7:48

August 2010 - Preparing to eat whole grains

Television commercials touting the value of whole grains will send you towards specific brands of cereal. While that may be better than the latest sugar-coated cereal with a toy in the box, there is much more know about whole grains than that.

First of all, the grain being “whole” means that the bran, germ, and endosperm are still included. All grains have this initially, but these parts are removed as grains are refined, taking nutrients with them.

Whole grains have many health benefits. This is partly due to what they have—an abundance of fiber and protein along with their complex carbohydrates, as well as nutrients like selenium, potassium, and magnesium.

The health benefits are also due to what whole grains are missing. While being processed they tend to pick up various additives, many of which can be harmful. Claims that High Fructose Corn Syrup is fine in moderation ignore the fact that, if you are regularly eating processed foods and fast food, moderation is impossible.

Although the effects of eating whole grains are still being studied, health effects almost certainly include significant decrease in the risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease, as well as assistance with health maintenance (which of course helps with many conditions). Other probable benefits include reduced risk of asthmas, inflammatory diseases, and some cancers, as well as healthier carotid arteries, blood pressure, and teeth and gums.

Those benefits should make you anxious to increase your whole grain intake right away, but perhaps you are remembering that you like white bread better than wheat bread, or that you don’t really know what eating whole grains would mean other than trying to do something with those cans of wheat. (As nutritious and storable as wheat is, the spread of gluten intolerance and celiac disease means we need to look beyond it anyway.)

Actually, your resistance to a sudden conversion to whole grains shows good instincts. Any sudden dietary changes can have negative effects, especially sudden increases in fiber. You should look for simple and gradual ways to increase your whole grain intake. Making changes in this manner go more easily on your digestive system, and be more likely to turn into lifelong habits.

First of all, you should know that every time that you eat popcorn, you are eating whole grains. Drowning the popcorn with butter and salt (not whole grains) can counteract the health benefits, but it is still a start.

The next easiest change to make would be adding brown rice. While brown rice is a very popular health food, and a key part of a macrobiotic diet, it is actually one of the milder whole grains, consisting of only 3.5% fiber. Many restaurants will allow you to substitute brown for white rice, and it is easy to cook at home.

You can also substitute whole grain pasta for regular pasta. The flavor will be slightly different, but it does not significantly change the texture or preparation of the dish, so it is an easy change to make.

There are many other areas where you can experiment, and I have included web sites with more information, including recipes. Bob’s Red Mill, in addition to selling grains and grinders, even has cooking classes. You will find that there are so many recipes that it is not practical to include many here, but I will suggest three easy areas to look at.

Breakfast:
Whole grains make great breakfast cereals. Everyone is familiar with oatmeal and cream of wheat, but you may not realize that almost any grain cooked with warm water can become a breakfast cereal.

Bulk food bins in stores will provide a wide selection of whole grains to choose from, and will generally include cooking instructions on top of the bin. Because these items are sold by weight, you can take as much or as little as you want for your experiment. If you don’t like the flavor of one, you can always try another.

Salads:
Not every salad is based on lettuce. The concept is similar to pasta salad, but even more nutritious.

Barley, quinoa, and bulgur wheat are all natural fits for salad, and may be able to be substituted for each other in recipes. You will generally want to use a lighter dressing. Olive oil and lemon juice is the most frequent choice.

Pilafs and risottos:
Salads are great for warm weather, but you can get a warm, hearty meal too. These recipes will generally call for cooking the grain in broth, and adding nuts or vegetables. The ingredients may seem similar to the breakdown of the salad, but the cooking process and the addition of the broth changes the tone of the dish, making for a good winter meal.


http://wholegrainscouncil.org/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whole-grains/NU00204
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains.html
http://www.bobsredmill.com/

July 2010 - Preparing to stand in holy places and be not moved

In section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord warns of upcoming war, followed by more war, famine, plague, earthquakes, and general mourning and destruction. Verse 6 gives sound advice for these troubled times: “Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen.”

The first part, standing in holy places, is relatively easy. The temple is the most obviously holy place. Designed with holiness in mind, dedicated to the glory of God, and protected by strict standards of admission, the temple is a peaceful haven in a tumultuous world. Service there opens our minds to the truths of eternity and creates friends on the other side of the veil.

It does require worthiness to enter, but that is part of its power—not just for the environment that it creates—but also for the effect on us. Remaining worthy to enter the temple protects us from spiritual death—a far worse danger than physical death.

What may be most important though, is that to enter a realm free of outside influences gives us a chance to better hear the voice of the Lord. We can receive the information that we will need to help us once we return to the world.

There is a limit to how much time we can spend in the temple, but temples are not the only holy places. Church attendance is another important piece. We have all known those who have wanted to take breaks from church, and have said that it would not change anything else about their lives, but then that turns out to not be the case. As they turn a deaf ear to internal reminders of where they should be, they start tuning out other things that they once knew, and their hearts can become very hard.

Whether we feel it or not, attending church strengthens us. First there is the simple demonstration of obedience in showing up, and added to that is participation in prayer, and in the sacrament, and if all goes well there is spiritual edification and fellowship too. Still, even if you tuned out on all the talks, and did not talk to anyone (which is not advised), the simple fact that you were there at all is still something that brings strength.

Then, as you do listen to the talks and the lessons, and apply them to your own life, and as you do reach out to others, and share strength, it becomes much more. Even with all the previously mentioned advantages of the temple, we may not receive its full benefits, perhaps because we brought worldly cares in with us. Good opportunities are set up for us, but our own efforts are required to take full advantage.

This is especially true for our next holy place. From the Bible Dictionary, "Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.” Considering the amount of time that we spend at home, this is welcome news. Notice that it is phrased "can". You are not simply opening yourself up to a spiritual environment; you are creating one.

Completely shutting out all worldly influences will not be practical, but we can do things to make sure that good influences can be felt, and that nothing overtly corrupting is accepted. Maybe the influences we allow into our home need to pass their own recommend test. Will this lead to sin? Will this keep me from feeling the spirit? What effect does this have on me?

Asking these questions as situations arise can be good, but will not be enough. We should also be proactively looking for ways to make the home a better environment. Can we add things that will inspire us, and help us remember what is needful? Some of us refrain from decorating, because as a young single there is a sense of impermanence, and why bother if you are just going to move soon anyway? The same mindset also discourages some people from food storage.

Deciding that where you live is not a home simply because it doesn’t have a spouse or children inside yet would be a missed opportunity, and a mistake. You are as much a child of God now as you will be when you get married. Your thoughts and actions and your happiness are important now, and will affect your future, so it deserves your consideration.

A few pictures of family, or the temple, or something related to the goals you have and should be aspiring towards can help you stay on track. Dieters will sometimes hang smaller clothes in their room, or put motivational pictures on the fridge. We can put reminders that we are trying to be like Christ, and that we have a living prophet, and yes, that families are forever, and that we are seeking temple marriage along with eternal life. This doesn’t mean that everything we allow in our home has to come straight from Deseret Book, but none of it should be contradictory to our faith.

The latter part of the admonition is the most troubling--we are told to be not moved. No matter how much time you spend collectively at church, the temple, and in your peaceful home, we cannot always be there. There is also time spent at work, on the road, on public transportation, and in various forms of recreation. Some of these will not be very holy places.

For some things, especially the recreation part, we have choices. You may find that it is hard to feel celestial guidance in dive bars and casinos, and decide to avoid them, and that is great. You may also find that some places change; like maybe being on your girlfriend's couch before 9 PM is fine, but that as the hours pass it becomes dangerous, and it becomes your job to leave before creating an unholy place. Work may be a place where coarse language is appreciated and rudeness is applauded, but we will have to rise above that. In many cases, the best we can do is to carry holiness with us.

In 1 Corinthians 3, verse 16 we read, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” If we can live worthy of this, we can make every place that we stand a holy place through the spirit that we carry with us.

We have already mentioned two of the Sunday School answers, church and temple attendance, but we will need all of them:

Study the scriptures, applying them to your life. You will grow in knowledge and understanding of what is around you, and be open to inspiration.

Pray, using that time to align your will with God’s, and to maintain a close relationship to Him so that you will recognize anything that is dark and you won’t want it.

Serve others, constantly keeping in mind that everyone around you is your brother or sister, and that even if in this moment they may not be contributing to a good spirit, that you still love them, and want more for them.

The admonition to stand in holy places and be not moved is a path to protection, so we can be sheltered from the storm outside. It will work, but it can be more than that. Trying to live so that we can be holy, and make the spaces around us holy, increases that shelter so it can bless others as well, and it becomes a pathway to perfection.

June 2010 - Preparing to evacuate

As we have reviewed various issues relating to preparedness, I have not focused on 72 hour kits because (for many cases) 72 hour’s worth of supplies would not be enough. A well-made kit will have the advantage of portability however, and that is great if there is ever a time when you will need to leave.

There are always unknown factors in emergency planning, and thinking about evacuation is no exception. Potential issues can include volcanic eruption, wildfires, floods, or hazardous waste spills. In this area there is not a great risk of a tsunami or a hurricane, but you may not always live here. For our primary local hazard, you can’t really evacuate away from an earthquake, but housing may be damaged to the extent that leaving is necessary.

One element of preparedness is knowing your area. People who live in Kansas know what to do when a tornado comes, and you should know your local risks. Are you in a flood plain? Are you in an area at risk for mud slides? If so, when the weather is persistently rainy, you need to start paying attention.

As well as not knowing what will happen, you do not know how much notice you will have. In the case of flooding or forest fires, there is often a fair amount of warning, with uncertainty on whether evacuation will be necessary, but time to prepare in case it does happen. Some things come up much more quickly. It is good to be prepared for either event, and the best way to get prepared is by thinking ahead about many different scenarios.

A few seconds: The most common example of this would be a house fire. The recommendation is that you do not take anything—you just get yourself out, and maybe you assist small children, the elderly, or those with disabilities.

My sister has told me that there is no way she is leaving without her purse. Since she keeps this next to her bed, it seems like it should be easy enough to grab. It would also be very hard for us to leave without our pets, even though the fire department says to leave animal rescue to them.

I will not criticize anyone for having their own exceptions, but please remember that smoke will hamper visibility while it is filling your lungs, and if the smoke alarm has woken you up in the middle of the night you will be disoriented, and not thinking well. The point is to get out quickly, before those factors keep you from getting out at all. That is one reason why occasional drilling can be really helpful, although surprise drills in the middle of the night will probably not be immediately appreciate by housemates.

So, you will not be able to take anything, but for this specific circumstance you will probably find that the Red Cross will get you into a motel, and be helpful, and there should be fire insurance to help with recovery. While it is certainly still important to remove fire hazards, if that does not work out, it is still important to get out quickly, after that things should be fine.

A few minutes: This is probably the least likely scenario, in that you will have either seconds or hours, but you can use a few minutes quite well if you plan ahead.

The most obvious choice will be to grab the 72 hour kits. If the evacuation is mandated by local authorities, chances are good that you are being sent to a shelter, and that shelter may well have food, water, and bedding. That may not be the case, however, and even if you are going somewhere with all the amenities, it is great to be able to change your clothes and have some personal items. Having some reading material or games will help relieve stress. Actually, just having that kit already packed takes pressure off of you at a time when you can probably use it. (Even if the shelter is well-equipped, you may find that bringing your own sleeping bags or blankets increases your comfort.)

One item often recommended for kits is a supply of medicine, which many people do not follow due to the inconvenience. This is fine but then it needs to be part of the emergency plan that the medicine will be grabbed on the way out. If the person who takes it is not at home, other household members need to be prepared to do that, knowing where the medicine is.

The other thing to think about is what will be useful to have, and what will be hard to replace. Assuming you have made an emergency communication plan, you probably have a list of important phone numbers, and a copy of it is in your kit. It may also be good to have a binder of documents that you would not want to lose. This can include birth certificates, wills, title information, insurance policies, tax records, and maybe even a list of credit card customer service numbers and account numbers. You may be keeping that information in a safety deposit box, but it can often be useful to have copies available, in case you do not have access to the box. When you have that information assembled together, it becomes an easy addition to the plan to grab the binder on the way out.

(You could also have concerns that having all of that information together leaves you ripe for identity theft if it falls into the wrong hands, and that is possible, but then you can think about potential safeguards. Planning ahead is what allows us to see and solve problems in advance.)

You should also consider items that have spiritual or sentimental importance. You can get your patriarchal blessing replaced, but it is better not to need that. Family history information and photo albums would be sorely missed. As much of this information is kept electronically now, you need to think about computer backups also, whether it is a matter of using a remote backup service or periodically updating a flash drive that travels with you. Then the plan is updated so that everyone knows where the albums and backups are, and those get grabbed too.

A few hours or days: Realistically, you will probably not be able to pack up the whole house, as that will weigh down your vehicle, but you can look at other items—more clothes and maybe even more food storage—or keepsakes. Don’t be caught off guard. Take a walk around your home and think about what items have meaning for you. Maybe it will also be a good time to de-clutter!

Even if there are items that you cannot take, there may be other preparations that can be done, like moving items to the top story when there is a flood approaching, calling loved ones to keep them updated, and checking on the neighbors.

Other timing issues: Not knowing when something will happen also means we don’t know where we will be. At least think about the possibilities of being at home and at work, where we spend the most time, and think about if it happens when you are in bed. Maybe you will be at a friend’s house, or the movies, or on vacation, and then we need to make adjustments to the plan, but having the base plan established helps.

(If it happens at church, it will be wonderful, because we can quickly get a count of who is there, and perhaps home and visiting teachers can let us know if those who are absent are so due to illness or travel, creating the fastest post-disaster welfare check ever, but we can’t count on that.)

About pets: In case of fire, our CERT instructor told us about one person who trained her dog to go straight out the doggie door whenever the alarm sounded. That is a brilliant solution that comes with forethought. Think about other potential issues as well, if they need a place to stay. Animals should have their own kits, and perhaps you can trade off acting as the emergency shelter with another friend. You can find more information at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/ or http://www.ocem.org/pdf_resources/23-Pet_Preparedness.pdf.

May 2010: Emergency Plans—yours and your ward’s

In last month’s letter on preparing to have a good ward, we covered some of the unique difficulties our ward faces due to the large physical boundaries and such a rapidly changing population. One of those difficulties is keeping the emergency plan updated, and we will explore that more now.

In the event of a large-scale disaster, the ward is responsible for checking on its members. This is really just a natural extension to our normal values. With the home and visiting teaching programs, everyone should be checked on monthly, and as needs are discovered they are addressed. When something happens where it is likely that several members have sudden needs, a rapid check is in order.

Because of communication disruptions, it will probably be necessary to do a physical check. To make this easier, most wards divide geographically into zones, and we are no exception (though our zones are bigger than the average family ward). Each zone has a zone leader who will check on the members in that zone in case of an emergency, and will report back to the emergency preparedness specialist working with the bishop, and so we can get that information back to the stake and to Salt Lake. This is one reason to promptly get address changes to the clerk—it helps us look in the right spot.

We also survey members about their resources and skills, so as we find out that one person had roof damage, we know who can fix that, or if trees are down and need clearing, we know who has the nearest chainsaw. If we need to convert church buildings into emergency shelters, we may call on the people who know how to prepare meals for large groups. Many of you have been surveyed already, and we are working on the rest.

While we will try to help with your needs, your advance preparation will be even more helpful. To help gain some perspective on this, let’s consider the large magnitude earthquake. This is a useful example because it has a wide impact and is likely to occur in our lifetime. I will include a link at the end for what to do in an earthquake, but here I want to focus more on the after-effects.

Many buildings will experience structural damage. This can include your home and your workplace There will probably also be damage to roads, water lines and sewage, gas lines, and electricity. What does that mean?

If you suspect a gas leak, you need to shut the gas off (you should know how to do that). Since it needs to be turned back on by someone from the gas company, you could be without heat for a while. You should have extra blankets or sleeping bags.

If water pipes or sewage lines are broken, you may still be able to get water into the house, but it could be tainted water. Having stored water or water purification tools will be a huge benefit. We will be trying to check on you, but in the time it takes us to find you, get water, and get back to you, you can get very thirsty. Have some stored water on hand.

If your electricity is out, you will be grateful to have other means of light and cooking available. You will not want to be opening the fridge or freezer, in hopes of maintaining the cold until the power comes back on—or you may give up and have a big barbecue and eat all the ice cream. At least think about what food is in your house. If water and power are out, are you still able to eat?

There are other effects to lost power. Will you need information on the computer? Then I hope it is on a laptop, and the battery has enough power to get you through. Internet may still be down depending on how you connect. That is why I instruct all of my zone leaders to print their lists.

Now, think for a moment about everything else that uses electricity and computing. That includes automatic doors, gas pumps, ATMs, and cash registers. Even if transportation is not completely disrupted, getting to a store may not be helpful. The Church has encouraged members to store a year’s supply of food, or at least three months. Please, have at least two weeks on hand.

Remember, there are two big issues that will make recovery more difficult. One is that even if the bridges over the Willamette appear to be okay, they will need to be tested and verified before they can be used. That takes time. Also, soil liquefaction may completely tear up the runways at PDX, which would delay cargo planes with relief supplies. That gives you even more reason to have your own food, water, and warmth— just to be safe.

You will want to know what is going on with roads and relief. No power for PCs and TVs affects your ability to get news as well. It would be wise to have a battery-operated radio on hand,

That feeling of connection will be important. The other thing to know is that phones will be disrupted. It will probably be at least three days until you can get a cell phone signal. Landlines may recover faster, but often they will only be successful in calling out of area. Emergency communication plans are essential. You can use the out of area exception as a lifeline, establishing one common point of contact for everyone in the family to call. (In my family, it is our sister-in-law’s brother in Texas.) This contact can keep track of everyone’s whereabouts as they report in, and pass along messages. It gives great peace of mind to know that your loved ones are safe, even if you can’t talk to them directly.

Don’t limit the plan to family. You should have a plan for keeping track of roommates too, and if you will not be happy without knowing how your fiancé is doing, work that out. (And this can be very helpful for the zone leader if other people are not there yet, but you can report on their whereabouts and welfare.) We get used to being able to talk and message instantly, but it can be lost at the same time that a lot of new stress is introduced. Have a back-up plan. (If you want that backup plan to be HAM radio, which is reasonable, we will be putting a class together.)

Ultimately, it is the way that we connect with each other that can improve the recovery. We saw horrible things happen in Haiti after their earthquake, with looting and theft, and if fear and desperation don’t overcome you they can also harden your heart. If you know that you have some supplies, maybe even enough to share, and that there are people looking out for you, you can have peace and spread that peace to others.

Even better, you can spread that peace further by doing it beforehand. Get to know your neighbors, and talk about emergency plans. You can arrange to check on each other’s gas lines, or pets, or to see if anyone is injured for each other. And then if they follow your example and have food and water storage too, that’s a neighborhood that is going to come out of this okay, regardless of the damage. Many CERT programs are introducing a Map Your Neighborhood program that can prove helpful.

Do think about taking the CERT training. Knowledge is power, and in hard times it is good to feel powerful.

http://www.hillsborocert.org/
http://www.beavertonoregon.gov/departments/emergency/cert/

(This is for earthquakes, but OCEM has many other helpful documents besides this one.)
http://www.ocem.org/pdf_resources/12-Drop_Cover_Hold_On.pdf

April 2010 - Preparing to have a good ward

Talking to other emergency preparedness coordinators, they sometimes expect things to be a bit different for a singles ward. It ends up being very similar in some ways. Getting married people to focus on preparedness is about as difficult as it is with single people—it’s natural to focus more on what is happening than what might happen.

The key difference is with maintaining the emergency plan. We will be sending out more about this later, but for now you should know that every ward needs a plan to check on the safety and needs of the members in the event of an emergency. With our ward that becomes more difficult, because in addition to covering a larger area than most wards, our membership changes more frequently. One plan update involved twenty-two record changes, and even then there were six people that I knew would be leaving soon.

How does this relate to having a good ward? Well, when I was asking for ideas on what constituted a good ward, someone asked if I meant a singles ward or a family ward. My initial thought was that there should not be any differences, but there are probably a few.

Even trying to define what makes a “good” ward seems dicey, but it is probably reasonable to expect that in such a ward there will be opportunities for spiritual growth and fellowship.

There is organization in place for this. Part of this is home and visiting teaching, where we serve others and make sure needs are met, as well as building relationships—but this was covered in the February newsletter.

A big part of it is also that when you come there will be speakers, prayers, hymns and lessons. There are also activities that may be educational, social, or service-based. This gives you regular opportunities to learn, and to feel the Spirit, and to socialize. All of those opportunities require individual participation before they can do any good for the individual.

In turn, the mechanism for putting all of that into place involves church callings, where people are given specific responsibilities. Not only does this make you an active participant in the running of the ward; it also allows the development of talent and spirituality and socialization in multiple ways.

The key word is “allows”. Some callings have more guidelines than others, but there is usually also room for going beyond that.

We expect that someone who is called as a Gospel Doctrine teacher will learn something about the scriptures, even with a cursory review of each lesson. (That is unless you think that people are only called to do things that they already know about, and so the Gospel Doctrine teachers are already experts on the scriptures. Let me assure you that this is not automatically the case.)

The teacher can once a month prepare and give a lesson, and that preparation can lead to greater knowledge for the teacher and class, and for some spiritual growth. On another level, the teacher can try and keep up with all of the lessons, because when you are not the teacher you are a class member, and scripture study is important. The teacher can point at people who raise their hands when questions are asked, or the teacher can make an effort to learn names, creating a warmer environment in the class. Also, preparation can include merely reading over and organizing the material, or it can include prayerful preparation requesting inspiration, where you may even find yourself calling quieter members of the class in advance and asking them to participate in specific ways.

This principle is true for any calling. It may mean an employment specialist including the unemployed members of the ward in personal prayer, or the family history specialist creating a survey to get a grasp on the current situations and needs, but it is always possible to consecrate your service. In some way you have a service to provide to the ward members, and since you are important and they are important, it is an area where you can receive inspiration. Then, as you receive inspiration, you will have a greater understanding of the calling’s importance, which is primarily because of the importance of the people that you serve.

When one friend was asking me about church discipline, all I really knew to tell her was that they don’t let you pay tithing or hold callings, and somehow that does not sound like a vacation to us. It is a privilege to serve, even while it is necessary for our growth and the harmonious operation of a ward. The more people you have trying to really fulfill their callings, the greater your chances of feeling like you have a good ward.

So, how are we different from a family ward? The most obvious way is the lack of families, meaning that no matter how many people need callings, no one is going to get one in Primary or Youth or Nursery. We have Family Home Evenings as a ward, which a family ward should not need. Those are noticeable differences, but they do not change the critical needs of growth, service, and fellowship, nor do they change the opportunity for those things to occur. (In fact, the quieter meetings may help some people feel the Spirit more.)

The issue of constant change, however, does give us an extra handicap. We need to be getting to know each other, and it is much harder to keep up. In a family ward, when an unfamiliar face shows up, probably most members can know with certainty this person is new. In our ward, the unfamiliar could be a new person, a visitor from Westlake, someone returning to the ward from school or a mission, or someone who has been sitting on the other side of the chapel, and you aren’t sure because you have only been in the ward for three months yourself. Do not let this discourage you. Any potential embarrassment has to be outweighed by the importance of reaching out.

There are ways to make things easier. When a new person’s records are read into the ward, if we are paying attention we know the name, face, what they are wearing, and general location. Going and introducing oneself after the meeting is a great idea. Not only do you have the information handed to you, but if you can’t quite remember the following week, odds are good that the new person will have met more people than you, and remember even less. Now that summer is coming we will get lots of chances to put this into practice. In all seriousness, raising our hands to affirm that they are welcome has little meaning if it ends there. All you need to say is, “I don’t think we have met.”

Summer provides another excellent opportunity, in that it should be our turn to clean the building again. This act of service puts us all on equal footing, working together to serve everyone who uses the building. Serving together makes a good ward. Make sure you take at least one shift.

One could argue that for a singles ward to be “good”, there should be dating. Progressing towards marriage is an important part of individual growth, and as such it should not be forgotten. That being said, look at how much of what has already been mentioned involves people paying attention to each other, caring for each other, and getting to know each other, as well as seeking inspiration. Such practices can only help progression towards marriage.

Next month we will learn more about the actual ward emergency plan, and if you can be motivated towards your own preparedness, we have a cannery trip on Tuesday, May 18th from 6-9 PM, where you can add to your own food storage. More information will follow.

March 2010 - Reformed 72-hour kits

In my time writing this newsletter I have not covered 72-hour kits, despite many people expressing an interest. There are two reasons for this. One is that I see from the surveys that many of you already have kits—the only other area that even comes close is first aid training. Many of us received first aid training in association with girls’ camp, scouting, or jobs and school, so without a similar framework in place the amount of 72-hour kits that have been accumulated is pretty impressive.

The other reason is that one time I heard someone quote someone else saying that there are no 72-hour kits in the church—just food storage. That would be a very weak reason on its own, especially since I cannot remember either of the people involved, but it did set me thinking. Our leaders have simplified their focus greatly in terms of emergency preparedness with the Family Home Storage and Family Finances pamphlets, available at http://providentliving.org/. It does not mean that other preparedness steps are not good, but the 72-hour kit is not prioritized.

Also, back one time when a devastating earthquake happened in one part of the world shortly after a devastating hurricane and flood had occurred in another part of the world, I began to see that if you have enough concurrent disasters happening there is no guarantee that emergency responders will make it to you in three days. This has been seen in government and social agencies as well, where you can still find materials on preparing 72-hour kits, but staff members are starting to recommend being prepared for a longer time period, commonly from 7-10 days.

That being said, there is still something valuable about having a portable supply of food, water, and clothing, and in going over the materials I used to use for 72-hour kits there are many good principles that can be applied to general preparedness. We can work with that.

The basics of a good kit were always food, water, clothing, light, and heat—but it was not unusual to find hygiene items, communication items (like a battery-operated AM radio for listening to news), a first aid kit, and maybe even something for fighting boredom or mental fatigue. Also, it was not uncommon to see a recommendation that you include some cash. Finally, there would be an emphasis on portability, and a decision on where to put it. Let’s review key areas.

Location: Common choices were at home, at work, or in the car, with valid reasons for each of those choices. Why not all three? After all, if we free our selves from the confines of one specific 72-hour kit, then we can accommodate needs for specific locations. If you are at home, you probably have more than three days worth of clothes and food. Having a pack with items ready to go is still valuable if you need to leave, and the traditional kit may work best for the car. Theoretically you would then have your kit handy whether you are at home or at work, but not everyone drives to work. If you have a desk, locker, or cubby, you may want to consider keeping some small supplies there as well.

Food: This is an obvious need. Even though you can go several days without food, you will not be functioning at your best if you need to do so. Ideally you will build up at least a three month supply of food in your home, but it may be worthwhile to have a two-week supply of foods that do not require cooking as part of that, and it would not hurt if some of those items were canned fruits and vegetables that could add to your water supply with their juices.

Think about food for work and the car too. While it is practical to think of something that has a long shelf life and provides balanced nutrition, it will help relieve stress if this can also be food you enjoy and are used to. I have used protein bars as the basis of our family kits, but then augmented them with things like nuts or beef jerky, fruit cups, and pudding cups, thus covering all the food groups and making it more fun. A small stash in your office may help on a day when you have no time to grab lunch, or have to work late. A small stash in your car can be helpful when you have road trouble.

Water: You need water even more than you need food, and you only get partial credit for other liquids like soda. You should have some water storage in your home, but water storage takes up a lot of space, so having some options for water purification is also not a bad idea. You are less likely to run out of water in the office, but having an emergency water bottle there could come in handy under really bad situations. It is a great idea to have an emergency water stash in your car. Not only can it serve you if you end up stranded, but sometimes cars need water too.

Water for storage can be purchased in Mylar pouches or juice box-style cartons. If you are looking at bottles and jugs, either for purchasing full or filling from your tap, make sure to use the pop bottle type plastic, not the milk jug plastic. With the first type (polyethylene terephthalate, or PETE) there are concerns about chemical leaching related to storage temperature and duration. That may be a reason to use different types of containers, but not to use the milk jug plastic (high density polyethylene, of HDPE), which is prone to contamination and leakage.

Light: A good strong flashlight can provide welcome relief in the darkness, allowing you to read or locate the correct item, and to feel safer. It can be valuable to store a small flashlight at work and a larger one in the car. You will probably want to have a few flashlights in the house. Remember that any flashlight is only as good as its batteries, and also that in the event of a gas leak a flashlight can throw of a small spark and ignite the gas. Therefore, it is also valuable to keep some light sticks on hand, which can light without any sparks.

Obviously if sparks are a concern then a match is even worse than a flashlight, but in other circumstances candles can also help with the light situation. This would probably only be beneficial at home, and only if you can follow basic fire safety procedures.

Heat: Consider keeping an extra jacket and maybe a solar blanket in the car. The weather can change very quickly, especially in Oregon, and having the option of adding a layer will be a great source of protection. Indeed, one value of the standard change of clothes in a typical 72-hour kit is not just the ability to freshen up, but also the ability to layer or to change out of wet clothes.

Getting wet will cause your body temperature to fall quickly, so planning to stay warm includes planning to stay dry. Perhaps you should throw a poncho in with that solar blanket. For home, consider what you would do if the heat went out. Are there extra blankets? Could you build a fire?

Hygiene: For the home, it makes sense to be well supplied on toiletries as well as food. Soap is not as vital as bread, but it is still nice to have, and since you are planning ahead it should be possible to have. For the office or car, imagine yourself stranded, and think about what you would miss most. For me it’s dental floss, so that is in all of our kits.

Cash: ATMs provide cash quickly, and with credit and debit cards many people forego cash completely. There can be times when these systems fail, be it due to a power outage or the magnetic strip wearing out on your card. It is handy to have a small reserve of cash available that is set aside for these circumstances. This can also be handy if you are ever stuck dining out of vending machines.

Portability: In the past I have advised asking three questions regarding kit supplies: How likely am I to need it? How bad will it be not to have it? How heavy is it? These three questions allow you to plan with a practical eye. You may also want to add questions of convenience or expense—yes, it might be nice to have a backup wardrobe at work, especially if you are a messy person, but would it be worth the trouble? Individual answers may vary, but you can come up with good answers for yourself if you will commit to asking the questions.

If you wish to receive this letter electronically, please write to gharris847@aol.com

February 2010 - Preparing to do your home and visiting teaching

Many years ago Elder Ballard gave a conference address where he used the metaphor of a car not running on all cylinders. The loss of each cylinder weakened the engine and the overall performance of the car. Elder Ballard was specifically referring to meetings, but it can apply to any area of ward operations. If only the Bishopric is trying to make sure that everyone is doing well, they will quickly be bogged down. If each member of the ward (working in pairs) is doing it, then we can quickly learn who is sick and who is sad and who needs temporal assistance. With combined effort, things work.

That is all well and good, but how could home and visiting teaching could possibly relate to emergency preparedness? Sure, it’s something we are supposed to do, and perhaps the most concrete iteration of our baptismal covenant to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:9), but based on the low rate of completion it would seem that it is often not viewed as necessary.

In the area of Provident Living specifically, home and visiting teaching fit well under Social and Emotional Strength. Emotional strength is built by obedience, and fulfilling assignments is an important part of obedience. Social strength is developed as we build relationships. Working with a companion, becoming acquainted with new people, and thinking about the needs of others are all elements of social strength that can be developed through home and visiting teaching. You will find that improving relationships will also increase emotional strength.

I was reminded of the importance of this recently when watching a presentation on earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. The geographic record shows that there have been severe earthquakes with tsunami that affected the coast, but many of the native tribes also have oral traditions about this. In one legend shared by multiple tribes, high flood waters came. The people took shelter in their boats. Those who had followed the counsel of their elders had prepared long ropes, which they used to tie the boats to the tops of strong trees. Those with no ropes, or short ropes, ended up drifting away.

Repeated multiple times in the story was the phrase “They no longer knew each other.” The land was changed by the storm, and those who drifted randomly may have ended up surrounded by strangers. Relationships were broken. New relationships could be formed, but the people were scattered and something valuable was lost.

Catastrophic events can be alienating. Trauma can have a huge effect on personality (another reason why you want to have a built-in reserve of emotional strength), but as it disrupts infrastructure it can also make communicating and reuniting with loved ones difficult (which is another reason why you want to have a family communication plan).

As important as it is to be prepared for the large scale disasters, the daily ups and downs of life can still have similar affects. Financial struggles, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with one’s state can be alienating too. The personal issues may actually be more alienating. When everyone is in the earthquake it can inspire them to work together and help each other, but with personal issues you tend to feel like you are the only one. With home and visiting teaching we can figuratively build long ropes to keep us from drifting too far apart.

You probably know the basics, but here are some tips:

Knowing your route: You will usually be given a slip with the names of your companion and the people that you will teach. If you have not received one, you can check with someone in the Elders Quorum or Relief Society presidency, or the coordinator.

Sometimes the names on your slip will be unfamiliar. You can ask around, or look them up on Facebook to see if there is a picture that rings a bell, but this may not work. Fortunately, the slips tend to come with phone numbers and often e-mail addresses. You can then call or write and say, “Hi. I don’t think we have met, but I am your new home teacher (or home teaching companion).” Don’t let this intimidate you. If they don’t want you to visit, hey, you have still made contact, and now you have something to report.

Planning ahead: A month goes by really quickly. Start thinking about times early. With some people I have had to plan the next month’s visit during the current visit because our schedules were that hard to coordinate. Technology can be helpful, but there are still some people who don’t check e-mail often, or Facebook, so don’t rely on those things.

Keep your eyes open: You should know if your people are in church, or if they seem troubled (even if they are reluctant to talk about it), or if they seem to have physical needs (like becoming malnourished or wearing threadbare clothes). It is hard for people to ask for help, but there is help available, and your sincere caring and preparation can make it easier to bring all of that together. You may also find through observation that some things are more important than others for each person, and can adapt to that. I remember one sister for whom it was so important that I would bring the spirit into her apartment each month, and another who needed phone calls for a while to help her achieve a goal. What do they really need?

Remember that this is the Lord’s work: You should be developing feelings of love for the people on your route, but the Lord really loves them, and is interested in them, so you can ask for help. I have found it helpful to include the people on my route in my prayers, because that means that I am thinking of them regularly, and open to inspiration. Companions can also pray together before heading out, and of course, pray with the people you teach.

Report when you are done: Your slip should also have the name and phone number of a supervisor. They may try and hunt you down for the information, but it is even better if you beat them to the punch. This is when you can report that someone needs a job, or a roommate, or some encouragement. If you don’t feel comfortable telling the supervisor but someone still needs to know, that’s okay too. Just tell the supervisor that you went and say what you need to say to the appropriate person.

It’s all so simple. Yes, it takes time and effort, but it is also fun and rewarding. It helps us to build each other up, until we are mutually anchored and cannot drift away.

January 2010 - Traditional Preparedness and Looking Beyond

In previous letters we have discussed how the Church has simplified their approach to emergency preparedness, focusing on food storage and financial security, and emphasizing a three-month food supply instead of a one-year supply (while still acknowledging that more is better).

Despite this, we tend to still have the old information etched into our minds, and that is fine. Having a one-year supply of food is great, and there is nothing wrong with having 72 hour kits or camping equipment on hand. However, we often keep the old ways of thinking in mind as well, and that can be limiting.

See if this list sounds familiar:

• 72 hour kit (because it takes 72 hours for disaster response teams to arrive)
• 2-week supply of water (because it can take two weeks to restore a water system)
• 1 year supply of food (because if a disaster strikes right before harvest, it will take a year for the replanted crops to grow)

These are all good supplies to have, and decent reasons for having them, but there are a few problems with this focus. One is that for the last two items, it is a lot of work—so much so that it becomes intimidating. With lists like this the recommendation for water storage is usually one gallon per person per day, so my household of four would require fifty-six gallons of water and that doesn’t even account for the pets. Trying to imagine accumulating and storing groceries for a year feels impossible as well.

(On the other hand, coming up with a 72 hour kit is relatively easy, but we can see that with a bad enough disaster, or perhaps multiple disasters occurring in different places in the same time period, it may take much longer for relief agencies to arrive.)

So because this level of preparation seems like so much work, it becomes easy for people to put off thinking about it, and never get around to it. It becomes even easier because in a disaster scenario where you are imagining water services disrupted, all of the local agriculture being destroyed, and FEMA and the Red Cross coming in, that is so far from our normal experience that it doesn’t feel real. Procrastinating preparedness steps becomes almost logical with this limited mindset.

Let’s look at it in a different way:

• Supplies in the car in case inclement weather arises and it is more logical to either spend a few hours or the entire night downtown, rather than spending three hours to go twelve miles on the clogged highways.
• Some stored water so that when possible water contamination is announced, you do not need to boil water, or run to the store and try and stock up on bottled water, while you are waiting for the investigation to be completed.
• Food storage so that when money is tight, you can skip a week of shopping, and you can stretch your budget by waiting for items to come on sale.

I had already planned this topic, but there was an op-ed piece in the January 20th Oregonian that went along well. The emergency manager for Clackamas County, Jay Wilson, was writing about how the snowfall could be a dress rehearsal in some ways for a major earthquake. There would not be the same structural damage, but which roads get clogged, with those resulting transportation issues, would be similar, as well as whether people had necessary supplies at home or not, and whether they had contingency plans for disrupted travel and getting everyone safely back home.

What I found most interesting was that he said that he used to try and get people to prepare for the worst-case scenario of a 9.0 earthquake, but people would find that overwhelming, and harder to act on. Now he just tries to get people to prepare for our annual winter storms, and that will still give them a leg up for when the earthquake does happen.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/from_snowfall_to_earthquake_ar.html

Preparing for the little things can go a long way towards preparing for the big things. Think about the most basic needs: food, water, warmth, light, and the ability to connect with family and household members.

Think about having some food and water, and maybe a change of clothes, in your car, or at your desk or locker where you work. You can probably put it together without any new purchases, simply using items you already own.

The next time you finish a 2 liter bottle of pop, think about rinsing it and filling it with water to add to your water storage.

Think about purchasing two extra non-perishable grocery items next week and building up food storage.

It’s not that doing more might not be better, or that there might not be other things to do. You may find yourself getting thoughts about flashlights or boots or gardening, and if you are getting promptings you definitely should follow them. Moving in the right direction increases your odds of getting promptings.

It is true that the Northwest is due for a major earthquake in the next fifty years, and we should think about that. It just may be more helpful to remember that winter storms can happen in February, or that the Florida freeze may affect citrus prices and that they have recently announced Eggo and pumpkin shortages, and that the water reservoir on Mount Tabor is still uncovered.

It may also be helpful to remember that in the event of a big disaster, the point of food storage might not be to live on your storage for a year, but to be able to share with others for a few weeks.

The beauty of preparedness is that you don’t need to know what is coming up to be ready for it. Since you usually can’t know, that is really convenient.