Preparedness

Brothers and sisters – I have chosen for my remarks the topic of preparedness.

I think that instantly many of you will think of food storage, 72 hour kits and getting out of debt. These are all important and necessary elements of physical preparedness – but not areas that I will be focusing on.

On a daily basis we witness widely fluctuating financial markets; uncertainty in inflation: wars; personal conflicts; national disasters; volatile weather conditions; widespread immorality, crime, and violence; attacks and pressures on the family and individuals; problem with employment and providing for a family; and so on. The need for preparation is abundantly clear.

Elder L. Tom Perry –

The great blessing of being prepared gives us freedom from fear, as guaranteed to us by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear

Those that know me will confirm that one of my weaknesses is that I’m a worrier – many times worrying about things that I have no control over. The prospect of the unknown or of change naturally brings fear to many of us.

Elder L. Tom Perry -cont.

We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance. To maintain some semblance of stability in our lives, it is essential that we plan for our future. I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness. We want to be found with oil in our lamps sufficient to endure to the end.

All of us are familiar with the parable of the ten virgins and how half of them had insufficient oil in their lamps. When a man we sustain as a prophet seer and revelator says that we should “with some urgency review counsel we have received for personal and family preparedness.” That should motivate us unto some sort of action. The problem is that we get complacent because it has been said so many times before.

President Spencer W. Kimball admonished us:

“The Savior made it clear that we cannot place sufficient oil in our preparedness lamps by simply avoiding evil. We must also be anxiously engaged in a positive program of preparation…The Lord will not translate one’s good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for (ourselves).”

Brothers and sisters I love the phrase “anxiously engaged in a positive program of preparation.” Engaged is a statement of action one of being committed or involved. Anxiously depicts emotion – it isn’t a passing fancy; it’s important or heart felt. Anxiously can also depict the urgency recommended by Elder Perry.

The questions we need to ask is are we anxiously engaged in the things necessary to bring us closer to the spirit and to withstand the trials and temptations that are part of our every day lives. Are we fulfilling our responsibilities, attending the temple and faithfully following the commandments? Such questions have been asked by prophets of God throughout time.

Alma asked the members of the church, or saints in Zarahemla -

(If they) spiritually had been born of God? (If they had) received his image in your countenances? (If they had) experienced (a) mighty change in your hearts.

(He then asked) if (they had) experienced a change of heart, and if (they) have felt (His) redeeming love, ..can (they) feel so now?

I believe there isn’t an individual here tonight that hasn’t been spiritually born of God and received a testimony of this great work. That hasn’t had a change of heart as to the things of the world and the things of God. But the last question – do we feel so now? How viverent is our testimony – how much action and dedication is it compelling us to exert?

After such evaluations and out pouring of the spirit there are numerous times that great changes of hearts have taken place.

Alma the elders people after being converted of their wrong with King Noah-

Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word.

After King Benjamin’s great sermon –

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

The spirit changed their actions and thoughts – they became engaged, that they want to fulfill all that was commanded and had no more disposition or desire to do evil.

Each of us has different trials or challenges that we are required to bare – at times they seem too overwhelming.

Elder M. Russell Ballard

Our faith can help us be equally bold and fearless during the course of our respective journeys, whether we are parents working with a troubled child, a single parent trying to raise a worthy family, young people struggling to find a place in a wicked and confusing world, or a single person trying to make the journey through life alone. No matter how difficult the trail, and regardless of how heavy our load, we can take comfort in knowing that others before us have borne life’s most grievous trials and tragedies by looking to heaven for peace, comfort, and hopeful assurance. We can know as they knew that God is our Father, that He cares about us individually and collectively, and that as long as we

continue to exercise our faith and trust in Him there is nothing to fear in the journey.

Brothers and sisters, the pioneers as they crossed the plains, kept close to life-sustaining water of the Platte and Sweetwater rivers, we need to follow and partake of the Living Water of Christ to refresh our faith and sustain our dedication as we travel through mortality.

Elder Ballard cont.

Life isn’t always easy. At some point in our journey we may feel much as the pioneers did as they crossed Iowa—up to our knees in mud, forced to bury some of our dreams along the way. We all face rocky ridges, with the wind in our face and winter coming on too soon. Sometimes it seems as though there is no end to the dust that stings our eyes and clouds our vision. Sharp edges of despair and discouragement jut out of the terrain to slow our passage. Always, there is a Devil’s Gate, which will swing wide open to lure us in. Those who are wise and faithful will steer a course as far from such temptation as possible, while others—sometimes those who are nearest and dearest to us—succumb to the attraction of ease, comfort, convenience, and rest. Occasionally we reach the top of one summit in life, as the pioneers did, only to see more mountain peaks ahead, higher and more challenging than the one we have just traversed. Tapping unseen reservoirs of faith and endurance, we, as did our forebears, inch ever forward toward that day when our voices can join with those of all pioneers who have endured in faith, singing: “All is well! All is well!”

No matter what trial we are required to bare – no matter how difficult our suffering or pain may seem. We will always be able to look the Saviors redeeming love and straight to get us through.

His atoning sacrifice is out of pure love for each of us. He understands our weaknesses and shortcomings. During this sacrifice he was able to see those with whom His atonement would be accepted.

Mosiah 15: 10-11

And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?

He then answers his own question-

Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.

Hopefully each of us where some of those with whom he was able to see. That He knew His suffering was not in vain.

Not only has he made the atonement available to each of us as we make mistakes, but he has also promised us that he will lead us where we should go.

1 Nephi 17:13

And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

A quote that address this, that I have loved for years is given by –

Elder Eyring – CES Fireside 5/6/01

Your life is carefully watched over as was mine. The Lord knows both what he will need you to do, and what you will need to know. He is kind and He is all knowing. So you can expect with confidence that He has prepared opportunities for you to learn in preparation for the service you will give. You will not recognize those opportunities perfectly, as I did not. But, when you put the spiritual things first in your life you will be blessed, to feel directed toward certain learning and you’ll be motivated to work harder. You will then recognize later that your power to serve was increased and you will be grateful.”

Could it be that our trials are nothing more than preparation for future events, blessings and experiences to help someone else in their time of need?

Our responsibility is to press forward in faith and dedication with our eyes fixed on the light of Christ. We need to know that there is purpose and direction in our lives, no matter how hard or bleak it may seem.

1 Nephi 9:6

But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen

He is aware of our situation – He will guide and direct us if we do our part to come unto him with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

A sad fact of life it that we will on occasion fail and we make mistakes.

An unknown author once said -

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing."