April Preparedness Activity

 

April 12, 2025 – Preparedness activity – 72-hour Emergency Kits - Summary

It was a windy day for any activity so maybe that is why not many people came to the activity. Or could it be people already have their 72-hour emergency kits done and ready?

We discussed the first two chapters in the FEMA Preparedness document listed in the link below.

FEMA preparedness handout pdf –

https://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is909/preparedness_handoutsmaster.pdf

We met in the Chester Pavillion for a discussion on updating your 72-hour emergency kits and supplies. Our goal was to help those who have not established kits or supplies. We had items available to share with others. I have a lot of items left over and I sure would love to help someone who is trying to add to or create a 72-hour emergency kit. Please drop me a note, come over and see if there is something in this big box you could use. I had a few handouts and I can email a copy to anyone who wants them if you send me your preferred email address. I gifted two new 72-hour emergency kits full of recommended supplies.

Discussion during meeting:
There are many times the leaders of the church have talked about and taught us to be prepared. I selected and talked about a couple of the conference talks listed below. I found it interesting that even though church leaders have wanted us to prepare for bad times and catastrophes since the beginning of the church, some members are still delaying or neglecting or even passing by opportunities of help from others. Listed here are a few quotes from the selected conference talks.

·         Conference talk –  Prepare Every Needful Thing – By Bishop Victor L. Brown Conference talk - October 1980, 45 years ago

o   “We have been taught that the first responsibility for our welfare rests upon our own shoulders and then upon our families. Only when these resources fail do we have call upon the Church.”

o   “It would appear that in altogether too many cases the teachings about preparedness have been either misunderstood or knowingly rejected. Many of our members appear to feel that when difficulty comes, the Church will come to their aid, even when they could have prepared themselves had their priorities been appropriate.”

o   “I believe the Latter-day Saints are the best people on the earth of whom we have any knowledge. Still, I believe that we are, in many things, very negligent, slothful and slow to obey the words of the Lord. Many seem to act upon the faith that God will sustain us instead of our trying to sustain ourselves.”

·         Conference talk If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear – By President Gordon B. Hinkley, Conference talk -October 2005

o   “I do not hesitate to say that this old world is no stranger to calamities and catastrophes. Those of us who read and believe the scriptures are aware of the warnings of prophets concerning catastrophes that have come to pass and are yet to come to pass.”

o   “If anyone has any doubt concerning the terrible things that can and will afflict mankind, let him read the 24th chapter of Matthew.  Among other things the Lord says: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. …”

o   “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”

o   “Just as there have been calamities in the past, we expect more in the future. What do we do?”

o   “The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).”

o   “In words of revelation the Lord has said, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing” (D&C 109:8).”

o   “We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day.”  Create and maintain a 72-hour kit

·         Reminder that conference time is a good time to review your kits - expiration dates and supplies and replace them.

·         Safe meeting place for your family – Chester Pavilion - Make a plan and have practice drills getting out of your house. Also know the places in your house. In an earthquake the standard advice is to stand in a doorway. Make sure each member of your family knows where you will meet if not at your house.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the power of preparedness during the 1995 October General Conference. He said, “The need for preparation is abundantly clear. The great blessing of being prepared gives us freedom from fear.”

      

Try your best to be prepared.

Thank you,

Susie Smith

310-562-4629 Susanssmith2012@gmail.com