DISASTER PLAN

Did you feel the earthquake Tuesday?  I heard it more than I felt it.  Living in California has taught me that no two earthquakes are the same.  I was surprised that it was so big, a 3.8.

It seems there are fires all around us.  When my kids smell the smoke outside, they always come in worried that we will be evacuated again. 

In the mail today, I got a copy of San Diego County's Personal Disaster Plan.  In my email inbox this afternoon, I got an email from my insurance company with "California wildfires - tips to help you prepare" in the subject line.  They had a link that went to a website with a lot of really good information.  In the email, they also had some good suggestions:  

• Gather important documents, medications and valuables in case you need to evacuate quickly   • Take exterior photos of your entire home in case you need to file a claim later   • Register with your insurance company to manage your claim experience online   • If you've been evacuated, please call us about possible additional living expense reimbursement Instead of re-inventing the wheel, I CHALLENGE YOU to take a look at one of the links above and use them to help you prepare your family for our next disaster, whatever it may be.  Being prepared is a big step to not being afraid, because "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

BOOK OF MORMON PREPAREDNESS

I was totally planning on doing a very temporal preparedness post this week.  I had been thinking about earthquake preparedness and safety as well as water storage,  but something jumped out at me in my scripture study that just cannot be ignored. Plus there was that little nudge by the Holy Ghost that said, "This is it. "  So, either I or some (hopefully all) of you need this right now.  Please read with a prayer in your heart that you will feel The Holy Ghost whisper to your heart and mind the things that you should do.

The Book if Mormon was written for us, for our time, for our challenges, and to help us come closer to God.  Every story and every chapter were perfectly placed to teach each of us something.  

Mormon spends 2 whole chapters telling us about Amalekiah (Alma 46-47).  We learn a lot about him, specifically that he had a goal...and he would rest at nothing until his goal was obtained.  He wanted to be king of a people.   When he was unsuccessful at becoming king of the Nephites, he turned his attention to becoming king of the Laminates.  He stopped at nothing to achieve his goal.  He used trickery, flattery, murder, and lies.  And he was successful.  

Mormon also spends a significant amount of time.telling us about Captain Moroni (Alma 43, 44, 46, 48).  We know he was a talented Captain,  that he had a strong sense of right, and that he hated bloodshed.  He had a testimony of Jesus Christ and was willing to defend that testimony with weapons and his life.  He shared his testimony and reminded the Nephites what was important: our God, our religion and freedom, our peace, and our families.

These two men had many encounters, but what struck me was what happened before they met for the second time.  "Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God" (Alma 48:7).  

The Book of Mormon goes on to say that Moroni prepared his Cities, strengthened the armies, erected forts, and made their previously weak spots strengths.  "And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians" (Alma 48:10).

Moroni knew Amalekiah was out there.  He knew what this wicked man was capable of, and he knew that Amalekiah was out to destroy everything the Nephites believed in.  He knew that his people needed to be prepared, not only physically, but also faithfully for the long, bloody war that was about to come.  

Sisters, we are also at war.  This war began in the premortal life.  We chose then to follow our Savior and to fight against the devil and his angels.  Satan has been preparing for a long time, seeking to overthrow the kingdom and to rule over us.  He is using deceit, flattery, and lies, hoping to murder the souls of those belonging to the Betallion of God.  He wants us, he wants our husbands, and he wants our children.

But Jesus Christ also wants us, our husbands, and our children.  He needs us to prepare, to strengthen ourselves to defend our God, our religion and freedom, our peace, and our families.  

For each of us, this will look a bit different.  It may take the form of significant conversations, teaching our sons the evils of pornography and helping them have a plan for when (not if) they encounter it.  It may look like having important conversations with our daughters about the sanctity of life and the miracles that happen when procreative powers are used appropriately,  and help them make a plan for when (not if) the temptations come to sell themselves short.  Preparation may look like teaching a stubborn 2 year old to fold his arms during prayers, or helping a 7 year old learn the Articles of Faith before baptism.

Personal preparation is vital also was we read and study the scriptures, pray fervently, attend the temple, and seek the Lord's guidance to make our weaknesses become strengths. (I have also heard that if couples will regularly do these things together, it will strengthen marriages and tie them together more firmly).  

I CHALLENGE YOU to know, by personal revelation and the power of the Holy Ghost,  what you need to do to prepare yourself, your husband, and your children against the onslaught of Satan.  Yes, it's that important.

BEFORE THE TIME OF PREPARATION HAS PAST

I hate to sound like a broken record, but after reading President Ballif's email this morning, I am feeling compelled to write about fire again.

In our two evacuations I have learned that things can happen really fast.  When the call comes to evacuate, the Prep time is over...ready or not, you have to go.

Please read over at least 1 of my previous posts about fire.  You can read them here, here, and here.

I CHALLENGE YOU to choose at least 1 thing to do today just in case those winds stir up a little too much excitement.  I will be putting together my list of things to grab if I have 10 minutes or less.  I would be in big trouble if I forgot my baby's transplant meds!

FIRE SEASON

Ready or not, here it is.  We had warm Santa Anna winds earlier this week and along with that came fire warnings.  I was always told that October is the biggest fire month.  With warm days and dry grass, it usually is not a matter of if, but when and where the next fire will erupt.  And it doesn't happen just in October.  We have been evacuated in May and December.  Two years ago, I believe the statistic was that 97% of our ward was evacuated in the Lilac Fire.  It can be pretty scary.

So, now is the time to be prepared.  There are a lot of things you could do, but I'll give just a few ideas that you can do quickly.  You can refer to this post, ( http://byesboos.blogspot.com/2018/08/last-week-we-drove-to-motherland-i.html?m=1)  and this one (https://byesboos.blogspot.com/2017/12/firewhat-we-learned-and-what-to-do.html?m=1) for other (and yes, more of the same) ideas.  Prepare as much as you feel you are able. Pick 1 or 2 things to do every week for a month (or longer!), and do not procrastinate.

(1) Talk about wildfire as a family.   Establish a meeting place if evacuation takes place and phone lines are down.  Know where you will evacuate to.  Designate a friend or family member within a reasonable distance to stay overnight with if needed. Talk to them about your plan.  If you plan to stay at a hotel, know ahead of time where you will go.  Review "worst case scenario" situations and how your family will deal with them.  

(2)  Gather vital records and insurance documents in an easy to grab and go manner.  Some prepare emergency binders, some have a portable file box that is easy to take quickly.

(3)  Make a list of important items you need to take if you are evacuated.  Put the most important items on the top and go down the list from there.  You may have 10 minutes, and you may have an hour to evacuate.   Your brain will turn off in an emergency, a list helps to make sure you don't forget and it gives clarity and focus.  Ideas are medications, diapers and baby food, your 4 year old's blanket he will not sleep without, vital documents, etc. Keep this list somewhere very easy to find, like taped to the inside of a kitchen cabinet.

(4)  Prepare your yard.  San Diego Fire requires 100 feet of defensible space around structures.   Keep weeds, grasses, etc mowed down. 

(5)  Prepare grab and go kits.  72 hour kits, complete with Pajamas and a change of clothes are great.  At least have a bag ready with food, water, and maybe a game or other time-passing item.  A car kit with food and water is a good idea too.  If you have mice around, like I do, consider getting cans of food with easy open tops.   Don't forget plastic silverware.   I promise if you are stuck in traffic, a cold can of soup will taste wonderful.

(6)  Store sentimental items in plastic bins.  Most of our homes are equipped with fire sprinklers, so we may come home to water as well as fire damage.  The water may save our homes, and plastic bins may save our stuff.

(7)  Close the windows.   Most homes burn from the inside out as embers are sucked into the house through open windows or roof vents.  San Diego building codes changed after the 08 fires to prevent attic vents from sucking in embers (make sure you get the newer vents if you plan on reroofing).  You cannot always control the vents, but you can control your windows. 

(8)  In the event of evacuation, tell your ministering sisters/brothers where you are going.  Also check in on those you minister to.  If you know the fire is close to a certain member, and you do not minister to them, please DO NOT call them.  Texting is OK, but they are probably trying to evacuate and getting phone calls from half the ward is distracting and hinders what they need to get done (ask me how I know...).  They will appreciate your texts and feel your love.

(9) Register your cell phone with the local reverse 911 service.  This provides information you want to know...like when it is time to leave and when you can go back home.

Of course, there is always more, but I CHALLENGE YOU to choose at least 3 things to do now to be prepared when fire comes.

MINDFUL SPIRITUAL PREPARATION

General Conference is in just a few short weeks.  We also have the blessing of having the Women's session this Conference.  Last year's prophetic council to the sisters of the church helped me in more ways than I could have ever imagined.  

President Nelson encouraged us sisters to read the Book of Mormon, specifically making note of the scriptures that talk about Jesus Christ.  I was slow starting, but with yellow pencil in hand, I read and I marked and felt like I was closer to my Savior than I had been for awhile.  I did not realize at the time how much I would need to draw on this newfound strength just a few short weeks after finishing the Book of Mormon.

Preparing for spiritual experiences takes time.  Actively praying and studying is an important part, but as I was reading this morning, a couple verses jumped out at me as another way to prepare:  Alma 7:15-16 states, "Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.

     And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me."

After reading these verses, it hit me that our daily actions of repenting and keeping the commandments also help us to prepare.  

I have found that as I do my part, expecting spiritual experiences and preparing for them, I am never disappointed.

General Conference will be great whether or not you come prepared, but I know that it can be life-changing if you put forth the effort to receive all that Heavenly Father has for you.

In addition to repentance and obeying the commandments, you can find some more Conference Prep ideas here (http://byesboos.blogspot.com/2018/10/recharge-weekend-ahead.html?m=1) and here (http://byesboos.blogspot.com/2018/03/come-with-question.html?m=1)

I CHALLENGE YOU to find ways to prepare to receive the word of the Lord. They do not need to be elaborate or take a ton of time.  I promise the the mindful effort you do put forth will be multiplied by the blessings and answers you receive.  

PREPARING FOR RAIN

One of my family's favorite movies is Facing The Giants, a Christian film about a High School Football coach who can't seem to do anything right.  In one part, an old fan who prays for the students in the school tells the coach a story and asks a question:  There were two farmers who desperately prayed for rain, but only one went out and prepared his fields to receive it.  Which do you think trusted God to send the rain?

I guarantee each of us is praying fervently for help.  I know often I have wanted Heavenly Father to just answer my prayer in one quick fix.  But most of the time, He doesn't work that way.  There is usually something we can do to help out.  I am reminded of the scripture in 2 Nephi 25:23 "...it is by grace we are saved after all we can do."

The Lord expects us to act.  This is a gospel of doing!  I guarantee Heavenly Father is eager to help us, but we have to show faith by preparing to receive his blessings. 

I challenge you to think about what you need most desperately.  I am sure you are already praying for it.  But think of what you can DO.  How can you prepare your fields to receive the rain?

As a side note:  This is Conference Weekend!  It is a great time to make sure you have new batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.