Do Instead of Plan to Do

If you are like me, your list for the New Year has long since been made. Daily you are working at those New Year’s resolutions and nightly as you lay there in bed trying to fall asleep, your back is aching. No doubt those resolutions are really good ones and our efforts do improve our homes and lives. I applaud each of us for getting at the changes in our lives that are so needed. But the best looking body, kids, and home on the planet would be of little good to us in a disaster.

At the top of each of our New Year’s lists has got to be some effort towards preparing for tough times ahead. Hey, we voted to come to this earth and were excited about it. I think we even voted to come now in the world’s history. Disaster, economic instability and troubles are all apart of being born to this exact moment in time. We have been warned, and warned again to prepare for the events that most assuredly will precede the second coming of the Lord. The wise ones do and the others only listen and plan to do someday.

I don’t know about you, but I really want to get my household ready. Through the years I have collected a very big file of 72 hr. preparedness lists.. Always knowing that I will do them someday, I kept collecting them. Then I was called to a family preparedness calling in my ward. It was then the pile of lists came out of hibernation. I sat them in front of me and was overwhelmed at how they differed and how many great and varied ideas they contained. I decided to glean the best from all of them and make one huge list of the best items to have in our 72 hr. kit.

In my life, I found that collecting it all at once is not only too much work for my busy schedule, but also too much expense on our budget. So I divided the list into months of the year. This way a reasonable, steady pace for accumulating items would be possible. I presented this one year 72 hr. kit plan to the women in our ward, who really loved this easy method. Some of our 18 year old sisters were the first to do it and found it affordable and fun.

Each month I will be sharing a new list with you. By this time next year, a “killer” 72 kit will no longer be a great future goal you have, but will be sitting securely ready, somewhere in your home. Wow, just that easy!

May I suggest that one family home evening a month be dedicated in part to the sharing of this list. Then all members of the family can feel the joy of accomplishment and the blessings of following the admonitions of the prophet. I will suggest an opening song, a thought or quote by the brethren on the subject of preparedness and then give the month’s list. I hope your family really gets the spirit and joy of preparing together. Make it fun. Sometimes I will even add activities that will help your family prepare for tough things to come. Most of all, I have a testimony of doing the things the prophet has asked. The Lord will provide for and bless those who have done the things His prophets have asked of them. “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

January Preparedness Family Home Evening

Opening Song: Follow the Prophet (Children’s Songbook, 110–11)

Thought: “The Lord will make it possible, if we make a firm commitment, for every Latter-day Saint family to have a year’s supply of food and reserves. All we have to do is to decide, commit to do it, and to keep the commandment. Miracles will take place; the way will be opened, and next April we will have storage areas filled. We will prove through our actions, our willingness to follow our beloved Prophet and the Brethren, which will bring security to us and our families. And then we can say, there is a God in Heaven whom we have obeyed. Do you suppose He would abandon those who have kept His commandments? He said, “If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” Bishop Vaughn Featherstone, Ensign, May 1976.
(Look at how long ago that admonition and promise was given and it is still in force and is still being issued today)


List One (set these things aside and we will add to it each month)

A backpack, duffle bag or small suitcase for each member of the family…. Items should be divided for equal distribution of weight as well as consideration for each member’s age and health (check second hand stores for these)

A box of gallon size zip-lock bags which will be used as we collect and separate other items for our kit

Extra tooth brushes for each family member

One tube of toothpaste

Bottle of aspirin

Bottle of non-aspirin pain reliever

Roll of toilet paper

Hand crank (self generating) flashlight or regular flashlight and
New package of batteries

Small note pad, pencil and pen

One package of baby or adult wipes

One bottle of hand sanitizer

Package of hard candy or 2 rolls of Lifesavers type candy


Please note: Look at the dollar stores before making most of these purchases. I have been surprised at how many good items I have found there on these lists. Generic brands do not always mean inferior products. For example, aspirin is pretty much aspirin. Good luck and have fun with this goal this year! These lists are not providing for your families overall food storage program. It is a great idea to make monthly goals in that department too. For guidelines on what to store and how much your family will need, go to www.lds.org.