A preparedness lifestyle?

This is an article from the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News. We are not endorsing these products, just sharing the information and the author's point of view on food storage and emergency preparedness. 

Prudent living is the flip side of crisis living

By Sharon Haddock

Mormon Times
Published: 2010-04-21 

To be prepared is one thing.

To live prepared is another.

James Talmage Stevens, author of the "Family Preparedness Handbook" that has thus far sold more than 760,000 copies, says if people live a lifestyle that's based on being prepared, they won't have to worry.

They can relax and enjoy today, something he feels should be the goal of every Mormon and non-Mormon out there.

"I have separated myself from emergency preparedness," Stevens said from his home in San Antonio. "I focus on daily living habits based on principles of prudence and provident living.  I am an LDS author who's written with LDS principles a book for the whole world."

Stevens points out that even the LDS Church is shifting focus from stockpiling foodstuffs to developing a state of self-reliance, a state that includes having adequate education, good employment, financial resources, good physical health and charitability in addition to understanding home production and having adequate food storage.

"That's a quantum leap (in philosophy)," Stevens said.

Stevens warns that people who stress over preparing for the kinds of disasters they cannot control tend to go into debt to prepare and stock up on things they'll never use.

In his book, he has notes on almost every page urging caution when it comes to storing fuel, using herbs, essential oils, even wheat when the body isn't used to wheat.

"We all make mistakes, the codicils of warning in my book are mostly based on personal experience," Stevens said, noting that people ought to be working with what they store and learn.

Some of those caveats include:

• Store what you eat. Eat what you store. Rotate. Rotate. Rotate.
• Start now in your goal of utilizing wheat in every form. Break into the whole-wheat lifestyle with a gentle, guiding effort. Don't wait for a cataclysm -- you'll have more than one serious problem with which to deal!
• Do not put dry ice directly on wheat. The wheat will be frozen and become useless as food.
• Don't store white gas, kerosene or similar liquids in your home or garage.
• Any substance, including the mildest of herbs, can be toxic when used without intelligent and reasonable care.
• It is illegal and unlawful to prescribe essential oils for medicinal purposes without a license.

Stevens points out that there are various kinds of disasters -- including natural disasters and terrorist attacks -- most of which will never occur in most people's lifetimes. But all disasters -- especially disasters like getting fired or suffering a dramatic health problem -- change the world as one knows it and force adaptation.

He maintains that if people will follow four basic paradigms they'll succeed at ridding themselves of worry:

1. Bloom where one is planted; make the most of one's current situation.

2. Make one's home a personal convenience store with enough goods and commodities to provide for the unexpected.

3. Be able to "camp out" at home if necessary.

4. Get out of debt; be free.

"My book is written with principles anyone can use. I stay away from the scary stuff," he said. "That's why it's sold so well, I think."

The 71-year-old father and grandfather retired 10 years ago but felt prompted to get back into the fray and try again to spread what he feels is an all-important message.
Hence his 11th printing of the preparedness handbook (available at www.Making theBestofBasics.com).

At the same time, he's started an online radio broadcast (www.BlogTalkRadio.com
James-Talmage-Stevens and www.blogtalkradio.com/doctorprepper).

He echoes the sentiments of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which issued this statement from the First Presidency in February 2007:

"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to 'prepare every needful thing' (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings."

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."

Stevens suggests it's time for Americans to adopt a culture of preparedness.

"If you have had a difficult time in the past with the thought of amassing supplies for impending disasters, what if you shift your thinking to another level, away from the mentally and physically tiring activity of food storage?"

"What if you embrace the concept of accumulating an adequate supply of food, clothing and shelter as a way of everyday life -- a preparedness lifestyle? Suddenly it's neither so daunting nor so burdensome -- it becomes your routine -- the way you live on a daily basis. Then you can do it step by step."

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