Lay Up in Store

My thought on Bishop McMullin's talk "Lay Up in Store"

As I read the dreadful story of that “young man” I chuckled as I read “I still have nightmares about that chemistry class.”
I had a similar incident when I found out that vets also “opened up” animals and did surgery on them. I thought they just cuddled with them every day and who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be a vet! ~smile~
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
I was the RS president when 9-11 happened and even though it was horrific and I still weep when I see those pictures, I was not afraid. BTW—fear and sadness are not the same—I still wept and still weep for the families touched by the events of 9-11. Two of my cousins were supposed to be in the tower that day and subsequently lost their jobs and were jobless and even homeless for about 18 months until things started to get better for them and their young families.
9-11 was a Tuesday and that Wednesday I had to conduct a RS meeting. We of course changed our focus of the meeting, but there was an overwhelming since of unfear. New word I just made up, because it wasn’t “peace” we were feeling. We didn’t like what was happening but the Lord told each of us that no matter how this event shook out we and our families were going to be OK. We did not fear tomorrow. Those that are prepared need not fear—PLAIN AND SIMPLE!
This goes spiritually as well as physically, financially and emotionally.
I love the bullet points he give us—yes this was to the men—but it applies to all of us.
1. faith! Nuf said!
2. dejunk! When you have to worry about other things and not the people in your life… Likewise debt.
3. storage. I love how he says “Wives are instrumental in this work!” DUH, but he adds, “but they need husbands who lead out in family preparedness. I love the BSA for this. My kids are working on Emergency Preparedness for one of their Merit Badges. I’m so thankful for the plan the church has asked us to use and follow all these many decades. I also remember that there is no law given that isn’t spiritual in nature. As I have thought about that as I can yet another jar of sauce or fruit or whatever. This will keep my body going, so why am I at the church cannery doing this? WHY if there is no temporal commands? Obedience goes a long way in storing up blessings. Maybe someday I will tell my story.

I just love the quotes he gives! It is so wonderful to know that the Lord and his chosen servants care not only for our eternal salvation but that of sustaining life while here. I have always loved the scripture he quotes at the end, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.”

OK, I just read what I wrote last week and now after coming home from church and looking this over I have so much to add. We just had our 5th Sunday combined 3rd hour meeting with the priesthood. It was on Emergency Preparedness. I am so thankful our stake takes this seriously. As many of you know where I live, we were without power for over 6 days last year when winds whipped through our part of the country and knocked EVERYTHING out. That was in December. Just two months previously our stake had held an emergency drill. On a Monday (FHE) we all had had a terrible earthquake here and had to follow our ward’s (and stake) communication plan and then live the rest of the night as if without power. So many people realized that day that they were not ready for a major problem. They readied themselves and come December’s powerful storms, very few families needed to be “rescued”. It was so awesome. Of course during the real thing we realized how long six days without power is and fixed a few things that were all missing from our preparedness. I’m so thankful we get to do it yet again….BUT…last year’s drill I wasn’t to pleased with. I was struggling with news that my sister had 6 weeks to live, in fact the day before the drill I had just flown home. My mother who has Alzheimer’s was at my house and couldn’t understand what was going on and kept turning on lights. It was very difficult, and I was not happy with it. But in real life, do emergencies happen when it convenient? NO!

I look forward to Sept 17th and our drill and I look forward to our neighborhood emergency meeting at my house after labor day (this is my kids doing!). I know I might not be 100% prepared, but the Lord will bless me for the steps I have made and will chastise me for the ones I should have made and he asked me to make but didn’t and he will still love me and help me be a better person.