How
"...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." -- D&C 38:30
This statement is used frequently by many Latter-day Saints. I was raised knowing it (it was, in fact, printed on cans of food storage from the PermaPack company my dad worked for briefly.) and it has motivated me more than once to put my life in order. When I felt potent fear, I would find what I could "prepare" for to assuage that fear.
When the Twin Towers fell, a lot of possibilities were dire and I felt fear. I feared that I was too late preparing. But worst of all, I felt an irrational fear. One that did not seem to have a specific cause. That is the worst kind because it is paralyzing and difficult to overcome. Since then, I have realized that irrational fears come naturally, instinctively, but are quick to fade if all else is ready. If it does not fade, them there is something left unattended.
What
As a kid, I thought that "preparedness" was a temporal (physical) state. Food storage, emergency supplies, camping equipment, etc. Scouts expanded that view a little, but it wasn't until I read D&C 38 that I realized how all-encompassing "preparedness" really is.
We can prepare in body, mind, spirit, family, society, race, culture, place, and time. The greatest challenge is knowing how to prepare—what the danger is and how to meet it. If you believe in a benevolent god, then you can believe that you may always be sufficiently prepared, for anything, if you are observant and listening wisely. What or who are you listening to? Signs and prophets.
Why
I believe that prophets are all around us. They are not necessarily religious; they come from all walks of life. They are not perfect or infallible and most do not see themselves as prophets in the traditional sense. But if inspiration moves them to action and to "preach" their understanding, we should listen respectfully and evaluate the message. There are also false prophets out there who preach to deceive, get gain, increase power and influence, or justify their own vices. Learning to discern between the two is paramount to hearing the truth in a sea of voices.
There are also signs, indicators, trends, a wealth of information that can make sense to the attentive and wise. Unlike prophets, who speak something you can agree or disagree with, signs are often harder to read because they are enmeshed in layers of interpretation, innuendo, contradiction and even deliberate falsification. Learning to sift through them is an art and the gifted may well become prophets for the rest of us.
For me, both signs and prophets have an added spiritual dimension whereby I can glean truth and a perfect understanding. Through inspiration of the Spirit, I am guided and enlightened directly from God, if I am humble and pure. Such enlightenment is sacred. But I may feel prompted to share it, at times. In those moments, I am also acting as a prophet, as are all others to do likewise (whether they realize God's influence or not).
Signs are also not as random as we may assume. Some are orchestrated, others are clear "fruits of the harvest" based on divine laws
Where
What I am attempting to do here is collect my thoughts, form and share my opinions, and catalog the various solutions and sources I come across. You may not agree on anything at all, and yet you may still benefit from something here. That is my hope anyway.
Pages will be formed around topics. I will try to include:
"...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear." -- D&C 38:30
This statement is used frequently by many Latter-day Saints. I was raised knowing it (it was, in fact, printed on cans of food storage from the PermaPack company my dad worked for briefly.) and it has motivated me more than once to put my life in order. When I felt potent fear, I would find what I could "prepare" for to assuage that fear.
When the Twin Towers fell, a lot of possibilities were dire and I felt fear. I feared that I was too late preparing. But worst of all, I felt an irrational fear. One that did not seem to have a specific cause. That is the worst kind because it is paralyzing and difficult to overcome. Since then, I have realized that irrational fears come naturally, instinctively, but are quick to fade if all else is ready. If it does not fade, them there is something left unattended.
What
As a kid, I thought that "preparedness" was a temporal (physical) state. Food storage, emergency supplies, camping equipment, etc. Scouts expanded that view a little, but it wasn't until I read D&C 38 that I realized how all-encompassing "preparedness" really is.
We can prepare in body, mind, spirit, family, society, race, culture, place, and time. The greatest challenge is knowing how to prepare—what the danger is and how to meet it. If you believe in a benevolent god, then you can believe that you may always be sufficiently prepared, for anything, if you are observant and listening wisely. What or who are you listening to? Signs and prophets.
Why
I believe that prophets are all around us. They are not necessarily religious; they come from all walks of life. They are not perfect or infallible and most do not see themselves as prophets in the traditional sense. But if inspiration moves them to action and to "preach" their understanding, we should listen respectfully and evaluate the message. There are also false prophets out there who preach to deceive, get gain, increase power and influence, or justify their own vices. Learning to discern between the two is paramount to hearing the truth in a sea of voices.
There are also signs, indicators, trends, a wealth of information that can make sense to the attentive and wise. Unlike prophets, who speak something you can agree or disagree with, signs are often harder to read because they are enmeshed in layers of interpretation, innuendo, contradiction and even deliberate falsification. Learning to sift through them is an art and the gifted may well become prophets for the rest of us.
For me, both signs and prophets have an added spiritual dimension whereby I can glean truth and a perfect understanding. Through inspiration of the Spirit, I am guided and enlightened directly from God, if I am humble and pure. Such enlightenment is sacred. But I may feel prompted to share it, at times. In those moments, I am also acting as a prophet, as are all others to do likewise (whether they realize God's influence or not).
Signs are also not as random as we may assume. Some are orchestrated, others are clear "fruits of the harvest" based on divine laws
Where
What I am attempting to do here is collect my thoughts, form and share my opinions, and catalog the various solutions and sources I come across. You may not agree on anything at all, and yet you may still benefit from something here. That is my hope anyway.
Pages will be formed around topics. I will try to include:
- risks with their likelihoods
- solutions with sources, reviews, and plans of action
- historical examples for a dose of reality
- sprinkling of faith and spirituality for perspective
