WHAT EVERYONE FORGETS...

People fret about being able to rotate their food storage.  They lose sleep over how much food they're going to throw away at the end of the year.  But they forget that much of food storage is 'famine storage', and that the foods you rotate are 'pantry storage.'

Pantry storage should be acquired a little at a time with each trip to the grocery store.  I generally choose a meal (usually the one I'm shopping for at the time) and pick up one or two extras of each ingredient.  Spaghetti is an easy one.  Two or three extra cans will only cost a few dollars.  Get the same number of extra bags of noodles and you have a couple of extra meals in your pantry for another time.  Its easy and you only buy what you eat.  You can even buy cloth grocery bags and store the ingredients in one bag labeled "Spaghetti".

Famine storage is basics like wheat, honey, rice, beans, salt, etc...  These items have a fairly long shelf life if stored properly and are basically for survival.  As unappetizing as they may sound, you will be GRATEFUL you have them in the event of a worldwide catastrophe, which has not only been prophesied, but signs show it is well on its way.  You can believe me about that, or not, I don't care.  But as for me and my house- We will be ready, we will share, and we will let the Lord make up the difference.  Have we not seen the miracle of the loaves and the fishes in our lives already?  With the law of tithing I experienced this miracle many times, but it was predicated on my obedience to the law itself.  It will be the same with the law of the harvest.  Those who do their best will be aided. Those who slumbered and slept, will die.  Simple as that.  They will have no oil in their lamps and the doors will be closed with the pronouncement "I know you not".

The greatest hazard most people face is thinking they will not waste their money on a lot of food storage (though they will buy some, and aren't they being wonderfully obedient) They do so because they believe their neighbors, or the church, will step in and feed them when their food runs out.  I fear for such as this.  The Lord will not know them, nor they Him.  Were the publicans fed by the loaves and fishes?  Lets argue they were in the crowd and physically tasted of the miracle.  Good for them.  But what did it benefit them?  They didn't experience a particle of the spirituality of the event.  And neither will those who place the burden of their survival on someone else's back.

For those of you valiant souls who are doing all you can (like my sister Deanna and those just starting out)--be at peace, do your best and don't worry about what you cannot do.  The atonement has always covered what we cannot, and it will in this instance.  Make sure you have your long term storage in first.  Those who are included in the first call to the tent cities will be required to have a full one year storage.  Those who wait for the second call will make it with only the clothes on their backs, if they make it at all.  They will live in these tent cities for a year, if not longer, and will from there be sent to build the city of Zion.

What?  Did you suppose Zion would be established by those who treat lightly the counsels of the Lord?  It didn't work for the early pioneers, nor the children of Israel.  We are being held to a higher standard and I fear for those who don't sweat blood in their efforts to obey.  Having said that, I know that there are those who truly do try their best, whose lives have consisted of circumstances beyond their control, who will not be judged harshly, and I am glad for them. Let the Lord require what he will.  It is not our place to judge.  Remember the parable of the laborer?  Some worked the whole day, some came in the last hour, yet all received the same wage.  Think about it.

There are many food calculators out there and they all say something different.  I use the one at www.areyoupreaperd.com. It is free and seems to be more reasonable.  You can also go to www.providentliving.org They have a food storage calculator as well.  Compare the two and pick the one that feels best to you.  Then get started.  And I hope to see you in Zion.