Food for thought
Why should we grow our own food when we can conveniently and easily go to the store? Or, for some, just drop by a restaurant to eat out?
Personally I think that learning to grow, harvest, and store our own food are valuable skills--skills which I lack, but I'm trying to learn. I believe these skill will likely become critical in the near future because they will likely become essential skills to survival.
The fact is many modern day prophets have counseled the saints to have their own gardens. It is certainly part of becoming self sufficient, and it can help when a family passes through more challenging times.
But there is another reality. We are seeing the Lord's warning in Doctrine and Covenants section 89 verse 4 come to pass on multiple fronts.
"Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—"
Of course this generally seems to be applied to tobacco and alcohol. There has been ample proof that the tobacco companies manipulated data, studies, and unethically did everything they could to promote tobacco use. And there is evidence that alcohol producers were behind the push to repeal prohibition (there were other factors as well, which I won't go into at this time).
In the last few years there have been studies showing similar fraudulent, unethical, and misleading actions when it comes to sugar and fat. Certainly excess fats, and unnatural fats, can be harmful, but the truth is fat is healthier than sugar. Yet, fat was demonized. Fat was removed from products, and, often sugar, or a sugar substitute, was added so something could be proclaimed as "fat free" or "reduced fat."
The problem is sugar, specifically refined sugar, is unhealthy for the body. Fat can help satisfy hunger faster and better, resulting in less being eaten. Sugar does not satisfy like fat, so more calories are often consumed.
However, there is more than just adding sugar to our food. The majority of our food production, particularly that which is done on a mass scale, has resulted in high production, but low value food. And, while many may claim the goal was cheaper food, the real goal was for food producers to make more money, and it has cheapened food at the expense of physical and even mental health.
This video, called "Food: Weapon of MASS Destruction," was put out by Suspicious Observers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpIN-8Q9Ahw
The point is, the "evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men" have brought about food with substantially lower nutritional content.
I don't think the men behind the various companies had it in mind to destroy the nutritional content of food, but rather their intent was to make money and to make as much of it as they can. But it's highly probable that many of those conspiring men probably don't care about the harm done to the environment or the food just as long as they increase revenue.
I'm sure many in the sugar industry knew the addictive nature of sugar, and probably some of the unhealthy side effects, but they probably didn't know how bad it really is. And, many probably don't care either. To them their goal was probably to utilize the addictive nature of sugar to boost sales.
The point is, we need to become less reliant on companies providing food for us, companies whose main goal is profit and who really don't have our best interest as a goal. We need to become more self-reliant and find more trustworthy food sources.
And for those who didn't watch the video, it doesn't really matter if you eat "organic" or not because the problems still exist. For the most part, "organic" is just a way to extract more money from the customer, even though the nutritional content is basically the same, although there may be less pesticide (or similar) residue.
The best option is to grow your own organic food. This is what we have started trying to do. Or find small producers who use more sustainable and responsible growing practices.
Regarding our gardening experience, it's not easy, and it's basically been experimental. But, we're hoping in a few years to have a better handle on it, probably just in time for things in the world to go down the drain. The biggest problem we have is time.
I've mentioned this before, but I also believe we are into for an extended period of famine. Very likely worldwide.
There are already places experiencing severe droughts. Other places have had crops damaged or destroyed as a result of extreme weather events. These events will increase in frequency.
Have you noticed how the prices on most food has tended to increase more than what the rate of inflation has been over the last several years? Sometimes it looks like the price has gone down, but often the case is the packaging was redone and there is less in the package.
If it weren't for government subsidies in some areas of agriculture, we would probably see much higher prices. But there isn't much the government can do when crops fail, particularly if crops are reduced in multiple places.
Some Church members think they will be able to go to the Church for assistance, but it is likely that by the time a famine is bad enough that just about everyone is feeling the sting, the store houses will be diminished.
We have been counseled to become prepared. It is not the Church's responsibility to take care of the members. It is our responsibility to take care of our families, and, hopefully, store up extra.
There are, unfortunately, too many members who think having the latest recreational vehicle, electronic toy, newer car, bigger house, etc. are more important than making sure they can provide food for their family when the time comes that food is not available at the stores. It will be a great source of guilt and shame on those parents when their children are looking at them to provide food, but they are unable to. They will feel useless and realize the stuff they have is worthless compared to the ability to provide for their family. Those parents will realize they wasted their opportunity to prepare.
But will they learn when the famine subsides?
Maybe, for a short time. But most people too often quickly forget, particularly when times are improving, and the outlook is positive.
So, what if after the famine conditions improve, mostly due to more people (briefly) returning to God?
But, what if worse events are just beyond the rosy horizon?
If the people forget God (as most people tend to do), destruction will come and those who remain will find dire circumstances.
But is it really fair for those who have prepared, and who continued to become prepared, to be faced with being forced to share what they have stored? Most will probably be willing to share, even though that would mean there would not be enough.
Think of Noah. When he and his family went into the ark, the Lord closed it up.
"And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in." (Genesis 7:16)
I don't take credit for noticing this, as I read it somewhere. But it is interesting that the Lord "shut him in."
Most likely they heard the people screaming, yelling, even banging on the wood as the flood waters quickly rose. But Noah and his family could not do anything, even though they may have wanted to.
They had made the preparations for the flood, and the people were warned for many years. The floods didn't come until "the six hundredth year of Noah’s life" (Genesis 7:11). So, we might safely assume the people had warnings to repent for most of that time, either from Noah or the other prophets.
As a side note, Suspicious Observers has put out some interesting videos on starwater, which provide some interesting possibilities for how a lot of water might get created from the atmosphere.
http://www.suspicious0bservers.org/starwater/
Anyway, it would not surprise me if the Lord leads out those who are prepared--those who will listen to his voice--and, essentially, shuts them away so the wicked, and those who were too prideful to listen to the voice of the Lord's servants, are not able to take away from the righteous. This fits into the scenario of an invitation to gather, before a time of great trial and tribulation.
Personally I think that learning to grow, harvest, and store our own food are valuable skills--skills which I lack, but I'm trying to learn. I believe these skill will likely become critical in the near future because they will likely become essential skills to survival.
The fact is many modern day prophets have counseled the saints to have their own gardens. It is certainly part of becoming self sufficient, and it can help when a family passes through more challenging times.
But there is another reality. We are seeing the Lord's warning in Doctrine and Covenants section 89 verse 4 come to pass on multiple fronts.
"Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—"
Of course this generally seems to be applied to tobacco and alcohol. There has been ample proof that the tobacco companies manipulated data, studies, and unethically did everything they could to promote tobacco use. And there is evidence that alcohol producers were behind the push to repeal prohibition (there were other factors as well, which I won't go into at this time).
In the last few years there have been studies showing similar fraudulent, unethical, and misleading actions when it comes to sugar and fat. Certainly excess fats, and unnatural fats, can be harmful, but the truth is fat is healthier than sugar. Yet, fat was demonized. Fat was removed from products, and, often sugar, or a sugar substitute, was added so something could be proclaimed as "fat free" or "reduced fat."
The problem is sugar, specifically refined sugar, is unhealthy for the body. Fat can help satisfy hunger faster and better, resulting in less being eaten. Sugar does not satisfy like fat, so more calories are often consumed.
However, there is more than just adding sugar to our food. The majority of our food production, particularly that which is done on a mass scale, has resulted in high production, but low value food. And, while many may claim the goal was cheaper food, the real goal was for food producers to make more money, and it has cheapened food at the expense of physical and even mental health.
This video, called "Food: Weapon of MASS Destruction," was put out by Suspicious Observers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpIN-8Q9Ahw
The point is, the "evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men" have brought about food with substantially lower nutritional content.
I don't think the men behind the various companies had it in mind to destroy the nutritional content of food, but rather their intent was to make money and to make as much of it as they can. But it's highly probable that many of those conspiring men probably don't care about the harm done to the environment or the food just as long as they increase revenue.
I'm sure many in the sugar industry knew the addictive nature of sugar, and probably some of the unhealthy side effects, but they probably didn't know how bad it really is. And, many probably don't care either. To them their goal was probably to utilize the addictive nature of sugar to boost sales.
The point is, we need to become less reliant on companies providing food for us, companies whose main goal is profit and who really don't have our best interest as a goal. We need to become more self-reliant and find more trustworthy food sources.
And for those who didn't watch the video, it doesn't really matter if you eat "organic" or not because the problems still exist. For the most part, "organic" is just a way to extract more money from the customer, even though the nutritional content is basically the same, although there may be less pesticide (or similar) residue.
The best option is to grow your own organic food. This is what we have started trying to do. Or find small producers who use more sustainable and responsible growing practices.
Regarding our gardening experience, it's not easy, and it's basically been experimental. But, we're hoping in a few years to have a better handle on it, probably just in time for things in the world to go down the drain. The biggest problem we have is time.
I've mentioned this before, but I also believe we are into for an extended period of famine. Very likely worldwide.
There are already places experiencing severe droughts. Other places have had crops damaged or destroyed as a result of extreme weather events. These events will increase in frequency.
Have you noticed how the prices on most food has tended to increase more than what the rate of inflation has been over the last several years? Sometimes it looks like the price has gone down, but often the case is the packaging was redone and there is less in the package.
If it weren't for government subsidies in some areas of agriculture, we would probably see much higher prices. But there isn't much the government can do when crops fail, particularly if crops are reduced in multiple places.
Some Church members think they will be able to go to the Church for assistance, but it is likely that by the time a famine is bad enough that just about everyone is feeling the sting, the store houses will be diminished.
We have been counseled to become prepared. It is not the Church's responsibility to take care of the members. It is our responsibility to take care of our families, and, hopefully, store up extra.
There are, unfortunately, too many members who think having the latest recreational vehicle, electronic toy, newer car, bigger house, etc. are more important than making sure they can provide food for their family when the time comes that food is not available at the stores. It will be a great source of guilt and shame on those parents when their children are looking at them to provide food, but they are unable to. They will feel useless and realize the stuff they have is worthless compared to the ability to provide for their family. Those parents will realize they wasted their opportunity to prepare.
But will they learn when the famine subsides?
Maybe, for a short time. But most people too often quickly forget, particularly when times are improving, and the outlook is positive.
So, what if after the famine conditions improve, mostly due to more people (briefly) returning to God?
But, what if worse events are just beyond the rosy horizon?
If the people forget God (as most people tend to do), destruction will come and those who remain will find dire circumstances.
But is it really fair for those who have prepared, and who continued to become prepared, to be faced with being forced to share what they have stored? Most will probably be willing to share, even though that would mean there would not be enough.
Think of Noah. When he and his family went into the ark, the Lord closed it up.
"And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in." (Genesis 7:16)
I don't take credit for noticing this, as I read it somewhere. But it is interesting that the Lord "shut him in."
Most likely they heard the people screaming, yelling, even banging on the wood as the flood waters quickly rose. But Noah and his family could not do anything, even though they may have wanted to.
They had made the preparations for the flood, and the people were warned for many years. The floods didn't come until "the six hundredth year of Noah’s life" (Genesis 7:11). So, we might safely assume the people had warnings to repent for most of that time, either from Noah or the other prophets.
As a side note, Suspicious Observers has put out some interesting videos on starwater, which provide some interesting possibilities for how a lot of water might get created from the atmosphere.
http://www.suspicious0bservers.org/starwater/
Anyway, it would not surprise me if the Lord leads out those who are prepared--those who will listen to his voice--and, essentially, shuts them away so the wicked, and those who were too prideful to listen to the voice of the Lord's servants, are not able to take away from the righteous. This fits into the scenario of an invitation to gather, before a time of great trial and tribulation.
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