Reminder for Preparedness: Get Food Storage
I started this post back during September, which was National Preparedness Month.
We have been getting frequent reminders of natural disasters through reports on hurricanes, fires, flooding, and other disasters. These should equate to reminders to get our own preparations in order.
Besides the big news stories, there are other problems boiling around the world. Drought conditions, fires, flooding, and pests are destroying crops in many locations.
Most of us take food for granted. We take grocery shopping for granted: we head to a store, pick up food, and take it home. Too many families do not even have a week's worth of food in their home. Somewhere I recall that most have only a few days worth of food on hand, especially when you consider most families eat out a lot.
Unfortunately, too many people believe the government, the Church, or even neighbors (who supposedly have food storage) will come in to save the day where food and supplies are needed in emergency situations.
For now, that may be the case.
But, what happens when the following conditions occur: increasing number of major natural disasters combined with increasing crop failures, resulting in a long-term food shortage (famine).
Even with the good intentions of the Church to provide assistance wherever and whenever it can, there is a limited supply of food. Likewise, the government cannot make food out of nothing, and when the supplies are gone, there is nothing to replace them. All the money in the world cannot buy food if there is no food available.
This is why it is of absolute importance that families have sufficient food stored. We need to become self-reliant and not expect to be reliant on the government or Church in time of need, because there may be nothing available at that time. Or, the government may be willing to provide, but at a cost to your privacy.
Most people think of food storage as being needed in case of a short-term emergency, or a job loss. But most of these people do not consider the possibility that food may not be available in the local store. If food is available it will be in short supply, and may be costly, or strictly rationed. Normalcy bias and change aversion make most people not even consider these possibilities.
For most people, their worst case scenario involves a long term emergency situation, such as a job loss or aftermath of a major disaster. And for most natural disasters, many see the emergency situation, and need for food storage, as being very limited in time, a few months at the longest.
The real worst case scenario is a long-term, and increasingly severe famine, especially if food shortages are worldwide. It's a scenario that most believe extremely unlikely. Most people believe crop failures in one part of the world can be made up with over production in other parts. But, what if world reaching famine happens?
From what I've read, the pioneers of Utah were advised to have seven years' worth of food storage.
Over time, that decreased to two years, then one year.
Food storage and preparation is talked about in more general terms now. The counsel for long term food storage is still one year. However, because the Church is very international, and in some countries and/or cities there are laws against food hoarding, long term food storage may not be legal. Still, members should be preparing the best they can for however long of period they can.
If you live in a place that allows for it, one year's worth of food storage is minimal. More will be better. And on top of food, seeds and the ability (including place) to plant, cultivate, harvest, and store will become valuable. Along the gardening lines, even if you don't plant much of a garden it would be better to start practicing now so you can be better prepared when you really need to rely on it.
I could certainly be wrong in my assessment, but over the last couple years I have read an increasing number of articles related to droughts, famine, crop failures, and similar reports. Most of these do not make the front page, or lead article, of any news reporting organization.
But this does not change the apparent fact that conditions are ripening for increasing famine conditions around the world, including the United States of America.
If conditions continue in their apparent track, we will see increasing reports of drought, fire, floods, extreme weather events, and natural disasters destroy crops or reduce production. A number of these events will likely make it to the news, but the reports won't relate the event to a national or worldwide problem.
The US government will step in where it can to provide varying subsidies to keep farmers happy and keep food prices affordable for consumers.
Over the next year (2018), there may even be some crops that do extremely well in some places, but the whole picture won't be so rosy. These few crops which do well, will likely keep optimism up for the future of others. They will also offset the rapid price increase which would otherwise follow the following year.
I suspect that 2018 (at least into the summer) will be the last year we can affordably build up food storage. Hopefully that trend will last into the fall.
It is probable that you will still be able to buy food storage into 2019, especially if certain areas had overproduction of crops in 2018.
I'm not convinced prices will increase dramatically from 2018 into the summer of 2019. This is partly because I expect some crops to do well in some areas and government subsidies will help offset costs and prevent extraordinary price increases. But I do expect that there will be increasing prices of foods as we enter into the fall of 2019.
By 2020, things will probably be looking grim. And, if an economic depression hits (most likely in fall 2019, though possibly in 2020) the situation will become dire. These conditions will sweep Democrats into the majority in both houses of Congress (if they don't already have the majority from the 2018 elections), and will likely see a Democrat elected as president.
2021 will be bad, but there may be signs in the winter that will give hope for 2022, which I think will have better crops and harvests. Things will probably be significantly improved by 2023, which will make most people think 2024 will be even better. 2022-3 will probably shows signs of a strengthening economy as well.
It could be that a personal bio-ID chip may be initiated and instituted during the 2021-23 time frame (possibly started in 2020, but most likely it will wait until the new administration begins in 2021). This would be used particularly for those in government welfare programs to make getting food easier, and to make sure people don't cheat the system. Those who don't opt-in to the bio-ID program will likely have a incomprehensible load of paperwork hassle in order to get their government assistance without the bio-ID. Obviously most will go along with the bio-ID. And those who don't have sufficient food storage, and need government assistance, may face that dilemma about whether to have sufficient food for their children, or see their children hungry.
If things go along this time frame, 2023 will be a year to restore your food storage. Most will not think or not want to do that. But, if the gathering hasn't happened sooner, 2024 will probably see a gathering invitation come to the faithful saints. If food storage and supplies were not replenished during the prior year, then conditions will be harder for them (though still easier when compared to what those who remain behind will likely go through).
However, while I think we have a year, maybe up to two, before conditions get bad, I do believe time is short for increasing our preparations.
And, while it would be nice if a gathering call would happen sooner, I believe the saints will have to face other trials first, as part of the sifting process.
One of those trials is likely a famine--not necessarily where there is no food, but most likely food shortages and most people not being able to get what they have been used to getting, or as much.
So, even though we may have a year or more, a lesson I have learned is it takes time to become prepared. You cannot expect to be able to become instantly prepared, nor can you expect to get all the food storage and supplies you need in one shopping trip.
Certainly if you have the money, you can buy the food storage and supplies you may think you need, but it still doesn't change the fact that you need to continually re-evaluate what you have and what you need.
And it would be good to not put off buying food storage for logical reasons. In the normal financial world, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future (due to inflation). So, barring the less likely scenario that food will be cheaper in the future, it's cheaper to buy food using today's dollar than to wait until next year's dollar, which typically has less buying power.
Food storage is an investment. Especially long-term storage. It's an investment that will put food on your table, for your children. Stocks, gold, and even savings accounts cannot buy food if none is available.
The wise will not procrastinate their preparations. They will be building their food and supplies as they can.
We are doing what we can. Money is a scare resource, so I'm glad we really got a good head start a few years ago.
--
My "predictions" are based on comments attributed to John Koyle, combined with my research on various conditions around the world, along with the notion that God frequently uses famine prior to a possible destruction--if the people don't repent--and America has not recently experience much famine.
As with all of my "predictions" or event sequences, I have not received any dreams or visions, nor have I received any actual dates. If I happen to be right, or even close, it is because God gave me the gift of an analytical mind and has guided me in my research and conclusions.
If I'm wrong, it is my due to my own inabilities and mistakes.
I would like to be wrong. I'd like to have many years left, and be able to work and retire, to have a "normal" life.
But, I don't think a "normal" life is very likely.
And even if I am wrong in the timing and/or sequence of events, I am not wrong in encouraging preparation and building up our food storage.
We have been getting frequent reminders of natural disasters through reports on hurricanes, fires, flooding, and other disasters. These should equate to reminders to get our own preparations in order.
Besides the big news stories, there are other problems boiling around the world. Drought conditions, fires, flooding, and pests are destroying crops in many locations.
Most of us take food for granted. We take grocery shopping for granted: we head to a store, pick up food, and take it home. Too many families do not even have a week's worth of food in their home. Somewhere I recall that most have only a few days worth of food on hand, especially when you consider most families eat out a lot.
Unfortunately, too many people believe the government, the Church, or even neighbors (who supposedly have food storage) will come in to save the day where food and supplies are needed in emergency situations.
For now, that may be the case.
But, what happens when the following conditions occur: increasing number of major natural disasters combined with increasing crop failures, resulting in a long-term food shortage (famine).
Even with the good intentions of the Church to provide assistance wherever and whenever it can, there is a limited supply of food. Likewise, the government cannot make food out of nothing, and when the supplies are gone, there is nothing to replace them. All the money in the world cannot buy food if there is no food available.
This is why it is of absolute importance that families have sufficient food stored. We need to become self-reliant and not expect to be reliant on the government or Church in time of need, because there may be nothing available at that time. Or, the government may be willing to provide, but at a cost to your privacy.
Most people think of food storage as being needed in case of a short-term emergency, or a job loss. But most of these people do not consider the possibility that food may not be available in the local store. If food is available it will be in short supply, and may be costly, or strictly rationed. Normalcy bias and change aversion make most people not even consider these possibilities.
For most people, their worst case scenario involves a long term emergency situation, such as a job loss or aftermath of a major disaster. And for most natural disasters, many see the emergency situation, and need for food storage, as being very limited in time, a few months at the longest.
The real worst case scenario is a long-term, and increasingly severe famine, especially if food shortages are worldwide. It's a scenario that most believe extremely unlikely. Most people believe crop failures in one part of the world can be made up with over production in other parts. But, what if world reaching famine happens?
From what I've read, the pioneers of Utah were advised to have seven years' worth of food storage.
Over time, that decreased to two years, then one year.
Food storage and preparation is talked about in more general terms now. The counsel for long term food storage is still one year. However, because the Church is very international, and in some countries and/or cities there are laws against food hoarding, long term food storage may not be legal. Still, members should be preparing the best they can for however long of period they can.
If you live in a place that allows for it, one year's worth of food storage is minimal. More will be better. And on top of food, seeds and the ability (including place) to plant, cultivate, harvest, and store will become valuable. Along the gardening lines, even if you don't plant much of a garden it would be better to start practicing now so you can be better prepared when you really need to rely on it.
I could certainly be wrong in my assessment, but over the last couple years I have read an increasing number of articles related to droughts, famine, crop failures, and similar reports. Most of these do not make the front page, or lead article, of any news reporting organization.
But this does not change the apparent fact that conditions are ripening for increasing famine conditions around the world, including the United States of America.
If conditions continue in their apparent track, we will see increasing reports of drought, fire, floods, extreme weather events, and natural disasters destroy crops or reduce production. A number of these events will likely make it to the news, but the reports won't relate the event to a national or worldwide problem.
The US government will step in where it can to provide varying subsidies to keep farmers happy and keep food prices affordable for consumers.
Over the next year (2018), there may even be some crops that do extremely well in some places, but the whole picture won't be so rosy. These few crops which do well, will likely keep optimism up for the future of others. They will also offset the rapid price increase which would otherwise follow the following year.
I suspect that 2018 (at least into the summer) will be the last year we can affordably build up food storage. Hopefully that trend will last into the fall.
It is probable that you will still be able to buy food storage into 2019, especially if certain areas had overproduction of crops in 2018.
I'm not convinced prices will increase dramatically from 2018 into the summer of 2019. This is partly because I expect some crops to do well in some areas and government subsidies will help offset costs and prevent extraordinary price increases. But I do expect that there will be increasing prices of foods as we enter into the fall of 2019.
By 2020, things will probably be looking grim. And, if an economic depression hits (most likely in fall 2019, though possibly in 2020) the situation will become dire. These conditions will sweep Democrats into the majority in both houses of Congress (if they don't already have the majority from the 2018 elections), and will likely see a Democrat elected as president.
2021 will be bad, but there may be signs in the winter that will give hope for 2022, which I think will have better crops and harvests. Things will probably be significantly improved by 2023, which will make most people think 2024 will be even better. 2022-3 will probably shows signs of a strengthening economy as well.
It could be that a personal bio-ID chip may be initiated and instituted during the 2021-23 time frame (possibly started in 2020, but most likely it will wait until the new administration begins in 2021). This would be used particularly for those in government welfare programs to make getting food easier, and to make sure people don't cheat the system. Those who don't opt-in to the bio-ID program will likely have a incomprehensible load of paperwork hassle in order to get their government assistance without the bio-ID. Obviously most will go along with the bio-ID. And those who don't have sufficient food storage, and need government assistance, may face that dilemma about whether to have sufficient food for their children, or see their children hungry.
If things go along this time frame, 2023 will be a year to restore your food storage. Most will not think or not want to do that. But, if the gathering hasn't happened sooner, 2024 will probably see a gathering invitation come to the faithful saints. If food storage and supplies were not replenished during the prior year, then conditions will be harder for them (though still easier when compared to what those who remain behind will likely go through).
However, while I think we have a year, maybe up to two, before conditions get bad, I do believe time is short for increasing our preparations.
And, while it would be nice if a gathering call would happen sooner, I believe the saints will have to face other trials first, as part of the sifting process.
One of those trials is likely a famine--not necessarily where there is no food, but most likely food shortages and most people not being able to get what they have been used to getting, or as much.
So, even though we may have a year or more, a lesson I have learned is it takes time to become prepared. You cannot expect to be able to become instantly prepared, nor can you expect to get all the food storage and supplies you need in one shopping trip.
Certainly if you have the money, you can buy the food storage and supplies you may think you need, but it still doesn't change the fact that you need to continually re-evaluate what you have and what you need.
And it would be good to not put off buying food storage for logical reasons. In the normal financial world, a dollar today is worth more than a dollar in the future (due to inflation). So, barring the less likely scenario that food will be cheaper in the future, it's cheaper to buy food using today's dollar than to wait until next year's dollar, which typically has less buying power.
Food storage is an investment. Especially long-term storage. It's an investment that will put food on your table, for your children. Stocks, gold, and even savings accounts cannot buy food if none is available.
The wise will not procrastinate their preparations. They will be building their food and supplies as they can.
We are doing what we can. Money is a scare resource, so I'm glad we really got a good head start a few years ago.
--
My "predictions" are based on comments attributed to John Koyle, combined with my research on various conditions around the world, along with the notion that God frequently uses famine prior to a possible destruction--if the people don't repent--and America has not recently experience much famine.
As with all of my "predictions" or event sequences, I have not received any dreams or visions, nor have I received any actual dates. If I happen to be right, or even close, it is because God gave me the gift of an analytical mind and has guided me in my research and conclusions.
If I'm wrong, it is my due to my own inabilities and mistakes.
I would like to be wrong. I'd like to have many years left, and be able to work and retire, to have a "normal" life.
But, I don't think a "normal" life is very likely.
And even if I am wrong in the timing and/or sequence of events, I am not wrong in encouraging preparation and building up our food storage.
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