By Rick Brunson
Note: This article was originally written for LDSEmergencyPreparedness.com, and originally posted on 02/23/2012 at http://www.ldsemergencyresources.com/emergency-preparedness-4/
Sick to my stomach
About two years before I graduated from college, I started keeping track of the remaining tests I would have to take before I would get my degree. At that time I dreaded taking tests and would get sick to my stomach when I thought about them. I remember counting the remaining classes I needed until I could graduate (which was 24), and figured that if each class averaged 3 tests per semester, I would only have to take 72 more tests. After each test I took, I would scratch one off the list. I then realized what was causing the “sick to my stomach” feeling that I got before each test. It was because I was not prepared for them. It was then that I started changing my study habits and began preparing for them better. I found that by doing this, not only did my sick feelings go away, but I felt calm and confident for the remainder of my time in college. The difference was night and day. The difference, was how prepared I was.
About two years before I graduated from college, I started keeping track of the remaining tests I would have to take before I would get my degree. At that time I dreaded taking tests and would get sick to my stomach when I thought about them. I remember counting the remaining classes I needed until I could graduate (which was 24), and figured that if each class averaged 3 tests per semester, I would only have to take 72 more tests. After each test I took, I would scratch one off the list. I then realized what was causing the “sick to my stomach” feeling that I got before each test. It was because I was not prepared for them. It was then that I started changing my study habits and began preparing for them better. I found that by doing this, not only did my sick feelings go away, but I felt calm and confident for the remainder of my time in college. The difference was night and day. The difference, was how prepared I was.
So
it is with the gospel. Prophets have told us for years to prepare
ourselves in case of an emergency. There are many reasons why we are
told to do this. One of which is to have the peace of mind that comes
with being prepared. Just like it was with my test taking, being
prepared for an emergency will get rid of any uneasy feelings we have
about the future, and replace them with confidence and peace. Here are
some simple things we can do to start.
Pay an honest tithe and generous fast offering
Get an education
As
President Hinckley has said, “Work for an education. The world will
largely pay you what it thinks you are worth.” The more education we
get, the more prepared we will be for the uncertainty of the future.
Get out of debt
Being debt free will bring peace of mind. Here is a good tip to paying off consumer debt quickly:
Identify
all your debts from smallest to largest. Make minimum payments on all
but the smallest debt. As soon as this smallest debt is paid off, use
all the money you had been applying each month to this debt that is now
paid off, and apply it to the next smallest debt. As each debt is paid
off, the amount of money available to attack your next debt goes up.
The more debt you pay off, the more money you have to pay off the next
debt.
Food storage
Prophets have counseled that we have one year of food storage. A 24-hour kit is also encouraged.
Save
Remember, it’s not how much money you make, its how much you keep. A good rule of thumb is to save 10% of your income.
These
are a few things we can do to prepare for an emergency. As we prepare
for the future, we will feel a sense of peace and confidence. As Elder
Marvin J. Ashton said, “The pleasant future belongs to those who
properly use today.”