Lesson 18: Family Home Storage and Finances

Objective

Each participant will commit to become more self-reliant through home storage and securing financial reserves.

Materials for This Lesson

Copies of All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage (04008), one for each participant.

Copies of All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances (04007), one for each participant.

Statement from the Church Handbook of Instructions

Invite a participant to read the following statement:

"The Savior has commanded the Church and its members to be self-reliant and independent (see D&C 78:13–14). Heavenly Father has given all of His children everything they have—their talents, abilities, and material goods—and has made them stewards over these blessings (see D&C 104:11–13). To fulfill this stewardship honorably, Church members should become self–reliant, using these blessings to take care of themselves and their families" (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 257).

Questions

Ask participants the following questions:

• What are some ways that Church members can become more self–reliant, individually and as families? (Answers may include: obeying the counsel of Church leaders; getting an education; staying physically healthy; obtaining good employment; storing food and water; wisely managing their financial and material resources; and increasing their spiritual, emotional, and social strength.)
• What counsel have Church leaders given concerning preparing ourselves and families for times of adversity? (Answers may include: have a supply of food and water; have a financial reserve; obtaining as much education as possible.)
• What types of adversity may befall Church members in their area? (Answers may include: natural disasters; illness, injury, or death of a primary income earner; job loss; downturn in economic conditions; unexpected increase of prices of essential items like fuel, utilities, and food.)

Key Points

Help participants understand the following points, and discuss them as needed:

1. To become more self–reliant, Church members should have a basic supply of food and water and have some money in savings. To do this they should:
   
   • Build a three–month supply of food that is part of their normal daily diet.
   
   
   • Store drinking water.
   
   
   • Establish a financial reserve.
   
   
   • Complete a longer–term supply of food where permitted that can be stored for long periods, such as wheat, white rice, and beans.


2. The Church publishes a guide, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage (04008), that outlines the principles of family home storage.
   
   Distribute a copy of the guide to each participant and review it together.



3. Through careful planning and faithful efforts, most Church members can gradually store a supply of food and build a financial reserve. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: "We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long–term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective" (in Conference Report, Oct. 2002, 65; or Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58).


4. Church members should avoid panic buying or other extreme measures in their efforts to store food. President Hinckley said: "As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic or go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son" (in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 73).


5. To become more self–reliant, Church members should wisely use their financial resources to provide for themselves, their families, and others. To do this they should:
   • Pay their tithes and offerings.
   • Avoid unnecessary debt.
   • Establish and use a budget.
   • Establish a financial reserve.
   • Teach family members the principles of financial management.
6. The Church publishes a guide, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, that outlines the principles of family finances.


Distribute a copy of the guide to each participant and review it together.


7. Wise use of our financial resources brings peace of mind even in the midst of economic uncertainty. As President Hinckley promised: "If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts. That's all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 72; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 54).


8. Additional information on family home storage and finances can be found at the Church's welfare Web site, www.providentliving.lds.org. The Web site includes useful tools to help Church members store food and water, eliminate debt, and establish a family budget.

Practice

Challenge participants to:

• Evaluate the amount of home storage and financial reserve they have on hand.
• Make plans to begin or continue to build a store of essential food items and a financial reserve.

Bear testimony of the blessings that come from obeying the counsel of Church leaders to prepare ourselves and our families for times of adversity.