http://visitingteaching.net/blog/
Friday, September 11, 2009
Visiting Teaching Blog
http://visitingteaching.net/blog/
Keep Tract of Where Offenders Live
This link will take to you to a link that will show you where offenders live in your area. It is best to be aware...
http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0
http://www.familywatchdog.us/ShowMap.asp?frm=0
One Year Food Storage
Exactly What Does a Basic 1 Year Food Storage for 1 Person Look Like?
These are the MINIMUM Basic Amounts of Food Needed for Survival for ONE PERSON for ONE YEAR:
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOUR READY TO LIVE ON THESE SURVIVAL RATIONS.
BARE-MINIMUM LDS Church Food storage requirements for
1 adult male for 1 year Appx. 2,300 calories per day. (only 695lbs total)
This will keep you fed, but leave you hungry.
TOTAL FOOD PER DAY = 24.65 Ounces
It seems like we beg, plead, and even offer to help anyone that will listen in an attempt to get others to get their food storage. We try to explain why they need it, and it feels like we are beating a dead horse. Some people try to rationalize that we “really” don’t need to store everything that we have been asked to store. As I’m sure most of you have experienced, we hear every excuse for reasons why we can’t store. The regular excuses of no money, no room, no time, don’t know how to use wheat, or don’t eat wheat, etc. But lately, I’ve heard “that is so much to store”, that “our family would never use 400 pounds of grains per person in an entire year”. Also, “we don’t use that much salt or oil”, therefore they don’t feel they need to store it.
As what felt like my last feeble attempt to try to help, the thought came to actually create a display to show 1) what does that one year basic survival food for one person look like (the amounts the First Presidency has recommended) , and 2) how much does that really work out to be per day?
This display has been amazingly successful in our Stake.
We purposely bought food that they could get at a grocery store, rather than overwhelming them with seeing tons of dry-pack cans or buckets. We broke out each item and gave them the prices of what this would cost locally. We even gave them the price of a shelve to store it on.
When I measured out the amounts to show what you would get per day, per person it was impressive. We took all those ingredients and by adding yeast (which we know is not on the basic list – but hopefully we have stored), we were able to make one loaf of bread and 1/3 cup of beans. That would be your food for the entire day. Not much. You would survive, but it won’t be pretty.
Grains (400lbs)
Unless your family already eats 100% whole wheat homemade bread, white flour should be used in the transition process to whole wheat.
Adding rye flour (10%) helps make wheat bread a more
complete protein. Dent corn is used to make tortillas.
Beans & Legumes (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 60lbs in 2002}
Black beans cook quickly, make a good salad complement with a vinaigrette dressing over them.
Soybeans can be used to make soy milk and tofu, a protein food you should be prepared to make.
Familiarize yourself with sprouting techniques.
Learn how to make wheat grass juice - the best vitamin supplement you can use.
Milk-Dair products (75lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 16lbs in 2002}
Milk powder can be used to make cottage cheese, cream cheese and hard cheeses.
Ideally your milk should be fortified with Vitamins A & D.
When reconstituting aerate to improve flavor (special mixing pitchers can accomplish this). Whole eggs are the best all-purpose egg product.
Powdered sour cream has a limited shelf life unless frozen.
Meats / Meat substitute (20lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 0lbs in 2002}
Use meat in soups, stews and beans for flavor. Freeze dried is the best option for real meat. Textured Vegetable protein is the main alternative to freeze dried meats.
Fats / Oils (20lbs)
This group can boost the calories one is getting from food storage products, and supply essential fatty acids.
Sugars (60lbs)
Store your honey in 5 gallon pails.
Candy and other sweets can help with appetite fatigue.
Fruits / Vegetables (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only zero lbs in 2002}
Some fruits and vegetables are best dehydrated, others freeze dried (strawberries & blueberries) .
Fruits are a nice addition to hot cereal, muffins, pancakes and breads.
Auxiliary foods (weight varies)
Vanilla extract improves the flavor of powdered milk. The production of tofu requires a precipitator such as nigari, epsom salt, calcium chloride or calcium sulfide (good calcium source).
Learn how to make and use wheat gluten (liquid smoke adds good flavor).
Chocolate syrup and powdered drink mixes help with appetite fatigue.
Vitamins and protein powders will boost the nutrition levels of foods that may have suffered losses during processing.
Note
For an average adult Female - multiply the weight by 0.75
For children ages 1-3 multiply by 0.3, 4-6 multiply by 0.5, 7-9 multiply by 0.75
For adults engaged in manual labor multiply by 1.25-1.50
These are the MINIMUM Basic Amounts of Food Needed for Survival for ONE PERSON for ONE YEAR:
DO YOU REALLY THINK YOUR READY TO LIVE ON THESE SURVIVAL RATIONS.
BARE-MINIMUM LDS Church Food storage requirements for
1 adult male for 1 year Appx. 2,300 calories per day. (only 695lbs total)
This will keep you fed, but leave you hungry.
TOTAL FOOD PER DAY = 24.65 Ounces
It seems like we beg, plead, and even offer to help anyone that will listen in an attempt to get others to get their food storage. We try to explain why they need it, and it feels like we are beating a dead horse. Some people try to rationalize that we “really” don’t need to store everything that we have been asked to store. As I’m sure most of you have experienced, we hear every excuse for reasons why we can’t store. The regular excuses of no money, no room, no time, don’t know how to use wheat, or don’t eat wheat, etc. But lately, I’ve heard “that is so much to store”, that “our family would never use 400 pounds of grains per person in an entire year”. Also, “we don’t use that much salt or oil”, therefore they don’t feel they need to store it.
As what felt like my last feeble attempt to try to help, the thought came to actually create a display to show 1) what does that one year basic survival food for one person look like (the amounts the First Presidency has recommended) , and 2) how much does that really work out to be per day?
This display has been amazingly successful in our Stake.
We purposely bought food that they could get at a grocery store, rather than overwhelming them with seeing tons of dry-pack cans or buckets. We broke out each item and gave them the prices of what this would cost locally. We even gave them the price of a shelve to store it on.
When I measured out the amounts to show what you would get per day, per person it was impressive. We took all those ingredients and by adding yeast (which we know is not on the basic list – but hopefully we have stored), we were able to make one loaf of bread and 1/3 cup of beans. That would be your food for the entire day. Not much. You would survive, but it won’t be pretty.
Grains (400lbs)
Unless your family already eats 100% whole wheat homemade bread, white flour should be used in the transition process to whole wheat.
Adding rye flour (10%) helps make wheat bread a more
complete protein. Dent corn is used to make tortillas.
Beans & Legumes (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 60lbs in 2002}
Black beans cook quickly, make a good salad complement with a vinaigrette dressing over them.
Soybeans can be used to make soy milk and tofu, a protein food you should be prepared to make.
Familiarize yourself with sprouting techniques.
Learn how to make wheat grass juice - the best vitamin supplement you can use.
Milk-Dair products (75lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 16lbs in 2002}
Milk powder can be used to make cottage cheese, cream cheese and hard cheeses.
Ideally your milk should be fortified with Vitamins A & D.
When reconstituting aerate to improve flavor (special mixing pitchers can accomplish this). Whole eggs are the best all-purpose egg product.
Powdered sour cream has a limited shelf life unless frozen.
Meats / Meat substitute (20lbs)
{minimum reduced to only 0lbs in 2002}
Use meat in soups, stews and beans for flavor. Freeze dried is the best option for real meat. Textured Vegetable protein is the main alternative to freeze dried meats.
Fats / Oils (20lbs)
This group can boost the calories one is getting from food storage products, and supply essential fatty acids.
Sugars (60lbs)
Store your honey in 5 gallon pails.
Candy and other sweets can help with appetite fatigue.
Fruits / Vegetables (90lbs)
{minimum reduced to only zero lbs in 2002}
Some fruits and vegetables are best dehydrated, others freeze dried (strawberries & blueberries) .
Fruits are a nice addition to hot cereal, muffins, pancakes and breads.
Auxiliary foods (weight varies)
Vanilla extract improves the flavor of powdered milk. The production of tofu requires a precipitator such as nigari, epsom salt, calcium chloride or calcium sulfide (good calcium source).
Learn how to make and use wheat gluten (liquid smoke adds good flavor).
Chocolate syrup and powdered drink mixes help with appetite fatigue.
Vitamins and protein powders will boost the nutrition levels of foods that may have suffered losses during processing.
Note
For an average adult Female - multiply the weight by 0.75
For children ages 1-3 multiply by 0.3, 4-6 multiply by 0.5, 7-9 multiply by 0.75
For adults engaged in manual labor multiply by 1.25-1.50
Amazing Ward Web-site
The PG, Utah Stake has an amazing Emergency Preparedness web-site-
Check oit out...
http://pgward.org/
Check oit out...
http://pgward.org/
100 Items To Have On Hand During an Emergency
100 Items to have on hand if an emergency stikes.
Is there anything that you wan tot add to your supplies?
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage is risky. Noisy...target of thieves)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood (Wood takes about 6-12 months to become dry enough for home use)
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel--Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats, and Slingshots
8. Hand can-openers, hand egg beaters, whisks
9. Honey/syrup/white and brown sugar
10. Rice--Beans--Wheat
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) Without it, foods burn/ must be boiled, etc.
12. Charcoal, lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water containers (URGENT item to obtain) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY note--food grade if for drinking.
14. ???
15. ???
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur)
17. Survival guidebook
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer term lighting is difficult)
19. Baby supplies: Diapers, formula, ointments, aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop bucket w/wringer (for laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear (tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, wedges (also honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. and Heavy Duty (Great cooking and barter item)
28. Gasoline containers (plastic and metal)
29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many)
30. Toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels
31. Milk--powdered & condensed (shake liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's pump repair kit
35. Tuna fish (in oil)
36. Fire extinguishers (or large box of baking soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes--buy furthest out for expiration dates)
39. Garlic, spices and vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big dogs (and dog food)
41. Flour, yeast, salt
42. Matches (Strike anywhere preferred) Boxed wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in winter)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis and durable shirts
46. Flashlights, light sticks and torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, diaries & scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experiences; historic times)
48. Garbage cans, plastic (great for storage, water, transporting--if with wheels)
49. Men's hygiene: shampoo, toothpaste/brush, mouthwash, floss, nail clippers, etc
50. 50 is also missing--fill in the blank???
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, duffel bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned fruits, veggies, soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (jars, lids, wax)
63. Knives and sharpening tools: files, stones, steel wool
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags, blankets/ pillows/ mats
66. Carbon monoxide alarm, battery powered
67. Board games, Cards, Dice
68. D-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/ cups/ utensils (stock up, folks!)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc
73. Shaving supplies (razors, creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/cocoa/tang/punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, also leaders catalog
81. Roll-on window insulation kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, trail mix/jerky
83. Popcorn, peanut butter, nuts
84. Socks, underwear, t-shirts, etc.
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots and inflatable mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen patches
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/liquors (for brides, medicinal, etc.)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
97. Chewing gum, candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling, bathing)
99. Hats and cotton neckerchiefs
100.Livestock
I found this on the internet - it lists the Top 100 items to Disappear First During a National Emergency - OR Items You'll Wish You Had On Hand. It was thought provoking. Check yourself against this list to see how prepared you would be.
Is there anything that you wan tot add to your supplies?
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage is risky. Noisy...target of thieves)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood (Wood takes about 6-12 months to become dry enough for home use)
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel--Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats, and Slingshots
8. Hand can-openers, hand egg beaters, whisks
9. Honey/syrup/white and brown sugar
10. Rice--Beans--Wheat
11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) Without it, foods burn/ must be boiled, etc.
12. Charcoal, lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water containers (URGENT item to obtain) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY note--food grade if for drinking.
14. ???
15. ???
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur)
17. Survival guidebook
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer term lighting is difficult)
19. Baby supplies: Diapers, formula, ointments, aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop bucket w/wringer (for laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products
25. Thermal underwear (tops and bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, wedges (also honing oil)
27. Aluminum foil Reg. and Heavy Duty (Great cooking and barter item)
28. Gasoline containers (plastic and metal)
29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many)
30. Toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels
31. Milk--powdered & condensed (shake liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's pump repair kit
35. Tuna fish (in oil)
36. Fire extinguishers (or large box of baking soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes--buy furthest out for expiration dates)
39. Garlic, spices and vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big dogs (and dog food)
41. Flour, yeast, salt
42. Matches (Strike anywhere preferred) Boxed wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in winter)
45. Work boots, belts, Levis and durable shirts
46. Flashlights, light sticks and torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, diaries & scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experiences; historic times)
48. Garbage cans, plastic (great for storage, water, transporting--if with wheels)
49. Men's hygiene: shampoo, toothpaste/brush, mouthwash, floss, nail clippers, etc
50. 50 is also missing--fill in the blank???
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, duffel bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned fruits, veggies, soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies (jars, lids, wax)
63. Knives and sharpening tools: files, stones, steel wool
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
65. Sleeping bags, blankets/ pillows/ mats
66. Carbon monoxide alarm, battery powered
67. Board games, Cards, Dice
68. D-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/ cups/ utensils (stock up, folks!)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc
73. Shaving supplies (razors, creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/cocoa/tang/punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, also leaders catalog
81. Roll-on window insulation kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, trail mix/jerky
83. Popcorn, peanut butter, nuts
84. Socks, underwear, t-shirts, etc.
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots and inflatable mattresses
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen patches
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/liquors (for brides, medicinal, etc.)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
97. Chewing gum, candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling, bathing)
99. Hats and cotton neckerchiefs
100.Livestock
I found this on the internet - it lists the Top 100 items to Disappear First During a National Emergency - OR Items You'll Wish You Had On Hand. It was thought provoking. Check yourself against this list to see how prepared you would be.
72 Hour Kit
Basic 72 hour kit for one person
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
1st day
Oatmeal Jerky Maruchan soup mix
Hot chocolate Peanut butter crackers Cheddar cheese crackers
Fruit snack Capri sun Granola bar
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
2nd day
Oatmeal Maruchan soup mix Campbell’s soup
Fruit snack Peanut butter crackers Capri sun
Hot chocolate Trail mix
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
3rd day
Oatmeal Maruchan soup mix Tuna & crackers
Hot chocolate Trail mix Nut mix
Fruit Cup Gum Capri sun
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
(Substituted items with what your family will eat)
**Don’t forget WATER!!! You will need about 4 (16oz) bottles to make the meals and then more for drinking.
Total Items per kit:
Maruchan soup mix 3
Jerky 1
Capri sun 3
Hard candy 6
Peanut butter cracker 2
Hot chocolate 3
Granola bar 2
Oatmeal 3
Cheddar crackers 1
Fruit snack 2
Campbell’s soup 1
Trail mix 2
Tuna & crackers 1
Gum 1
Nut mix 1
Fruit cup 1
Breakfast Lunch Dinner
1st day
Oatmeal Jerky Maruchan soup mix
Hot chocolate Peanut butter crackers Cheddar cheese crackers
Fruit snack Capri sun Granola bar
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
2nd day
Oatmeal Maruchan soup mix Campbell’s soup
Fruit snack Peanut butter crackers Capri sun
Hot chocolate Trail mix
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
3rd day
Oatmeal Maruchan soup mix Tuna & crackers
Hot chocolate Trail mix Nut mix
Fruit Cup Gum Capri sun
Afternoon snack -Hard candy
(Substituted items with what your family will eat)
**Don’t forget WATER!!! You will need about 4 (16oz) bottles to make the meals and then more for drinking.
Total Items per kit:
Maruchan soup mix 3
Jerky 1
Capri sun 3
Hard candy 6
Peanut butter cracker 2
Hot chocolate 3
Granola bar 2
Oatmeal 3
Cheddar crackers 1
Fruit snack 2
Campbell’s soup 1
Trail mix 2
Tuna & crackers 1
Gum 1
Nut mix 1
Fruit cup 1
Financial Freedom on Any Income
Financial Freedom on Any Income-Ensign » 2006 » August
By Jan D. Andersen
Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Sacramento
Jan D. Andersen, “Financial Freedom on Any Income,” Ensign, Aug 2006, 27–31
These 10 tips for good financial management can help you find peace of mind.
We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness, yet many of us don’t believe it. Some of us may spend significant portions of our lives trying to prove that simple truth wrong.
In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord commanded, “Set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house” (D&C 93:43).
How can we set our financial houses in order? Prophets, past and present, have taught money-management principles that if followed will provide financial freedom and financial peace of mind. I will highlight 10 of them that apply whether we are rich or poor.
Principle 1: Put God first.
Financially, we can put God first by paying our tithes and offerings before all other expenditures. We also put God first by seeking His will and guidance in all of our money matters. In response to putting Him first, God promises to open “the windows of heaven” and pour out both temporal and spiritual blessings, blessings greater than we have the capacity to receive (see Malachi 3:10).
Principle 2: Work.
When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they needed to work if they wanted to eat. Further, they were promised that making a living would be hard work (see Genesis 3:19).
The world places great emphasis on leisure and retirement. Lifelong work, however, is ordained of God and is necessary for our growth and salvation. While we may retire from our financial employment, we cannot retire from God’s plan of life for His children.
Principle 3: Don’t covet the possessions of others.
The last of the Ten Commandments given to Moses was “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). During His mortal ministry, Christ reemphasized this commandment when he told the multitude to “take heed, and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12:15).
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that covetousness “is one of the great afflictions of these latter days. It creates greed and resentment. Often it leads to bondage, heartbreak, and crushing, grinding debt.”1
President Gordon B. Hinckley described coveting as the “trap that can destroy any of us in our search for joy and happiness. It is that devious, sinister, evil influence that says, ‘What I have is not enough. I must have more.’ ”2
Principle 4: Increase financial knowledge.
The parable of the talents teaches us that we have a sacred obligation to be wise stewards of the financial resources with which we have been blessed, be they few or vast. We are judged not by how much we have but by what we do with what we have. The servant who increased his talents from five to ten and the servant who increased his talents from two to four received the same reward; the Lord told both: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21; see also v. 23).
Sometimes it seems we are bombarded with financial advice from many different sources, even trusted friends or loved ones. I would not suggest that all of this advice is necessarily wrong, but it may be incomplete or based on the philosophies of men, or it simply may not apply in every situation. We must learn to recognize our own financial weaknesses and seek out the knowledge that we lack.
A helpful resource is Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s pamphlet One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance (1992), available at www.ldscatalog.com. Another good resource is the “Provident Living” section at http://www.lds.org/.
Principle 5: Control spending.
The key to financial success is to always spend less than we earn. This allows us to stay out of debt and to put some money away for a rainy day. President N. Eldon Tanner (1898–1982), First Counselor in the First Presidency, observed: “There is no way that you can ever earn more than you can spend. I am convinced that it is not the amount of money an individual earns that brings peace of mind as much as it is having control of his money. … Whether early in life or late, we must all eventually learn to discipline ourselves, our appetites, and our economic desires.”3
As a first step in developing financial discipline, I suggest an exercise that I give each semester to my students. Obtain a small notebook that you can carry with you. Each day for a month record all—yes, every penny—of your spending in that notebook. For each expenditure include a brief explanation along with the dollar amount. Include all of your transactions: cash, checks, credit or debit cards, electronic transfers, or IOUs. At the end of the month go back through your spending log and categorize your transactions. Total the amount spent in each category. Then ask yourself, “Did I spend my money the way I should have? What changes do I need to make in my spending behavior?”
Because many of us want more than we have, creating a budget to prioritize our spending is helpful. In this process we should keep in mind the words of Jacob: “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Nephi 9:51).
Principle 6: Get out of debt.
Many people have fallen into the habit of using credit to live a lifestyle that greatly exceeds their income. When we live on credit, we are spending tomorrow’s income today; we essentially rob our future selves.
I am not referring to those who use credit cards as a convenience, paying the balance in full each month. Rather, I am referring to those who use credit to live a debt-based lifestyle. Many people find themselves unable to pay more than the minimum payments each month. The credit card companies like these people because they make the most money from them.
For example, if only the minimum payment is made each month, a $2,500 Christmas shopping spree—with a credit card that charges 18 percent interest and requires a minimum payment of interest plus 1 percent of the balance—will take 20 years and 4 months to pay off. And that’s assuming that no additional charges are made during the 20 years and 4 months. With interest, that $2,500 shopping spree will end up costing about $5,865.
In Proverbs we read that “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Consumer debt not only creates financial and emotional bondage, but it strains marriage and family relationships and prevents spiritual progression.
Principle 7: Save for the future.
The Lord counseled the early Saints, “Save all the money that ye can … that in time ye may be enabled to purchase land for an inheritance” (D&C 48:4). The basic concept of inheritance is providing for future needs. The Old Testament story of Joseph in Egypt illustrates the wisdom of saving for future events, for times may come when financial and material resources are scarce or beyond our ability to obtain (see Genesis 41). The Lord’s command to save still applies to each of us today.
In April 2004 general conference, Elder Wirthlin reminded us: “The wise understand the importance of saving today for a rainy day tomorrow. They have adequate insurance that will provide for them in case of illness or death. Where possible, they store a year’s supply of food, water, and other basic necessities of life. They set aside money in savings and investment accounts.”4
Principle 8: Teach children sound money-management skills.
Elder Wirthlin also noted that “too many of our youth get into financial difficulty because they never learned proper principles of financial common sense at home. Teach your children while they are young. Teach them that they cannot have something merely because they want it. Teach them the principles of hard work, frugality, and saving.”5
Bishop H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop of the Church, observed that parents, especially those parents who can afford to say yes, “have a difficult time saying no to the demands of overindulged children. Their children run the risk of not learning important values like hard work, delayed gratification, honesty, and compassion.”6
Principle 9: Sacrifice.
"Of him unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3). The Lord requires us—not “expects,” as it is often misquoted—to give freely of our earthly wealth. Writer and philosopher C. S. Lewis said: “If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”7
President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught that riches have “a very corrupting effect upon the human heart, and it requires a very pure people to be as honest, virtuous, humble and upright when surrounded by luxury and wealth as when they are in poor and destitute circumstances. … Always remember that your lives, your ability, the food you eat, the water you drink, the clothes you wear, the earth you tread, the air you breathe, are all the Lord’s. … Then, whether you are rich or poor will make no difference. … You will look upon yourselves as stewards, and if you have a hundred dollars in your hands, you will say, this is the Lord’s, and if He wants it, He can have it. If you have a million dollars, you will feel the same. And where people have this feeling, riches cannot hurt them. Latter-day Saints must have this kind of faith and feeling, or they cannot build up Zion and be the people the Lord is desirous they should be.”8
Principle 10: Endure joyfully to the end.
Life is not a competition that we win if we acquire the most money or possessions. Christ taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Rather, life is a test that requires sustained effort for as long as we live. God proclaimed to Nephi: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (2 Nephi 31:15).
How we respond to our economic condition, especially the manner in which we acquire and manage our financial resources, is part of life’s test. Unlike earthly competitions, however, everyone can pass this test and receive the highest reward; all can be winners. And unlike man-made tests, we are allowed—even commanded—to seek help during life’s examination. “Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded” (D&C 49:26–27). Let us rely on this wonderful promise as we seek to put our financial houses in order.
I have witnessed the heartache that financial mismanagement can bring. I have also experienced the joy and peace that come when finances are in order. Bishops and stake presidents are anxious to help us become better stewards; we can benefit by following their counsel and using the resources they offer. If we seek the guidance of the Spirit, divine help can strengthen our efforts and sanctify our sacrifices. Whether we are rich or poor, good financial management can bring peace of mind.
Notes
1. “Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts,” Ensign, May 2004, 40.
2. “Thou Shalt Not Covet,” Ensign, Mar. 1990, 2.
3. “Constancy amid Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 81.
4. Ensign, May 2004, 42.
5. Ensign, May 2004, 42–43
6. “More Holiness Give Me,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 98.
7. Mere Christianity, rev. and enlarged ed. (1952), 82.
8. Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist (1987), 525.
By Jan D. Andersen
Assistant Professor of Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Sacramento
Jan D. Andersen, “Financial Freedom on Any Income,” Ensign, Aug 2006, 27–31
These 10 tips for good financial management can help you find peace of mind.
We’ve all heard that money can’t buy happiness, yet many of us don’t believe it. Some of us may spend significant portions of our lives trying to prove that simple truth wrong.
In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord commanded, “Set in order your own house, for there are many things that are not right in your house” (D&C 93:43).
How can we set our financial houses in order? Prophets, past and present, have taught money-management principles that if followed will provide financial freedom and financial peace of mind. I will highlight 10 of them that apply whether we are rich or poor.
Principle 1: Put God first.
Financially, we can put God first by paying our tithes and offerings before all other expenditures. We also put God first by seeking His will and guidance in all of our money matters. In response to putting Him first, God promises to open “the windows of heaven” and pour out both temporal and spiritual blessings, blessings greater than we have the capacity to receive (see Malachi 3:10).
Principle 2: Work.
When Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they needed to work if they wanted to eat. Further, they were promised that making a living would be hard work (see Genesis 3:19).
The world places great emphasis on leisure and retirement. Lifelong work, however, is ordained of God and is necessary for our growth and salvation. While we may retire from our financial employment, we cannot retire from God’s plan of life for His children.
Principle 3: Don’t covet the possessions of others.
The last of the Ten Commandments given to Moses was “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). During His mortal ministry, Christ reemphasized this commandment when he told the multitude to “take heed, and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12:15).
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that covetousness “is one of the great afflictions of these latter days. It creates greed and resentment. Often it leads to bondage, heartbreak, and crushing, grinding debt.”1
President Gordon B. Hinckley described coveting as the “trap that can destroy any of us in our search for joy and happiness. It is that devious, sinister, evil influence that says, ‘What I have is not enough. I must have more.’ ”2
Principle 4: Increase financial knowledge.
The parable of the talents teaches us that we have a sacred obligation to be wise stewards of the financial resources with which we have been blessed, be they few or vast. We are judged not by how much we have but by what we do with what we have. The servant who increased his talents from five to ten and the servant who increased his talents from two to four received the same reward; the Lord told both: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things” (Matthew 25:21; see also v. 23).
Sometimes it seems we are bombarded with financial advice from many different sources, even trusted friends or loved ones. I would not suggest that all of this advice is necessarily wrong, but it may be incomplete or based on the philosophies of men, or it simply may not apply in every situation. We must learn to recognize our own financial weaknesses and seek out the knowledge that we lack.
A helpful resource is Elder Marvin J. Ashton’s pamphlet One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance (1992), available at www.ldscatalog.com. Another good resource is the “Provident Living” section at http://www.lds.org/.
Principle 5: Control spending.
The key to financial success is to always spend less than we earn. This allows us to stay out of debt and to put some money away for a rainy day. President N. Eldon Tanner (1898–1982), First Counselor in the First Presidency, observed: “There is no way that you can ever earn more than you can spend. I am convinced that it is not the amount of money an individual earns that brings peace of mind as much as it is having control of his money. … Whether early in life or late, we must all eventually learn to discipline ourselves, our appetites, and our economic desires.”3
As a first step in developing financial discipline, I suggest an exercise that I give each semester to my students. Obtain a small notebook that you can carry with you. Each day for a month record all—yes, every penny—of your spending in that notebook. For each expenditure include a brief explanation along with the dollar amount. Include all of your transactions: cash, checks, credit or debit cards, electronic transfers, or IOUs. At the end of the month go back through your spending log and categorize your transactions. Total the amount spent in each category. Then ask yourself, “Did I spend my money the way I should have? What changes do I need to make in my spending behavior?”
Because many of us want more than we have, creating a budget to prioritize our spending is helpful. In this process we should keep in mind the words of Jacob: “Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy” (2 Nephi 9:51).
Principle 6: Get out of debt.
Many people have fallen into the habit of using credit to live a lifestyle that greatly exceeds their income. When we live on credit, we are spending tomorrow’s income today; we essentially rob our future selves.
I am not referring to those who use credit cards as a convenience, paying the balance in full each month. Rather, I am referring to those who use credit to live a debt-based lifestyle. Many people find themselves unable to pay more than the minimum payments each month. The credit card companies like these people because they make the most money from them.
For example, if only the minimum payment is made each month, a $2,500 Christmas shopping spree—with a credit card that charges 18 percent interest and requires a minimum payment of interest plus 1 percent of the balance—will take 20 years and 4 months to pay off. And that’s assuming that no additional charges are made during the 20 years and 4 months. With interest, that $2,500 shopping spree will end up costing about $5,865.
In Proverbs we read that “the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). Consumer debt not only creates financial and emotional bondage, but it strains marriage and family relationships and prevents spiritual progression.
Principle 7: Save for the future.
The Lord counseled the early Saints, “Save all the money that ye can … that in time ye may be enabled to purchase land for an inheritance” (D&C 48:4). The basic concept of inheritance is providing for future needs. The Old Testament story of Joseph in Egypt illustrates the wisdom of saving for future events, for times may come when financial and material resources are scarce or beyond our ability to obtain (see Genesis 41). The Lord’s command to save still applies to each of us today.
In April 2004 general conference, Elder Wirthlin reminded us: “The wise understand the importance of saving today for a rainy day tomorrow. They have adequate insurance that will provide for them in case of illness or death. Where possible, they store a year’s supply of food, water, and other basic necessities of life. They set aside money in savings and investment accounts.”4
Principle 8: Teach children sound money-management skills.
Elder Wirthlin also noted that “too many of our youth get into financial difficulty because they never learned proper principles of financial common sense at home. Teach your children while they are young. Teach them that they cannot have something merely because they want it. Teach them the principles of hard work, frugality, and saving.”5
Bishop H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop of the Church, observed that parents, especially those parents who can afford to say yes, “have a difficult time saying no to the demands of overindulged children. Their children run the risk of not learning important values like hard work, delayed gratification, honesty, and compassion.”6
Principle 9: Sacrifice.
"Of him unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3). The Lord requires us—not “expects,” as it is often misquoted—to give freely of our earthly wealth. Writer and philosopher C. S. Lewis said: “If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”7
President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), First Counselor in the First Presidency, taught that riches have “a very corrupting effect upon the human heart, and it requires a very pure people to be as honest, virtuous, humble and upright when surrounded by luxury and wealth as when they are in poor and destitute circumstances. … Always remember that your lives, your ability, the food you eat, the water you drink, the clothes you wear, the earth you tread, the air you breathe, are all the Lord’s. … Then, whether you are rich or poor will make no difference. … You will look upon yourselves as stewards, and if you have a hundred dollars in your hands, you will say, this is the Lord’s, and if He wants it, He can have it. If you have a million dollars, you will feel the same. And where people have this feeling, riches cannot hurt them. Latter-day Saints must have this kind of faith and feeling, or they cannot build up Zion and be the people the Lord is desirous they should be.”8
Principle 10: Endure joyfully to the end.
Life is not a competition that we win if we acquire the most money or possessions. Christ taught that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). Rather, life is a test that requires sustained effort for as long as we live. God proclaimed to Nephi: “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved” (2 Nephi 31:15).
How we respond to our economic condition, especially the manner in which we acquire and manage our financial resources, is part of life’s test. Unlike earthly competitions, however, everyone can pass this test and receive the highest reward; all can be winners. And unlike man-made tests, we are allowed—even commanded—to seek help during life’s examination. “Ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you. Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded” (D&C 49:26–27). Let us rely on this wonderful promise as we seek to put our financial houses in order.
I have witnessed the heartache that financial mismanagement can bring. I have also experienced the joy and peace that come when finances are in order. Bishops and stake presidents are anxious to help us become better stewards; we can benefit by following their counsel and using the resources they offer. If we seek the guidance of the Spirit, divine help can strengthen our efforts and sanctify our sacrifices. Whether we are rich or poor, good financial management can bring peace of mind.
Notes
1. “Earthly Debts, Heavenly Debts,” Ensign, May 2004, 40.
2. “Thou Shalt Not Covet,” Ensign, Mar. 1990, 2.
3. “Constancy amid Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 81.
4. Ensign, May 2004, 42.
5. Ensign, May 2004, 42–43
6. “More Holiness Give Me,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 98.
7. Mere Christianity, rev. and enlarged ed. (1952), 82.
8. Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist (1987), 525.
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