Temporal And Spiritual Storage~

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are counseled to become self- reliant. We are encouraged to stay out of debt, save for emergencies, have a 72 hour kit for any severe crisis and to have a year’s supply of food and water.

Many years ago my husband was given a setting apart blessing for a calling in which he was told to look for the signs of the Savior's Second Coming. We can now see many of the signs of the coming of the Lord according to Biblical prophecy.
In addition to being temporally prepared we are to work on having spiritual storage. A few years ago I wrote to my children some thoughts on becoming more self-reliant both temporally and spiritually. Here are some of those thoughts. Twice a year we have General Conference where the Prophet, Apostles and other general authorities give messages on these subjects.

We all need home storage; but more important we need spiritual storage. I pray you will read these thought from the leaders of our church and feel the spirit of their messages.

1. Nurture your testimony. Faith is not only a feeling but a decision; choose faith. Fear and faith can not co-exist in your heart at the same time.

2. Seek to receive the spirit into your lives; live worthy for it. Everything depends upon having the power of the Holy Ghost in your lives.

3. Be unified in your families. Contention is of the devil. The spirit can not dwell in a home of contention. Be tolerant of others and learn to walk away from contention. Choose your battles, most are not that important. It's up to each of us to be patient, kind, and loving with one another. Speak kindly with one another. Remember that your family has tender hearts, do not bruise them. Families are the learning ground for life. We are not perfect; but we can always be working on being better. Be a peacemaker. Be merciful. Be forgiving. Respond in a Christ like way. Never give up in learning how to be more Christ like in your family relationships. Remember always that our family motto is "No Empty Chair" in the Kingdom of God.

1. Pray morning and night as an individual, as a couple and in family prayer. In today's world we need to utilize the gift of prayer. Pray for others. Be grateful in your prayers. Take time to listen for the spirit when praying. Pray always and be believing. Heavenly Father and the Savior will never leave you alone.

4. Prepare each week for partaking of the Sacrament. Ponder on the things that you need to work on in your life. There are great blessings through the sacrament covenants.

5. Put your trust in Heavenly Father and your Savior Jesus Christ. Come to know them. Open your hearts to them. Realize that the one way to happiness and joy in this life is through Jesus Christ and his atonement. When you have a hard time believe in the love of the Savior. Read and Memorize Proverbs 3: 5-6.

6. Read the scriptures everyday; especially The Book of Mormon. This is one of the most important of all to do. Both my husband and I have been doing this for a long time and we feel and know the value of the scriptures. Try reading, pondering and writing your feelings while reading; you will be surprised by the messages you will receive from the spirit. I call it spiritual journaling. Don't be too busy to read the scriptures.
Read the scriptures as a family everyday; this will provide them with the strength to face the world they live in.

7. Attend the temple as often as possible. It is one of the few places that you can find peace. Prayers are heard and answers given to life questions in the Temple. Keep your baptismal and temple covenants.

8. Have love and selflessness in your marriage. Nurture your love for each other. Decide now to always treat your eternal companion with kindness, love and respect.

9. Love your brothers and sisters; care for them, pray for them and support them.

10. Serve others; when you have a hard time find someone that is having a harder time and lift them up. This works! Serving your family and others is a great blessing and a source that will bring great joy into your life.

11. Be true at all times. Be a disciple of Christ. Have moral courage. Be meek; meekness is the badge of Christian Courage. Have a loving heart.

12. Follow the Prophet always.

13. Live the Word of Wisdom. Choose to become more healthy. Your body is your temple; take care of it.

14. Dress Modestly. Be and example of modesty in dress and behavior. Teach your children this principle.

15. Get rid of debt. If you have debt work on getting out of debt.

16. Find joy in the moment. Have Joy in the journey. Have gratitude for all of your blessings.

17. Stay on course. Regardless of the trials you may face be faithful and true. Through your trials, endure them well. There are great lessons learned through the hardships you will face. Look to Christ in all of your trials and believe in the atonement. Remember always that Jesus loves us, lifts us up and leads us today.

Every night we pray that you as our children will teach our grandchildren the gospel of Jesus Christ and that they will learn to feel the spirit of the Holy Ghost in their lives. President Brigham Young had a vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Prophet Joseph Smith told him that the most important thing that he could teach the people was how to know and feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. We need that spirit now more than ever.

Dad and I love you all beyond measure and are pleased that you are active and engaged in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be faithful and true.