Practical Preparedness

Many people think that all Preppers do what they do because they think that the end of the world is coming. While this may be true for some, many preppers also prepare for everyday events and disasters.

Watching the news I see people who were killed and injured in a bombing in Boston. Then another explosion in Texas levels almost an entire town, killing at least 5 and as many as 15, injuring hundreds and leaving thousands without a place to live. There were thousands that were told to evacuate in a matter of minutes. One lady didn’t even have on any shoes and was loaned a pair.

The first thing that came to my mind was how very grateful I am to have a Get Home Bag in my truck with me wherever I go. It really got me thinking how truly unprepared most people are for everyday events and disasters. Prepping is something that everyone should do to some extent or another. Events and disasters can happen anytime, anywhere and to anyone. Having some basic supplies and plans in place can mean the difference between survival, total chaos and death. That may sound somewhat extreme, but let’s see where this leads us.

In the town of West is a small community along I-35 between Dallas and Waco with a population of just under 3,000. There are few routes in and out of the town. When the fertilizer plant exploded most of the town was affected physically. Many surrounding emergency response agencies were coming into the town and residents were attempting to evacuate. Power in a lot of the town was not functioning. Streets were crowded with vehicles, people on foot and debris.

Now put yourself in that situation. Your house has been leveled, everything that your own is gone, and you have been told that you need to evacuate due to the possibility of more explosions and toxic fumes. What do you do? How will you get out? What can you take with you?

As I mentioned before, I always have a Get Home Bag with me. This is at least a three days’ supply of food, shelter, extra clothes, weapons and ammo. If I need to go somewhere in a hurry and I am not home I have my bag with me. I can get home and get other supplies. In this case “other supplies” were probably gone, but I have the means to survive for at least three days with what I can put on my back.

Next, how do I get to where I am going if my vehicle is running and I can drive? Do I already have gas? Most likely the availability of gas is going to be short. For this reason, keeping at least a half a tank of gas at all times should be normal. You can never count on their being gas available. Look at the long lines of cars waiting for gas before, during and after Hurricane Sandy. Cars were left where they were because they ran out of gas and there was none to be found.

A lot of the families in West were not together when the explosion happened. They were in multiple locations and the news was showing many family members trying to find each other. Do you have a location that is designated as your families Meet Up Spot? Do you have a secondary location in case the first is either destroyed or unsafe? This is a plan that you should not only have in place, but practice regularly.

Children need to know where to go and wait for parents or older siblings. Have a plan in place that states how long to wait before going to the alternate spot. Stay together for safety and stick to your plan. Plans may have to be changed, but have contingencies planned and make those decisions as a family or group.

Do you have multiple routes to your Meet Up Spot and to get out of the area if needed? You never know if roads will be blocked by law enforcement, emergency personnel, fallen trees, landslides, or gangs. Make sure that you have planned and practiced the different routes and that everyone in your family or group knows them.

One last item that is very important is Documentation. Make sure that you have copies of sensitive documents; banks accounts, birth certificates, social security cards, insurance, and immunization records in a secondary location. If your entire house is leveled and you have to leave NOW, you will only have what is in your Get Home Bag or at your secondary location. These documents will be very important. Also, if you have the means, have some extra cash stashed in your bag. Last time I checked cash still buys things.

We never know when a bomb will go off, a tornado will pass through, a blizzard will happen, or another event or disaster will affect our families. These basic preparedness plans can make a difference to our families and friends. Plan and Prepare for the events that you feel may affect you and your family.

Plan, plan, plan then plan again, then have 10 contingencies for your plans.

The City Slicker's Guide To Felling Trees And Chopping Wood

For those who have spent most, if not all of their lives trapped in a decidedly more efficient, but no less primitive urban landscape, the idea of chopping down a large tree and turning the fallen timber into perfectly cut pieces of firewood was probably not something you had to confront. But perhaps you always had a void within yourself and the time has finally come to fill that hollow with a chainsaw and an axe.

Felling Trees

There is a precise technique to properly chopping down a tree. This is hard work and can be dangerous if not done right. Depending on the size of the tree--width and height, this process can take mere minutes to many hours. You’ll first need a good pair of comfortable shoes, protective eye-wear, work gloves, and a good chainsaw. If the notion of felling a tree with an axe entered your mind, you should rid yourself of that idea rather quick after a couple swings against a well armored tree trunk. Buy or borrow a chainsaw!

Depending on the context in which you’re felling the tree, you will either have an experienced companion assisting you, or you will undoubtedly be prepared to dispatch the tree on your own accord with all the necessary equipment and a very specific reason. If neither of these are true, what are you even doing in the woods? Just get back in your car and drive home; you’re probably doing something illegal anyway.

Once you’re ready to initiate the first step in your Natty Bumppo wilderness fantasy, it’s important you follow a few critical points in assessing and making cuts in the tree. First, determine the direction of fall and make the first cut a third of a way into the tree, parallel to the ground on the side you want the tree to fall.

Next, make a 60 degree angle downward cut until you meet the first cut. This should take out a large triangle of wood from the tree. At this point you’ve made the face cut that will guide the tree as it falls. You can now move to the opposite side of the tree and set the blade parallel to the ground a couple of inches above the bottom of the face cut. Cut horizontally into the trunk until there is just a strip of uncut trunk. This should keep the tree from kickback as it falls. Finally, cut the strip until the tree begins to topple. Turn off the saw and retreat. Don’t look back until you are a safe distance away and hear the thud.

Chopping Wood

Perhaps the quintessential act of rustic manliness, chopping wood is an artful labor. This isn’t to say that the work is gender specific, but let’s face it, chopping wood just appears brutish. The trick one aspires to achieve chopping wood is working with the wood rather than against it. In general, properly cutting wood is as precision oriented as felling the tree beforehand. Fortunately, chopping wood is a simple and easy to hone technique, you will chop cleaner and faster with practice.

First, gather the need the tools. Good work gloves, a sturdy axe, and some splitting wedges to initially crack open the wood. Also, a short chopping block for resistance is needed to chop the wood into smaller pieces. This is also necessary to protect the blade of your axe from damage when it breaks through the wood.

Set the piece of wood on the block and stand back with feet apart and arms extended. Then line up the axe over the wood, raise it, and strike. This will take practice to get right and may require adjustment to determine the best parts of the wood to strike. Look for well-formed cracks to hit and let the weight of the axe do most of the work. This will usually cause the wood to easily come apart, but sometimes you may need to strike along the sides to avoid getting the axe struck in a thick log.

For the toughest pieces of wood, you can use the wedges to facilitate the splitting. Tap one of the wedges into the log and strike it in until the wood begins to split. You can also whittle away the log around the sides until the log is small enough to split down the center more easily. With practice, you can become a highly efficient wood-cutter. The best part is that you can take this skill anywhere. You’ll soon be the go-to firewood source. Just remember your flannel shirt and steel-toed boots!

Christ taught the Church would be largely UNPREPARED at His coming. That, of course, is our day.

Spencer Kimball speaking of the parable of the ten virgins:

"I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world. All of the virgins, wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the wedding supper; they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the important day to come. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or the pagans, nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect their eternal lives." 

- Spencer Kimball, Faith Preceeds the Miracle, p.253-254

"Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. Confidence has been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard to wait and be prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber. The Lord has given us this parable as a special warning."

"In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures—each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity—these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps."

"Oil" has always been a symbol for the Holy Ghost.

"Midnight is so late for those who have procrastinated."

New Social Media Pages Created for Church Leaders

“Like” the Facebook page for President Thomas S. Monson and other Church leaders to regularly receive links to inspiring talks, articles, and other videos in your Facebook feed.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
The Church has created personal pages for members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve on Facebook and Google.
These pages will act as an official social media presence for the Brethren.
You can find a list of links to their Facebook and Google+ pages on the Sharing via Social Media page on search.lds.org.

“These [social media] pages will allow people to find the modern words of living prophets more easily.” —Jared Covington, senior adviser over social media for the Church

The Church has created social media pages for members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve on Facebook and Google. These pages will be maintained on their behalf by the Church and act as an official social media presence for each of them.

You can find a list of links to their Facebook and Google+ pages on the Sharing via Social Media page on LDS.org. Jared Covington, senior adviser over social media for the Church, said the Church created these pages to “give people a safe place they could go on Facebook to ‘like’ the pages of the Brethren.”

Those following these pages will receive regular updates on the ministry of each of the Brethren. “The Church will post links to talks, articles, videos, and other relevant content on their behalf,” said Dale Jones, a spokesperson for the Church.

Brother Covington said that the goal for these pages is to show people content on LDS.org that they may not have found previously. “It allows us to highlight content that is tied to specific brethren. Our hope is that members will really dive in and feast upon this content.”

Although page likes are not the main goal, there are definitely reasons for liking these pages. “These pages will allow people to find the modern words of living prophets more easily,” Brother Covington said. When you like the Brethren’s pages, he explained, their content will be in your Facebook feed, so you can readily view it and share it with others.

Liking the pages also “makes a public declaration to your friends that this is what you believe. … It is a subtle declaration of your faith. You can be actively engaged in showing your beliefs and sharing them with your friends through the simple action of liking or following a page.”

Besides the obvious spiritual and missionary benefits of having these pages, an immediate benefit that has already been seen since the launch is improved search engine optimization (SEO). This means that when people search on the names of the Brethren, the top results are more likely to come from official Church content, both in online searches and within social media networks.

Before these pages were created, 45 unofficial Facebook pages existed for President Monson alone, said Brother Covington. Creating official pages helps members know which pages are maintained by the Church and protects individuals from fake pages, he said. (To know whether or not a social media site or page is official, look for the Church’s logo.)

Rain Water Collection Tips: Making The Most Of Our Natural Resource

Natural rainwater can provide an excellent resource for any extra uses you may need in your everyday life. It can be used for irrigation, livestock water, garden uses and even drinking or bathing water if necessary and proper cleaning practices are ensured.

However, when collecting rainwater it is important to be sure that no regulations are in place and that you are going about it the right way.

Benefits of Rainwater Collection

There are various benefits of collecting falling water, rather than paying for water from another source. For instance, rainwater is soft and therefore doesn’t need detergent in order to be used for general needs.

An additional obvious benefit is the price. You will usually have to pay for the collection or harvesting system itself; however, these expenses are generally fairly cheap and setup is easy.

These systems are primarily being used in countries, such as China, Brazil, Bermuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Senegal, etc. and provide clean water for basic needs.

Rainwater Restrictions and Regulations

It may seem silly that certain countries welcome large rainwater harvesting stations and even have laws that ensure they are installed on all buildings, while others regulate the amount of water that can be stored.

For instance, in the United States, laws and regulations are strict for how much rainwater you are allowed to collect without a permit. Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Ohio are among the most regulated. However, the majority of states have some type of regulation in place and some have even made it illegal to collect at all.

Tips for Catching and Harvesting Rainwater

With all the regulations, you may decide that is just isn’t worth it to go through the hassle of permits in order to collect rainwater. However, if you do decide to go forward with this, here are some tips to help make it easier and more beneficial for you.

• Be aware of the toxins that leach off of roofing materials. I would avoid asphalt shingles if you are planning on using the rainwater for watering or growing purposes.
• Choose your collection canister wisely. Barrels made specifically for collecting rainwater can withstand freezing, expansion and distortion, while trash cans and other garbage collection containers generally won’t.
• Be safe. Keep the rain barrel away from spots where children may consider it a fun water play spot. Don’t place it near stairs, etc. Additionally, mosquitoes and other pests bring disease, so it is essential to either install some kind of system to keep these pests out or purchase an updated system with these blocks already installed.
• Set it up off the ground. This isn’t necessary, but will make it easier to get to the spigot, which is normally located on the very bottom of the barrel within a few inches of the ground. Using cement blocks to prop the barrel up will make distribution easier.
• Keep gutters cleaned out. The leaves, dirt and other materials that often sit in the gutter can cause rainwater to become contaminated and unsafe. It is especially important to clean the gutters before a big storm comes through if you are planning to collect water during that time.
• Use the collected water wisely. For instance, you could use it for laundry or bathing if it is cleaned and stored properly.

These are just a few of the tips that you can employ to keep your collected rainwater safe from toxins and within the bounds of legality.

The Survival Mom - Why gardening is a metaphor for life

Gardening, in a lot of ways, is a microcosm for life. Many of the lessons learned in the garden have a very real application in the larger world. Allow me the pleasure of being your Buddha with a broad fork, your Plato with a pitchfork, and let’s get deep with some gardening philosophy. Let’s look at three ways that gardening is just like life.

YOU NEED TO BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION BEFORE YOU START TO SEE RESULTS.

We live in a quick fix, magic pill society. TV commercials promise 6 minute abs, get-rich-quick schemes, and pills guaranteed to fix all of your problems and make you happy (never mind those pesky side effects!). We expect (nay, demand!) that what we want should come quick and easily.

This same mentality is often displayed by first-time gardeners. They figure they’ll buy some pretty flowers, put in a month or two of work, and by autumn they’ll be blessed with the garden of their dreams.

Those who subscribe to this mentality- both in life and in the garden- are often disappointed by the results. The wiser of us have realized a fundamental truth about life- that a strong foundation must be built before we see the results we want.

In gardening, this means creating a strong, rich, durable soil. The secret to gardening is that 90% of it is creating the right soil. If your soil is strong, you will be able to grow just about anything. If your soil is weak, growing even the simplest plants will be a struggle. And creating a truly great soil can often take years.

Some of the qualities of a strong soil:

It is Rich in Nutrients

A strong soil is well supplied with these 13 essential nutrients:

• Primary nutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) Potassium (K) (needed in large amounts)
• Secondary nutrients: Sulfur (S), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) (needed in smaller amounts)
• Micronutrients: Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl) (needed in trace amounts)

The best way to supply your soil with these nutrients is to consistently feed it composted organic material. Having a compost heap is a must for keeping your garden strong and healthy.

It Has Good Water Retention and Aeration

A good soil is able to hold onto water, and allows air to pass through it easily. Again, the best way to improve these qualities is by consistently adding composted materials.

It Has the Right pH Balance

A good soil needs the right pH balance. This usually means around a 7, although some plants prefer slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soils. If your soil is too acidic, add ground lime. If your soil is too alkaline, add sulphur or aluminum sulphate. Test kits are available at most garden centers.

Build a solid foundation for your garden, starting with the soil, and you will get the results you want over the long term.

DON’T FIGHT NATURE. GO WITH THE FLOW.

Another valuable life lesson learned from gardening is that you have to go with the flow, not fight against it. Too often novice gardeners have a vision in their heads of how things should be, without factoring in the realities of their environment. Sometimes this comes up when they are getting started, and sometimes it comes up as resistant to change.

A few years back, my Mum had gorgeous yellow Texas climbing roses that grew up along a fence. The neighbors next door had a young pine tree, and the day came where it grew large enough that it cast a permanent shadow over the roses for a large portion of the day. The flowers withered and died.

My Mum spent the next 3-4 summers trying to salvage her roses, but to no avail. The environment had changed. Much wasted time, effort and suffering could have been avoided if she had just let them go.
Some questions to ask yourself about your potential plants:

• Do they fit the climate and temperature of your environment?
• Will they receive enough sunlight?
• Will they receive enough water?
• Will the soil be appropriate for them?
• Will they fit with the other plants and animals in the environment?

A GARDEN IS LIKE A RELATIONSHIP. MAINTENANCE AND PERSEVERANCE ARE THE KEY IN THE LONG RUN.

A garden is a lot like a relationship. It can start off all fun and exciting, but that lustre will eventually wear off. Success over the long term is all about consistent maintenance and perseverance, putting in the work even when you don’t want to.
When you plant Irises and Day Lilies, you will get a beautiful yield for the first 2 to 3 years, with minimal effort. It will all seem so easy. Then, a weird thing happens. Bulbs will start to overlap. The plants will overcrowd each other. The flowers will weaken, opening the door for pests and weeds to take over. Things will fall apart, leaving you to wonder what happened.

Such it is with relationships. We are given an early window where things are easy, but if consistent effort isn’t put into them, they will wither and die over the long run. With flowers, this means splitting them regularly, maintaining the soil and getting rid of weeds. With relationships… well, that is a much more complicated topic for another day.

IN CONCLUSION…

There are many lessons to be learned in the garden. It takes hard work before you start to see results. You need to go with the flow. You need to persevere over the long term. All of these lessons can be applied to life outside of the garden bed.
So get out there and start planting! You’ll have to sift through a lot of dirt, but if you work hard you’ll have time to smell the flowers.

Healthy Habit of the Week: Water

Water plays a key role in supporting health, during weight loss and on in to maintenance! This is a habit we want to keep FOREVER! It helps remove toxins and other unhealthy substances stored in your fat cells. Being well-hydrated helps all your organs and systems function properly. In fact, every function in your body takes place in water!!

Benefits of water:
Maintain proper muscle tone
Prevent sagging skin
Relieve constipation
Improves endocrine (hormone) function
Increases metabolic function
Decreases appetite
Increases fat used for energy
Liver function improves
Decreases fluid retention
Increases natural thirst

Signs of dehydration:
Excessive thirst
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth
Little or no urination
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Lightheadedness

Have you ever experienced some of the above symptoms and thought that you needed to eat? I have!

Tips to Get it in!
Guzzling 30 ounces right when you wake up. At first it might be hard, but your body will get used to it.Then throughout the day spread out your consumption. Try to pick three or four times a day when you can have a big glass of water, and then sip in between.Don't let yourself get thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated. Drink when you're not thirsty yet.It's probably a good idea to stop drinking water a few hours before you go to bed. YOU KNOW WHY!

President Benson

“Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. The Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation and given us counsel, through His servants, on how we can be prepared for these difficult times. Have we heeded His counsel?

President Benson

32 Survival Skills Your Child Should Know and Be Able to Do!

Knowledge is something that takes time to develop, so we need to start teaching the next generation now.  In case God forbid, our children are left to fend for themselves or we are injured or even just to make your family more apt to survive, every child must learn these survival skills so they can pull their own weight and contribute as much as they can.  If yourfamily learns now to be a well oiled machine, you will be more likely to survive any type of collapse.

1. Grow vegetables from seeds
2. Have local edible and medicinal plant foraging skills
3. Knowledge of dietary needs and how to meet them using wild plants and game
4. Make a fire and know fire safety
5. Cook on an open fire
6. Open a can of food with and without can opener (rub can lid ridge on cement and then pry open with knife)
7. Be able to tell if food is too spoiled to eat
8. How to safely use a knife
9. How to shoot a sling shot
10. How to hunt small game with snares, traps and sling shot
11. How to fish and hunt-bow & gun when old enough
12. How to clean fish and wild game
13. Find water and identify if it’s safe to drink
14. Filter and boil water to drink
15. Basic first aid
16. Basic hygiene practices
17. Find or build a shelter in the wilderness
18. How to stay warm, cool and dry in the elements
19. How, Why and When to stay hidden
20. Self defense
21. How to make a basic weapon and how to use it
22. Be able to run and walk a good distance and be in generally good shape
23. How to climb a tree- to get away from predators, get directional barrings, and hunt.
24. How to read a map and use a compass
25. How to read the sky for directions, time and approaching bad weather
26. Know where family and friends live if they need to find them
27. How to sew so they can mend clothing or any fabric and even make things such as bags or scrap quilts
28. How to bargain and trade (Kids naturally do this with their toys so teach them at garage sales.)
29. How to be responsible for themselves and to be aware of their surroundings at all times
30. Have a natural curiosity and good problem solving skills
31. Be hard working and a self starter and a family helper not a complainer!
32. Have a strong faith in God (morals, memorize bible verses, prayers, songs, and have a hope for heaven)

The Four Best Methods for Long Term Food Storage

"I bought a bag of rice and I do not know how to store for long term. Can you tell me the best way to do this?"

There are a few options for you for long term storage of rice.  Some are easier and less expensive than others, but they all have their advantages.  The things you want to protect your long term food storage from are light, heat, moisture, and pests.

1. #10 Can. Really the way I prefer is to get the rice into a #10 can with an oxygen absorber.  It is a good usable size for most food products which also makes it a nice size for storing–not too heavy when it’s full or so big it won’t fit under your bed if that’s where you want to store it.  However, to pack your bulk foods into a #10 can, you need a can sealer and the unused empty cans which can be accessed through an LDS dry pack cannery, but otherwise are quite expensive to work with. (Note: Sugars and high sugar content drink mixes should be stored without oxygen absorbers as they will make your sugar turn to a block instead of nice granules.)

2. Food Grade Buckets. You can also put the rice in a food grade bucket.  You want to make sure you have a bucket that hasn’t had other non-foods in it (paint, etc).  These buckets can be purchased new or picked up used at a local bakery for cheap and sometimes free.  Add a couple of oxygen absorbers if you can to keep it really fresh (you can pick these up through Amazon or some food storage companies like Emergency Essentials or Honeyville also sell them), but it can go in the bucket with no oxygen absorber and will still keep a long time.

3. Mylar Bags. Another option is to seal the rice in mylar bags with oxygen absorbers.  The bags and oxygen absorbers are both available on Amazon.  They can be sealed with a special sealer machine or using a hot dry iron as in this video.   The only drawback is that the mylar bags are not rodent proof, so you’ll want to put them inside something else that mice can’t chew through (bucket, bin, barrel, etc.).

4. PETE Bottles. For a smaller amount of rice, you can also put it in any cleaned out, thoroughly dried food grade plastic container.  Things like 2 liter soda bottles, peanut butter jars, etc.  Look for “PETE” or “PET” on the bottom of the bottle.  Again, you can add the oxygen absorber for optimum freshness, but it’s not required.  Screw the lids on tight.  These bottles are generally clear, so it will be best if they’re stored in a location without a lot of light, and they are odd shapes and sizes, but hey, they’re available with no added expense on your part and they work great for smaller quantities of dry foods that wouldn’t require an entire bucket.

Survival Priorities

Should you find yourself in a survival situation, you may be looking at enduring the ordeal for 24-72 hours until SAR personnel can get to your location. This assumes you left that almighty travel plan and that the weather is cooperative. I recall one story of a stranded hiker who was talking with searchers on his cellphone only to have them say that they couldn’t get to him for the next four days due to high winds and an impending snowstorm! 

There are 7 priorities you must take care:

1. PMA – Positive Mental Attitude
2. Shelter
3. Fire
4. Water
5. Signaling
6. First-Aid
7. Sleep

From the above list, you can see that your priorities are few but this is where a quality survival kit comes into play. Yes, it is possible to make fire by rubbing two sticks together and fashion a lean-to but do you really want to play Jeremiah Johnson when the sun is setting, hypothermia is at your back, and you are coping with injury?! Carry a good survival kit and you will be ahead of the game should Murphy’s Law befall you on the trail.

Why isn’t food on the list? Because we are talking about a narrow window of 1-3 days and your body is hardwired for fasting from our hunter-gatherer heritage. One survivor in the Himalayas went an astonishing 43 days without food and survived because he had shelter, water (melted snow), and the will to live in abundance.

In survival courses I teach for military special operations units, we delve into gathering wild plants, trapping, and food procurement but these are long-term wilderness skills and not something a stranded dayhiker should expend precious calories and sweat on. Stay put, hydrated, and keep warm.

PMA is listed at the top for a reason and I will discuss survival psychology in-depth in a future article. One thing that will help and to consider carrying in your survival kit is a photo of your family or loved ones. Pulling that out, when the cold night is upon you in the wilds, will help bolster your willpower and nourish the survivor mindset.

A Survival Kit You Can Live With

I am a fan of making your own survival kit. This is the essence of self-reliance as you know exactly what’s going into the kit, how it works, and that will be tailored to fit you. Life insurance at its best!

You will want to carry enough gear to take care of the “Big 5″ survival priorities of: Shelter, Water, Fire, Medical, and Signaling. For a guideline, here’s what I carry:

Shelter
~ Your first shelter is your clothing so dress appropriately (i.e. avoid 100% cotton and use poly/cotton BDUs, fleece or wool shirts, Underarmor, etc…)
~ Green or brown tarp (6′x8′ from Home Depot)

Water
~ Potable Aqua Iodine
~ 2 to 6 quarts depending on the time of year; 5-20 gallons in the vehicle
~ 2 packets per day of Vitalyte or GU20 electrolyte replacement powder

Firemaking
~ Spark rod
~ Bic lighter
~ REI StormProof Matches
~ Cottonballs smeared with Vaseline stored in a film canister. Use a teaspoon of Vaseline per cottonball to create an excellent wet-weather firestarter.

Signaling
~ 2″x3″ glass signal mirror
~ Whistle
~ Cellphone

First-Aid
~ Adventure Medical Kit augmented with Fast-Melt Benadryl, Ibuprofen, and GU20 electrolyte powder.

Miscellaneous Items
~ LED Headlamp
~ 30′ of 550 cord
~ Swedish Mora Knife (fixed blade)
~ Swiss Army Knife
~ Jerky/Trailmix

Remember to check the weather in the morning during the rainy season, leave a travel plan, and carry your survival gear at all times.

Moroni 9-10 Remember How Merciful The Lord Has Been

Bruce K. Satterfield was a religious instructor at Ricks Collage when this was published.

President Ezra Taft Benson declared "The Book of Mormon brings men  to Christ". In this declaration, he reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the Book of Mormon in the salvation of humankind. From its beginning to its conclusion, it bears witness of Christ and teaches about his atonement that makes possible "the plan of mercy". (Alma 42:15,23)

Through this plan we can be delivered from the power of Satan and our own imperfection.

Throughout the Book of Mormon, the prophets urge everyone to come unto Christ (see 1Nephi 6:4 13:40, 2Nephi 9:45, 51:26:33 Jacob 1:7 6:5 Omni 1:26 Alma 5:34-35 3Nephi 12:20 Mormon 9:27,29).

The last Prophet to make this plea was Moroni.

In the final chapter of the Book of Mormon before he sealed up the plates from which it was translated, Moroni invited "all the ends of the earth...[to] come unto Christ and be perfected in him" (Moroni 10:24,32).

However, Moroni 10 is more then just an invitation. Through a series of exhortations, Moroni teaches us how to come unto Christ, and he also gives insight into the power of God that perfects and sanctifies those who do come unto him.

12 Summer Fruit and Veggie Recipes

Summer brings a wealth of deliciously ripe produce. Here are a dozen of the freshest seasonal fruits and veggies and mouthwatering ways to serve them.

Berries

Enjoy them on their own or on salads, desserts, and cereal.

Health benefits include:
• Low in calories
• Rich in antioxidants, which neutralize cell damage
• May reduce the effects of Alzheimer's disease
• May reduce risk of colon or ovarian cancer

Harvest season: May-September

Try this recipe: Blueberry-Blackberry Shortcakes

Cucumbers

These crisp and cool veggies are for much more than salads (and spa treatments). They can be used in gazpachos and substituted for celery in tuna and chicken salad recipes.

Health benefits include:
• Contains silica, which improves the complexion and health of the skin
• Good source of fiber, potassium, and magnesium

Harvest season: June-November

Try this recipe: Pickled Ginger Cucumbers

Eggplant

Most people think of eggplant in calorie-laden eggplant Parmesan. However, this rich purple veggie can be grilled, roasted, and enjoyed in a variety of summer dishes.

Health benefits include:
• Good source of B vitamins
• Antioxidant-rich
• May reduce cholesterol levels

Harvest season: July-October

Try this recipe: Szechuan Spicy Eggplant

Peaches

This fleshy fruit has a sweet, almost tangy taste that blends well in smoothies and other beverages. For a summer treat, slice some peaches and enjoy with a cream cheese (like Explorateur) and a glass of chardonnnay.

Health benefits include:
• Good source of vitamin A
• Good source of potassium

Harvest season: May-October

Try this recipe: Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Bell peppers

With their tangy flavor and signature crunch, bell peppers are a summer diet must-have. The lively colors will bring dishes alive and add a nutritional bonus.

Health benefits include:
• More than 100 percent of your recommended amount of vitamins A and C
• Contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which may lower the risk of high cholesterol

Harvest season: May-December

Try this recipe: Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Onion Lasagna

Squash

Unlike winter squash, summer squash has a soft and almost creamy quality. Its mild taste works well with herbs such as basil, thyme, and rosemary.

Health benefits include:
• Excellent source of vitamin C
• Contains omega-3 fatty acids

Harvest season: May–September

Try this recipe: Summer Squash with Tomatoes and Basil

Tomatoes

Though tomatoes are considered a fruit, they lack the sweetness that characterizes that food group. However, cooking or grilling them may take away some of their bitter or acidic flavors.

Health benefits include:
• Contains lycopene, which has antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties
• Good source of niacin, which has been used for years as a safe way to raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol)

Harvest season: June-October

Try this recipe: Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes

Pears

The soft texture and sweet taste of pears make them the perfect fruit for summertime. And their mild flavor lets them blend well with a variety of recipes.

Health benefits include:
• Good source of vitamin C and copper
• 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving

Try this recipe: Caramelized Onion-Pear Pizza

Apricots

Starting in May, enjoy the sweet, smooth, and faintly tart taste of apricots. Not only are they the perfect juicy addition to any meal, but they are also nutrient-rich.

Health benefits include:
• Beta-carotene and lycopene for heart health
• Good source of vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps with vision and cellular growth

Harvest season: May-July

Try this recipe: Honey-Vanilla Poached Apricots

Figs

Though dried figs can be enjoyed year-round, fresh ones are in-season starting in June. The chewy texture of the fruit is a favorite for baking. However, roasting them in the oven makes a sweet, tender treat.

Health benefits include:
• Good source of dietary fiber
• 15 percent of your recommended amount of potassium and manganese

Harvest season: June-November

Try this recipe: Oat-Topped Fig Muffins

Corn

Corn has been a summer favorite way before the days of gas grills and microwaves. Though it's sweet enough to eat on its own, summer corn tastes delicious with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Health benefits include:
• Almost 25 percent of vitamin B1, which helps cognitive functioning
• Contains beta-cryptoxanthin, an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of lung cancer

Harvest season: June-November

Try this recipe: Savory Buttermilk Corn Cakes

Okra

Okra is often ignored as a summer veggie, but it is perfect for soups, canning, and stews. Its subtle taste enhances the flavor of tomatoes, onions, corn, shellfish, and fish stock.

Health benefits include:
• Contains insoluble fiber, which is essential for digestive health
• Good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid