"Catching the Vision of Self-Reliance: Ensign, May 1986, 89

One night the phone rang at the home of Russell Rakes, who at the time was serving as stake president. "President Rakes," came a man 's determined voice, "I refuse to store powdered milk! The Church wants me to store powdered milk, and I just won't do it!"

President Rakes could hear the emotion in the man 's voice. Re assured him that the Church did not expect him to store powdered milk if he didn't want to. "You can choose any kind of storage for your year's supply; it's up to you," he said, trying to calm his caller.

"Well, I'II be hanged if I'll store powdered milk!" the man huffed, slightly appeased. "I have six cows!"

We can all appreciate the humor of this situation. When our leaders urge us to be self-reliant, to manage our resources wisely, and to be prepared for emergencies, they are not advocating any specific storage item as an indispensable part of gospel living. What they are asking us to do is invite the spirit of self-reliance and provident living into our homes.

Provident living-enjoying the present while providing for the future-is the opposite of crisis management. The goal is for each person and family to build a foundation of preparedness in the following six areas: literacy and education, career development, financial and resource management, home production and storage, social-emotional and spiritual strength, and physical health.

The Church has provided guidelines, resources, and ideas to help us attain this balanced preparation and its resulting peace of mind. Whether you live alone or are part of a family, the challenge is to take the basic guidelines and fill your own needs. If you'll never use powdered milk, don't store it! But prayerfully plan and invite the Lord 's guidance so you can live providently and obediently.

Let's focus on two major areas-home production and storage, and financial and resource management-and see how some Latter-day Saints have approached the goal of provident living.