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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I'm so grateful this morning for my home. The wind is howling loudly against my windows, and it is bitter cold outside. A blizzard is predicted for this afternoon, and the schools are letting out early in preparation. The schools here never let out for snow, so this impending storm must be pretty harsh. I hesitated to take time to write, because I keep getting the feeling that I need to prepare, but I also know that I wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything until I've written.
I'm glad the schools are letting out early. Whenever there is some sort of storm or disaster or emergency, I'm always so glad to have my family around me. There's just something about being together that makes me feel safe.
When the Gadianton Robbers threatened to come against the Nephites, Lachoneus wisely gathered his people and provisions together in the heart of their land, in the city of Zarahemla. They brought everything with them - animals, storage, any supplies that they would need - and they left the rest of the land desolate. This proved to be a good way to keep the robbers away from them, as they couldn't get close enough without having to go back to their camps for more supplies.
Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years...(3 Nephi 4:4)
So the robbers, because the only method they knew to obtain anything was to "plunder and rob and murder", decided that they would go to war. They marched against the Nephites, whom they discovered to have fallen to the earth at their appearance. This made the robbers happy, because they were sure that the Nephites had fallen to the ground in fear.
But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord the did receive them. (3 Nephi 4:10)
Things like this impending blizzard always bring to my mind thoughts of inadequacy. We are told over and over to be prepared for an emergency. To have our food storage and our emergency essentials ready. Because I am not prepared, I will spend the day rushing around gathering things I might need if the power goes out.
The need for adequate emergency storage is obvious, but the battle between the Gadianton robbers and the Nephites reminded me of another type of preparation that is essential in an emergency. I need to make sure that my family and I are also spiritually prepared. No matter the storm or disaster, if we are prepared spiritually, we will be "prepared to meet them". We will have the strength of the Lord to make it through any trial, but we must do our part. All the things that we learn from our inspired leaders are as important as any canned food in my basement storage. Do I have an adequate store of scripture reading, church-going, prayer? It's as vital to periodically take stock of our spiritual storage as it is our food storage. If we are prepared, we need not fear.
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