Marriage Preservation II

In some of my earliest posts I have articles, quotes, and ideas about keeping our marriages happy and alive, but now I want to talk about keeping the concept of marriage alive. Marriage between a man and a woman is hard enough without the "world" trying to redefine and eliminate marriage....but that is exactly what is happening now.

California is a state that always sets the trend, and now there is a fight being waged for the sanctity of marriage and the family, against those who desire to make the world amoral. Those against the marriage amendment say that we who are for it are bigots, homophobes, and hate mongers, and that they only want what is fair. California already has a law in their constitution that gives domestic partners all the rights and priviledges as married couples...so what's the problem (see vote yes link)? The problem is that those people will never be happy unless they have a society where all religious values, beliefs, and traditions are eradicated. What will happen if the marriage amendment is not passed? Children will be taught about homosexual lifestyle at kindergarten age on up, and must be in attendance...no choice! Churches cannot preach from the Bible that homosexuality is a sin for it will be considered an unlawful act and they'll lose their tax free status. For those churches with adoption agencies, if they will not adopt to a homosexual couple then they will have to close their doors. The same consequences will occur to churches that will not perform marriages to homosexual couples....their doors will close....all churches, including temples. This is obviously not an issue of fairness....homosexual men and women can find a lot of people out there now who will perform marriages, or adopt children to them. The homosexual agenda is to completely destroy all churches and institutions that do not conform to their way of thinking!

Click on the "Preserve Marriage: Yes on 8" link if you want more information about this issue which not only concerns California, but all of society. Spread the word!!!

IS FOOD STORAGE NECESSARY?

“We encourage families to have on hand this year’s supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where he says, 'Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?' (Luke 6:46) How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so-called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says.”

— Spencer W. Kimball



Food preparation is the area where we have the most control and influence over as stay-at-home moms. In learning how to be provident in storing and using food items we can become professionals in the art of economy. Here is our biggest opportunity to be true help-mates to our husbands by using our resources to their fullest and thus bring the greatest savings to the family budget.

There is such wisdom in the prophets’ counsel of obtaining food storage for times of need. This exhortation to secure food storage wasn’t just for relief in times of natural disasters, but
for any situation where you find yourself with a shortage. Can you think of any greater need than living in today’s world? Rising prices on food, utilities, clothing, house payments, rent, gas, insurance, etc..., become a tidal wave of helplessness to flood our faith and destroy the security of our homes and lives. We now see the epidemic of two income families becoming a plague to the spiritual safety of the home. Heeding the prophets will then literally save you
and your family both temporally and spiritually.

I have been contemplating the blessings of the necessity to use food storage for some time. In order to economise, I buy whole grains in bulk, grow and preserve fruit and vegetables in our garden, use soy and “wheat-meat” as a substitute for high priced proteins, use non-fat powdered milk and soy to make dairy products, and also use the other vegetable/protein sources of legumes. The nutrition value for these foods has enormous benefits to our physical health and yet they are the most economically sound on our budgets! Compare the nutritional and economical soundness of whole foods to the over priced packaged convenience foods, canned goods, sugary boxed cereals, packaged mixes or other products that have so many chemicals and preservatives that they can sit on grocery store shelves for years and cost us a fortune for their convenience! These foods can’t be good for us! Are we really willing to trade our family’s health and financial stability for a quick fix at the supermarket? The Lord’s way is always the answer! Gather and use food storage.

STRANGE WARNING...

With the upcoming elections I'm always on the lookout for what the candidates (and their running-mates) say and do that can possibly help me in my decision process. I found this talk by Joe Biden that has a "creepy" warning for all that hear it. I'm adding it here because I feel that if he is correct, will we need to be prepared and keep our frugal skills honed. Here it is:

October 20, 2008 7:35 AMABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., on Sunday guaranteed that if elected, Sen. Barack Obama., D-Ill., will be tested by an international crisis within his first six months in power and he will need supporters to stand by him as he makes tough, and possibly unpopular, decisions."Mark my words," the Democratic vice presidential nominee warned at the second of his two Seattle fundraisers Sunday. "It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy." "I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said to Emerald City supporters, mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."Not only will the next administration have to deal with foreign affairs issues, Biden warned, but also with the current economic crisis. "Gird your loins," Biden told the crowd. "We're gonna win with your help, God willing, we're gonna win, but this is not gonna be an easy ride. This president, the next president, is gonna be left with the most significant task. It's like cleaning the Augean stables, man. This is more than just, this is more than – think about it, literally, think about it – this is more than just a capital crisis, this is more than just markets. This is a systemic problem we have with this economy."

This isn't the talk in its entirety, but the part that I felt pertained to being prepared as an at-home-mom. We need to know how to budget and use the resources we have at our access. Get a few months food storage in if you haven't started doing that yet. Learn how to use it! If our candidates already know there is going to be trouble and have already made a plan about it, then we had better take it seriously. I'm not a doomsday prophet(ess), but I do know that "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." Check out www.lds.org and go to their provident living site if you want more information on using food storage and how to get it. I will also have more in the days ahead on using storage and different sources that I have found that are good bargains.

Oh, and by the way..... I'm NOT impressed with Joe Biden or Barack Obama as future leaders of our great country! I actually fear for this country if they are elected, and now my fears seem to have been well grounded. Enough of politics.... for now.

JUST FINISHING UP

Wow, my garden was great this year! I've harvested all the potatoes (both red and russet), all the carrots, beets, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, corn, and tomatoes. The freezer is full, the storage room shelves are filled to overflowing with canned produce, and I still have a lot of fresh carrots, beets, squash, and potatoes waiting to be eaten through the winter months. Gardens are such a blessing to the soul! Wholesome food for the body, and yet nourishing to the spirit also. There is such joy in the harvest... seeing the results of all your hard work sitting on the shelves in sparkling jars. I've often thought a jar of newly canned peaches, pickles, or tomatoes is beautiful enough to paint. Autumn is the masterpiece of the garden, and now I can sit down and enjoy it. Hope you had a good summer and harvest this year!