In chapter 2 of Ether in The Book of Mormon, the brother of Jared builds barges as the Lord commands. They were tight “like unto a dish” and presented two problems – not enough air and no light. The Lord instructs him on how to solve the problem of the air but asks him what he would like Him to do about light. He also reminds him that he won’t be able to put windows in the barges because they would be “dashed in pieces” as they cross the “great water.” He tells the brother of Jared that there will be mountain waves, wind, rain, and floods and that they won’t be able to complete their journey unless the Lord prepares them to withstand the great difficulties ahead. He says “I prepare you against these things” so that you can make the journey. (Ether 2:25)
The Savior has warned us in scripture that there will be difficult times in the last days. “Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” (JS-Matthew 1:29) “And there shall be a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth.” (D&C 29:16) “And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.” (D&C 88:90-91)
One of the ways the Lord prepares us against these things, or the great difficulties of our day, is through the instruction He gives through his prophets. Latter-day Saints have received counsel to store food and prepare since at least 1845 when they were instructed to prepare an 18-month supply of food and supplies for the journey west from Nauvoo. Brigham Young counseled to store wheat in 1856 and the remaining years of his life. The counsel continued after his death and in 1937, with the formation of the Church’s welfare program, J. Rueben Clark spoke for the First Presidency when he said “Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead.” The First Presidency has issued subsequent letters and statements on food storage and preparedness in 1942, 1973, 1988, 2002 and 2007. The booklet Essentials of Home Production and Storage was printed and made available in Church distribution centers in 1978. The online site Provident Living (formerly www.providentliving.org) was available to members seeking information on food storage by early 2003. In April 2007, the pamphlet All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage was released under the direction of The First Presidency. The Message from The First Presidency in the pamphlet states:
“Our Heavenly Father…has lovingly commanded us to ‘prepare every needful thing’…so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others…We encourage you to store as much as circumstances allow.”
Repeatedly and consistently, counsel and instruction are given. If we heed it and take action, we will be prepared for whatever comes and whenever it comes. And when we are asked to reverse quarantine or go into self-isolation, when we are affected by local or global economic disaster, by war or by crop destruction, we will not fear because we will be able to take care of ourselves and assist our neighbors.