Family Home Evening - Plant a Garden

Plant a Garden

Scripture or Quote:

D&C 59: 16-19

16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the afulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
17 Yea, and the herb, and the agood things which come of the earth, whether for food or for braiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the abenefit and the buse of man, both to please the eye and to cgladden the heart;
19 Yea, for afood and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to bstrengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

Purpose:

President Spencer W. Kimball called upon Latter-day Saints everywhere to produce their own food. For several years, he asked each family to have its own garden. He said: “We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard. Even those residing in apartments … can generally grow a little food in pots and planters. Study the best methods of providing your own foods. Make your garden … neat and attractive as well as productive. If there are children in your home, involve them in the process with assigned responsibilities” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170–71; or Ensign, May 1976, 124).

Opening Song: Faith – CSB 96

Lesson:

When President Kimball asked each of us to grow a garden, he reminded us of the words of the Lord: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

There are good reasons for this counsel from our prophets. Gardening has many benefits. It expands our appreciation of nature. It teaches the family to work together. When we have a garden that produces well, we are not entirely dependent on others for food. We can select crops we like that provide a nutritious diet. Growing our own food gives us the satisfaction of providing for ourselves. We can also trade produce with our neighbors, save money, and help those in need.

Begin with a Plan

Before we can actually plant our gardens, we must make some decisions.

Where to Plant

First we must decide where to plant the garden. A garden needs the best location possible. It will become a valuable piece of land. Choose a sunny location with at least six hours of sunlight each day. Check the soil. Some soil is so sandy that it cannot retain water or so full of clay that water collects in puddles on top and runs through very slowly.

What to Plant

The second decision we will have to make is what to plant. Some gardens have plenty of space; others have only a little. If space is limited, choose crops that grow upward, such as berry vines, pole beans, or tomatoes on stakes. Choose seeds that bear heavily, such as squash and tomatoes, rather than crops, such as radishes, that produce only one fruit or vegetable from a single seed.

Be sure to choose foods that will give your family the nutrients they need. But avoid planting foods they do not like and will not eat. Also be sure to select foods that grow well in your climate and soil.

It is a good idea to draw a map of your garden each year while planning. The same plants should not grow in the same spot year after year. If crops are not alternated, the soil will become poorer and poorer, and crops will not grow well.

When to Plant

Another decision we must make is when to plant. Each food grows best under its most favorable conditions. Some crops grow better in a dry season, while others prefer more water. Some crops—beets, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onions, peas, and spinach—grow best in cooler weather. Others—beans, corn, melons, squash, and tomatoes—grow best in warmer weather.

As a family decide where your garden will be, what you will plant, and when you will plant it. If it is the time of year to plant, do so! People who live in homes or apartments without yards can still have a garden. Plants can be grown in small pots.

We can show that we love the Lord and trust Him by doing as His prophets have asked us. Each of us will receive blessings if we will plan and prepare our gardens and then care for them so that they will be orderly and produce well. President Kimball counseled: “Keep your lawns and your gardens well-groomed. Whatever your circumstances, let your premises reflect orderliness, beauty, and happiness. Plan well and carry out your plan in an orderly and systematic manner” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 171; or Ensign, May 1976, 125).

Closing Song: The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden – CSB 237

Treat:

For your treat pick some vegetables or fruits that you can grow in a garden. A recipe for a yummy dip is:

Delicious Dip

1/2 cup of shredded cucumber
1 clove of garlic, finely minced (read invisible small pieces)
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil
2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
2 cups of plain yogurt
herbs to taste

1.Wash, peel and shred cucumber.
2.Finely mince the garlic into very small pieces
3.Combine garlic, salt and cucumber in a small bowl.
4.Combine olive oil, lemon juice and yogurt in a medium bowl, stirring to mix well.
5.Add in cucumber/garlic to the yogurt mix.
6.Gently stir to evenly distribute all ingredients.
7.(Optional) Garnish with finely diced dill, mint or parsley.

Use as a dip with veggies, crackers, or torn homemade bread. Delicious and healthy!

Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: www.lds.org

Family Home Evening - Water Storage

Water Storage

Scripture or Quote:

We can live a few weeks without food; we can only live a number of day without water. President Spencer W. Kimball said, "The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself" (The Miracle of Forgiveness, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969, p 8).

Purpose:

What if your children were separated from you during a traumatic event? Would they know they need drinking water within three to five days or they might die? This week's FHE lesson will empower your kids and help them to make a difference in storing life-giving water for your family.

Opening Song: Prayer of Thanksgiving – H 93

Lesson:

Items needed:

whiteboard & markers (if available, otherwise paper & pen)
pack of chewing gum or package of gold stars

To begin the lesson, read Elder L. Tom Perry's words from the following quote. Ask for a volunteer to explain what Elder Perry's concern is for the members of the Church:

Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life ... As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year's supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness" ("If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear," Ensign, Nov 1995, 36).

Allow the volunteer to put in their own words Elder Perry's big concern.

Ask the family to brainstorm what needs to be stored to keep a family alive if the grocery stores stopped receiving food. Ask for another volunteer to be "scribe" and to write the family's ideas on the board (or piece of paper).

Without notice or explanation, ask the family what their plans are for this coming Saturday. Then write one word on the board: water (or if already there, circle it). Explain that without water, everyone in the family will be dead by Saturday, unable to carry out those plans. Simply explain, "Our bodies need drinkable water to survive. In five days’ time without water, we die."

Explain you will now have a scavenger hunt for as many items as possible to store water. Explain the children have five minutes to find those items. For every item found, the child receives one stick of gum or a gold star. On your marks, get set, go!

Once the five minutes is up, have everyone gather in the kitchen to either demonstrate their found items or at least list possible water storage units. Explain that sometimes cities lose their ability to provide water. But even if that happened, it won't be a problem for the family, because your family is going to be ready.

Fill up a pitcher of water and give each person one glass to drink. Ask how long that one pitcher of water would last for the whole family? Have a quick math-scramble to see how many pitchers of water each person would need stored to keep them alive for five days (at eight glasses of water/day)? Amplify that amount by the number of individuals in the family. Does the family have enough water stored right now stored to keep them alive until Saturday? What about beyond Saturday? If not, ask what each one can do to change that.

Applaud their answers. Remind them that sometimes preparing for emergencies requires sacrifice: sacrifice of time actually storing the water and sacrifice of money sometimes to buy water storage containers. But sacrifice brings blessings, peace, and safety!

Activity:

Set a goal as a family that by Saturday, you will have ____ gallons of water actually stored for your family. Ensure that every person knows where the water is stored and how to access it (i.e. 55-gallon barrels require special siphons to get to the water. Make sure the kids know how to use those if you have this kind of water storage container.) Here is a link to appropriate water storage containers.

Let the kids know that next week's FHE lesson will be a crazy Einstein "lab" on purifying water from streams or other places if they still needed more water (See Water Purification Lesson). But until then, applaud their aid in helping the family store water both tonight and during the coming week.

Closing Song: Do What is Right – H 237


Treat:

Frozen popsicles. Remind the kids that the popsicles are made of water. While slurping on the delicious treats, brainstorm as a family as many items as possible that use water for food or for drink.


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: www.meridianmagazine.com/familyhome/080319store.html

Family Home Evening - Food Storage

Food Storage

Scripture or Quote:

The great blessing of being prepared gives us freedom from fear, as guaranteed to us by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants: “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). (L.Tom Perry, "If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear", Ensign, Nov 1995, 35).

Purpose:

The prophets have asked us to have a year’s supply of food storage for each member of our family. Food storage includes grains like wheat, flour, rice, and oats. It also can include fruits and vegetables that are canned in a jar to preserve them. Have you ever eaten canned foods before? Canned foods are great because fresh produce can be saved for a later time and be eaten.

Opening Song: Do as I’m Doing (pretend to put food on the shelf or pick from a garden) CSB 276

Lesson:

Diana Faught, “Katie’s Peaches,” Friend, Aug. 2003, 18

Six-year-old Katie loves peaches. But she lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where it is too hot for peaches to grow well. Luckily she has a neighbor named Daun who knows a lot about growing fruits and vegetables. He and his wife, Alice, have a peach tree that grows big, beautiful, very tasty peaches.

One day Alice came over with a big bag full of peaches. “Would you like some peaches?” she asked. “This year we seem to have more than usual.”

Katie’s mom thanked her and took the peaches into the kitchen. She washed them and put them into the refrigerator.

Later that week, while Katie was at a friend’s house, Mom bottled all of the peaches in big glass jars for their food storage. When Katie got home, she cried, “What did you do to my peaches? Now I don’t have any to eat.”

“I’m sorry,” Mom said. “The next time Alice brings over peaches, I’ll be sure to save you some.”

A few days later, Alice brought more peaches. Katie helped Mom wash them. Then she watched Mom put most of them in boiling water. After they were dipped in cold water, Katie cut them in half with a butter knife. She couldn’t help tasting a piece. She kept tasting pieces until she got full.

“Mommy, why are we putting my big, beautiful peaches into these glass jars?” she asked.
Her mother explained that they were for food storage. “We are going to do what Joseph in Egypt did.” Katie wanted to hear about Joseph, so while they bottled the peaches, Mom told her the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. She told Katie about how his brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt, where he became a friend of Pharaoh. She explained that Joseph told Pharaoh to store food during the seven years when there was lots of it. Then they could eat it during the seven years when there would be very little food for them.

“The prophet has asked us to store food while we can, because we may need it later,” she said. Katie wanted to follow the prophet, so she decided that putting the peaches in bottles was a good idea. She had learned a lot more than how to bottle fruit.

Katie didn’t want to wait for a famine, though. She was glad that they had saved some of the big, beautiful, very tasty peaches for her to eat right away.

Questions:

• How many different ways can you think of to use a jar of peaches?
• What other foods could you can?
• Why is canning a good idea for your food storage?
• What is a famine? (for older children)
• How could following the prophet help the people of Egypt at the time of the famine? (for older children)
• How can canning help us follow the prophet?

If we are prepared with our food storage we won’t have to worry in times of a famine or storm. Just like Noah brought food for his family and the animals in the ark, we can store our own food in our “ark” in our food storage.

Activity:

• Play “Food BINGO”-Place a button on the food storage item when it is called out.
• Food Storage Match up - Match up the food storage items and talk about how you could help each other as a family (draw pictures of food storage items or labels/boxes and cut them in half to match up)
• Food Scavenger Hunt- make a list of food storage items and have the children search to find where they can be found
• Go to the orchard and pick peaches or other fruits and vegetables. Eat right away or can them.

Cut these strips of paper apart to call out the BINGO squares. For BINGO markers, cut up colored construction paper or use coins or buttons.

Use clipart for games as desired:

Closing Song: We Are Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord – H 57

Treat:

Applesauce Cake

1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup applesauce
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vinegar

Mix dry ingredients. Stir in liquid ingredients completely. Pour into an ungreased 8-inch square pan. Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.

Use items only from your food storage to make a treat (including powdered milk, eggs, etc.).

Other Activities:

1. During the “harvest season”, go as a family to a local farm and pick fruits and vegetables for home or for canning.
2. Read the story of the famine found in Genesis 41. How could the people have prepared for this famine?
3. Read D&C 89 and decide how these foods could be put into your food storage.
4. Visit the local cannery and purchase food storage items. (Adults can also work in the cannery to help can their foods).
5. Make an inventory of your food storage. Do you have enough for everyone in your family for 3, 6, 12 months?
6. Have a Canning Day. Learn how to can produce bought from the farm, bought from the store, or grown in your family garden.
7. Match food storage items to letters of the alphabet on index cards.
8. Play grocery store with the food storage items.
9. Choose a day each week or month to have a food storage meal night. Eat only from your food storage for that meal.
10. Plant, harvest, and store your food from your family garden. Have a family workday to work in the garden. Share your harvest with other families.
11. Talk about the “sealing” process involved in canning and relate it to a forever family. Read “Preserving JAM (and Families)” in FRIEND July 2004 p. 4-6.
12. List ways to “preserve” your family during trials, tribulations, and outside influences.
13. Read “Canning Jars and Prophets” in FRIEND October 2006 p. 38-39.
14. Read “Year’s Supply Bread” in FRIEND April 1994 p. 8.
15. Read “The Anderson’s Ark” in FRIEND Nov. 1990 p. 9-10.
16. Grocery shop for food storage items each week. (See “Food Storage for $5 a Week” handout).
17. Date your canned goods, jars, and other food storage items when you get home from the store. Don’t forget to rotate!
18. Refer to Essentials of Home Production and Storage (Distribution Center).
19. Refer to Blue Book of Preserving (canning guidebook).


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: SugarDoodle.net (FHE by: Janetta Graham)

Family Home Evening - Making a Survival Kit

Making a Survival Kit

Scripture or Quote:

"It has been asked ... how many of us would have jeered ... at ... the sight of Noah building his ark. Presumably the laughter ... continued until it began to rain — and kept raining! How wet some people must have been before Noah's ark suddenly seemed the only sane act" (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, For the Power is in Them, p 20).

Purpose:

Outdoor activities are no fun when someone gets lost. Adequate preparation will usually keep this from happening, but some simple equipment can prepare a family member to survive if he does get lost. This activity will teach family members to make a lightweight survival kit that they can easily carry with them.

Opening Song: As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days – H 256

Lesson:

First make sure that family members understand a few simple rules:

1. Wear a shrill whistle around your neck when you are hiking or fishing in an isolated area.

2. Tell someone where you are going and when you are coming back. Don't leave the camping area by yourself.

3. Orient yourself to the area and do not explore longer or farther away than your family feels is safe.

4.Remember when you are lost to—

• Keep calm, find a sheltered place, and stay put. Get out into the open if planes are overhead.
• Build a fire if possible, conserve your heat and energy.
• Mark your location. Move out from it to seek familiar landmarks and return to it.
• Shout, use a whistle, and concentrate on being found—not on finding someone.
• Prepare for the night, gather wood, build a shelter before dark.

Activity:

Have all family members help construct a survival kit. Make sure they know how to use each item. The following items can be put in a 2 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-16 1/2-inch (6-by-11-by-16-cm) leather pouch and will weigh less than one pound (.5 kilograms).

Try each component in your backyard or on a simulated exercise to prepare yourself and your family for possible use.

Closing Song: Sing Your Way Home – CSB 193

Treat:

A great refreshment idea would be a power food bar of some sort, similar to something you would store in a survival kit.


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: Family Home Evening Resource Manual

Family Home Evening - Emergency Supplies

Emergency Supplies

Scripture or Quote:

It was not raining when Noah built the ark. But he built it, and the rains came. The Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear'” (D&C 38:30)

Purpose:

Do you have the supplies your family would need in case of emergency? Are those supplies in good working order and in a place where you could find them quickly? Or are they scattered all around your home? When emergency supplies are in a central place, your family will be better able to handle emergency situations. This activity will help your family gather and organize the emergency supplies that can make your family more secure.

Opening Song: Today While the Sun Shines – H 229

Lesson:

Recall together some emergencies that have happened in your home or area: a blackout in the city, someone's falling and bumping his head, someone's cutting his finger on a knife, or a fire in the kitchen. When these things happened, where did you find the supplies you needed? Did you have to search for candles or antiseptic or bandages? Perhaps you could not find or did not have what you needed.

Talk about how important it is to have emergency and safety supplies stored near the place where the emergency is most likely to happen and where everyone could find them quickly.

First decide where in your home you can put a central store of supplies.

Have a scavenger hunt in your home to find what items you already have to put into your emergency supplies. The items could include:

•A flashlight in good working condition.
•Extra batteries for radio and flashlight. Do not keep batteries in the flashlight or radio. Keep them in an airtight container.
•Portable battery powered radio. Use for receiving emergency instructions.
•Candles (bowl type). Keep in case of power failure. Bowl will help prevent fire in case candle is overturned. (You can make these inexpensively out of paraffin wax.)
•Wooden matches. Use for lighting candles and relighting pilots on gas appliances. Be sure matches are kept in a metal container out of the reach of small children.
•Fire extinguisher (ABC or dry chemical type for all classes of fires). Be sure you know how to handle and use it. Check it regularly.
•Fuses (if your home has a fuse box). Numbers on the end of the fuse indicate size. When replacing blown fuses, be sure the number on the end of the new fuse is the same as the number on the old fuse.
•First-aid instruction book.
•First-aid supplies. The following list suggests minimum items to be included in your first-aid kit.
•Aromatic spirits of ammonia—one unbroken tube
•Aspirin—100-count bottle
•Calamine lotion (for insect bites, hives from allergic reactions, or exposure to stinging nettle or poison ivy)—one tube
•Thermometer—one oral and one rectal for small children or babies
•Scissors and tweezers—one of each
•Safety pins—one package of assorted sizes
•Adhesive tape—one roll
•One large box of assorted adhesive bandages
•Matches (for sterilizing)—one box of wooden matches
•Absorbent cotton—one box
•Rubbing alcohol—one unbreakable bottle
•Antibiotic ointment (Neosporin or Bacitracin)—one tube
•Bicarbonate of soda (used for shock and upset stomach)—one box
•Diarrhea remedy (Kaopectate or Pepto Bismol)—one bottle
•Elastic bandages (for sprains and aches)—one 3-inch (about 7.5-cm) and one 6-inch (about 15-cm)
•Gauze—one roll
•Hot water bottle
•Hydrogen peroxide—one unbreakable bottle
•Ipecac syrup (induces vomiting)—one bottle
•Finger splints (popsicle sticks)—ten splints
•Roller bandages—two 1-inch (2.5-cm) and two 2-inch (5-cm)
•Three-by-three-inch (7.6-cm) sterile pads—one box
•Triangle bandages—four or more
•Hand soap—one bar
•Water purification pills and/or bottle of 2% tincture of iodine
•Eye drops and medicine dropper
•Razor blades
•Needles
•Measuring cups
•Knife
•Consecrated oil
•Soothing throat lozenges—one package

Place all these items in a waterproof container (metal, heavy plastic, or wooden). Also store blankets, sheets, and at least four thin board splints 30 inches (about 76 cm) long.

You may wish to add items to the kit as you need them. For example, if you have small children, you may wish to add liquid acetaminophen. If someone in the family needs special medication, add this to your kit.

Label your supplies, and date all medicines. Check supplies periodically, replacing them as they are used and throwing away old or contaminated supplies.

Do not throw old medicines into trash cans around the house, where small children could find and eat them. Instead, flush them down the toilet or dispose of them in some other safe way. Perishable items should be rotated regularly to reduce spoilage.

After you have gathered your safety supplies and decided what you need to buy, divide up assignments. Assign some family members to buy items you need, and others to label the items. Buy things as you can afford them. It may take a while to get all the supplies you would like to have.

After you have gathered and stored your supplies, you may want to have a series of family home evenings where you discuss how to use them.

Closing Song: Be Prepared (To the tune of Yankee Doodle)

Verse 1:
Our prophet's told us to prepare
For famine and disaster.
If we obey, our family will
Live happy ever after.

Chorus:
"Be prepared," our prophet said.
Store your wheat and honey.
Plant a garden; learn first aid;
And don't forget some money!

Verse 2:
When Father Noah built an ark,
The people laughed and shouted.
But when the rain began to pour,
Those people never doubted.
Chorus: Repeat

Verse 3:
We have been warned in latter days
There will be floods and earthquakes.
So put your house in order and
Prepare before the dam breaks!
Chorus: Repeat

Verse 4:
Please do not procrastinate.
Excuses have no muscle.
You'll never find a better time
Than NOW! So better hustle.
Chorus: Repeat

Treat:

Fruit Salsa and Sweet Chips

EZ Fruit Salsa

Here is a great way to get your kids to eat fruits!

1 lb. strawberries, diced
1 cup pineapple, diced
2 kiwis, peeled and diced
1 peach, peeled and diced
8 oz. raspberries, sliced in halves
1/8 onion, diced
1 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
dash salt and pepper

1.In a large bowl, combine fruit.
2.Add remaining ingredients and toss.
3.Cover bowl and marinate in fridge for 30 minutes or more (the longer it marinates, the better.
4.Remove and serve with Sweet Chips below.
(Optional: Rather than dicing or chopping by hand, use your food processor to "chunk" your fruit.)


Sweet Chips

6 flour tortillas
softened butter
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.Coat top side of tortilla with very thin layer of butter.
3.Using a pizza wheel, slice tortillas into triangles.
4.Distribute evenly on a cookie sheet. Do not allow overlap.
5.Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
6.Bake (just a few minutes according to desired crispiness).
7.Remove from oven and let cool.
8.Serve with fruit salsa dip.


Extra Activities:

1. Hold a family home evening and invite neighbors and extended family members. Learn together what to do in emergency situations.
2. Take a first-aid course from a school or organization in your community.
3. Assign a family member to periodically inspect your supplies to make sure they are kept current.
4. Take your first-aid kit along on a trip or campout.
5. Put together a kit of emergency supplies to keep in your car. You could include the following:
•Standard first-aid kit
•Reflector and flares in case your car stalls on the road or is involved in an accident
•Flashlight and batteries
•Blanket to be used for shock, cold weather, fire, or other emergencies
•Tow chain
•Fire extinguisherFlat block to be used as a car jack support


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: Family Home Evening Resource Manual

Family Home Evening - Community Plans

Community Plans




Scripture or Quote:

“We live in a most exciting and challenging period in human history. As technology sweeps through every facet of our lives, changes are occurring so rapidly that it can be difficult for us to keep our lives in balance. To maintain some semblance of stability in our lives, it is essential that we plan for our future. I believe it is time, and perhaps with some urgency, to review the counsel we have received in dealing with our personal and family preparedness. We want to be found with oil in our lamps sufficient to endure to the end.”- Elder L. Tom Perry, Ensign, Nov. 1995

Purpose:

When a city-wide emergency occurs, do you know what the state, city, stake or ward plans are? This FHE will help you and your family familiarize yourselves with the various community plans.

Opening Song: Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord – H 110


Lesson:

The very first plan that is referenced in any community plan is your own personal plan. It is important that you form a plan as a family first. It is likely that in the event of a disaster, the community will have to rely on each other for the first 72 hours before any outside aid will be able to help.

After you have come up with your family plan, then learn what your neighborhood plan is. Many wards have an emergency preparedness specialist that either has developed or is working on your ward plan. Contact that person to see what the plan is and if you can help!

The very first plan that is referenced in any community plan is your own personal plan. It is important that you form a plan as a family first. It is likely that in the event of a disaster, the community will have to rely on each other for the first 72 hours before any outside aid will be able to help.

After you have come up with your family plan, then learn what your neighborhood plan is. Many wards have an emergency preparedness specialist that either has developed or is working on your ward plan. Contact that person to see what the plan is and if you can help!

Other plans to ask for are your work and/or school plans. All schools have emergency plans in place. Call the schools that your child attends and ask them for a copy of their plans so that you know where your children will be in the event of a disaster.

The Harrisville City plan was sent to citizens a few years ago. Copies are available through the city. In the event of a disaster, Harrisville city has many citizens that are trained to help in disaster situations through CERT. CERT training is free to all residents of Harrisville. It is the city’s goal to have 1 person per 10 families CERT trained. If you are interested, please attend!

Command central will be located at the Harrisville City Building for the city and at the Central Church (across from the city building) for the stake. To find specific information during a crisis, public information will be broadcast over the radio on KSL AM 1160. If television is available, information will also be broadcast on KUTV – channel 2, ABC – channel 4 and KSL – channel 5. The types of information that will be broadcast include:

Type of emergency, situation or hazard.

Area affected.
How to protect yourself.
Evacuation routes, if necessary.
Public shelter locations.
Type and location of medical facilities.
Phone numbers to call if you need help.

In addition to broadcasted information, signs were included in the emergency plans sent out by the city. Those signs are a red piece of paper and a green piece of paper. If you need help, place the red paper in you front window so that CERT volunteers know to come to your aid. If you and your family do not require assistance, place the green piece of paper so that volunteers can spend their time with those who need assistance the most. If you do not have a copy of the plan, using colored papers you have at home is perfect.

The city and church will work together in the event of an emergency. The communication plan is as follows:

Review these plans with your family so that you and your children know what to expect in the event of an emergency.

Closing Song: The Time is Far Spent – H 266


Treat:

Cantaloupe Bowls

Cut a cantaloupe in half and clean the inside then pour jello mix (already mixed up) into the cantaloupe. The cantaloupe will work as a cute bowl. let it set then slice as you would normally.

Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: Harrisville City and Stake Emergency Plans

Family Home Evening - Family Finances

Family Finances




Scripture or Quote:

"We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures; discipline yourselves in your purchases to avoid debt. . . . If you have paid your debts and have a financial reserve, even though it be small, you and your family will feel more secure and enjoy greater peace in your hearts."
—The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, Feb. 2007, 1

Purpose:

We have been counseled to set aside a small financial reserve for emergencies. This lesson will help your family develop a plan to achieve that goal.

Opening Song: Thy Holy Word – H 279


Lesson:

The basic principles taught to us by the church about finances include:

Pay Tithes and Offerings
Avoid Debt
Use a Budget
Build a Reserve
Teach Family Membres

President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught: “Set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts” ("To the Boys and to the Men," Ensign, Nov. 1998, 54).

Gradually build a financial reserve, and use it for emergencies only. If you save a little money regularly, you will be surprised how much accumulates over time.

One of those most important skills is that of preparing for a rainy day, a day of potential scarcity. Our dear beloved President Faust spoke of those rainy days in the General Conference of April 1986:

Frugality requires that we live within our income and save a little for a rainy day, which always seems to come. It means avoiding debt and carefully limiting credit purchasing. It is important to learn to distinguish between wants and needs. It takes self-discipline to avoid the “buy now, pay later”philosophy and to adopt the “save now and buy later” practice (see insert, Ensign, Sep 2007).


Speaking of frugality either brings moans or joy; it never seems to bring both. It's truly all in how we approach it.

Our children will long remember how we teach this lesson. And it is much more than the "Is the cup half full or half empty" approach. Once a person grasps the full range and benefit of frugal living, there is no going back

Hymn #279 lists D&C 18:34-36 as a cross reference. Here is the scripture to read out loud with your family.

These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;

For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;

Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.
Open up the discussion to explore thoughts on what this scripture means. Remember that there are not necessarily "right" or "wrong" answers, only "important" answers — in other words, things that strike each individual as significant. Explore these as a family.

Next, ask what this scripture has to do with trusting the Lord's living oracles, the prophets.

Allow family members to share their thoughts.


Activity:

To open children's minds as to the importance of preparing, you could play the following two familiar games, but with an important twist. Be patient while the children participate, because the feelings of "losing" will be important when you teach the actual spiritual purpose of the activity. Ask everyone to play "nice", because there is a purpose to the games.

Musical Chairs

Items needed:

chairs (one less than there are family members)
music player (with a remote, if possible)

Place chairs in a circle or a line. Make sure there is one fewer chair than there are family members. As long as the music plays, the family walks around the chairs. As soon as the music randomly stops, each person needs to find a free chair to sit on. The person left without a chair must now wait out the rest of the game. Remove one chair. Repeat until you have only one chair and one winner.

Without explaining, move immediately to the next game.

Mine, All Mine

Items needed:

toys (one fewer than there are family members)
music player (with a remote, if possible)

Scatter a variety of toys on a table top or on the floor. Again, start the music and the players walk around the table or the floor. When the music randomly stops, instruct everyone to grab a toy. The person without a toy now must sit out the rest of the game. Remove one toy. Repeat until you have only one toy and one winner.*


Application:

Have everyone return to their seats. Ask how it felt to be standing without a chair or without a toy. Allow the family members to vent any frustrations or to share any difficulties they had with the moment.

Read the following quote from the insert found in the September 2007 Ensign:

Perhaps no counsel has been repeated more often than how to manage wisely our income ... Too many in the Church have failed to avoid unnecessary debt. They have little, if any financial reserve. The solution is to budget, to live within our means, and to save some for the future (President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Sep 1986, 3).

Then ask questions similar to, "What can we do to ensure this never happens to our family?" and "How can we make sure we will always have sufficient for our needs?" Make a list of suggestions the family comes up with.

Ask the family if they would support a family fast in September. The purpose would be to explore how best to prepare the family in frugal preparedness approaches so that food and finances will never run out.

Invite the family to think on these things and to come to the next FHE with any additional ideas or suggestions or personal sacrifices they could proffer to make a difference.

Ask what this quote might have to do with the games just played. What is it like when resources run out? What kinds of feelings result?

Closing Song: Keep the Commandments – CSB 146

Treat:

String cheese would be a fun refreshment at the end of this FHE. Show the kids how you can pull a tiny string from the main part of the cheese and then eat it. String cheese is fun, because the more carefully and thinly you pull a string off, the more there seems to be to go around. While snacking on the strings, ask how this is like a smart family who carefully prepares for the future.


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: www.meridianmagazine.com/familyhome/070829bondage.html

Family Home Evening - Fire Safety

Fire Safety




Scripture or Quote:

Exodus 19:18 “An Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

Purpose:

Every year thousands of people lose their homes or their lives by fire. But many fatal fires could be prevented by basic knowledge and practical precautions. Every family should have a fire safety program to teach family members how to prevent fires and how to react in case one occurs. This activity teaches your family basic steps to prevent and deal with fires.

Opening Song: The Spirit of God – H 2




Preparation:

Draw a map of your home for each floor which includes where doors hallways and windows are located. This will be used to draw out your escape plan.


Lesson:

Discuss with your family the importance of fire safety and having a plan for your family in case of a fire. In the activity, you will determine escape routes for your family from each room of the house. Determine a meeting place for the family outside of the home. The meeting place should be located somewhere far enough away from the house that all can get to it easily.

It is preferable that the meeting place be in front and to the side of your house. An example would be at the neighbor’s mailbox across the street.

Review the four rules of fire safety:

• Eliminate fire hazards around the house.
• Teach every family member safe fire habits in daily life.
• Install a smoke detector system, if possible.
• Be sure that everyone knows exactly what to do in case of fire.


Activity:

Develop a home emergency escape plan. With your family, find the best possible escape route from different parts of your home, giving special attention to the bedrooms. Every room needs two escape routes, one normal and one emergency exit. Consider using doors, halls, and windows.

A suggested activity with children is to go to each room in your home and have them identify two or more escape routes from each room. As you travel from room to room, walk hunched down (to get below the smoke) as you would if there were a fire in the home.

If you choose a window for an emergency exit, make sure that it is possible to reach the ground safely. You may need an escape ladder or rope. If a bedroom window does not open, keep a hammer under the bed to break out the glass if necessary. In emergencies when no one can help you in getting down from a high window, rip up bed sheets and tie them together to form a rope.

Make a master home emergency escape plan. Draw a map of each floor, showing emergency and normal exits, as well as the location of windows, doors, stairs, and halls.

Decide on a place outside to meet after you leave the home. Mark it on your master plan map. Make sure your family knows this is where you will all meet.

Post copies of the master plan in several areas of your home. You may also want to post individual plans in every room.

This next activity can be done as an additional activity, or in a separate FHE:

Ensure that your home is safe when it comes to fires. Discuss the list “Fire Safety All Around Your House” with your family. Then with the checklist, a black pencil, and a red pencil, walk together through each room in your home. As you do, discuss whether your family takes all the safety precautions listed. With a black pencil check off the precautions you are already taking. If you need to improve in an area, make an X with a red pencil. If you have red Xs, your home is not as safe from fire as it could be. Assign family members to correct each problem. As they do, erase the red marks.

Fire Safety All around Your House

1. Kitchen
___Never fight a grease fire with water. Have a lid available for every pan in which a grease fire could start.
___Keep towels available for drying hands before using any electrical appliance.
___Turn pot handles inward on stove.
___Wear close-fitting sleeves when you cook.
___Keep stove and exhaust fan clean and grease-free.
___Don't hang clothes, dishtowels, or decorative objects, that could catch fire over the stove.
___Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Know how to use it.
2. Laundry and Furnace Room
___Keep the lint trap around the dryer free of lint after every load of drying.
___Replace furnace filters regularly. Clean dust and lint from around the furnace motor and burners.
___Service fan motor and check fan belt regularly.

3. Bedrooms
___Be sure windows open easily.
___Always sleep with bedroom doors closed if you don't have a fire detector.
___Plan two escapes from each bedroom.
4. Storage
___Never leave greasy or oily rags lying about.
___Store gasoline and other flammable substances in tightly closed metal containers.
___Keep the basement, attic, and other storage areas clean. Do not store old clothes, cardboard boxes, magazines, newspapers, or other items that catch fire easily.
5. Electrical Outlets
___Don't overload circuits. Avoid plugging more than two appliances into one outlet.
___If a fuse blows or circuit breaker trips, find the cause.
___Don't use extension cords under rugs, over hooks, or through door openings. They can become worn and cause short circuits.
6. Care of Children
___Never leave a young child unattended.
___Do not let children play around stoves, open fires, or electric heaters.
___Keep matches and combustible fluids out of reach.
___Instruct babysitters on what to do in case of fire.
7. General Fire Safety Practices
Keep a garden hose with a nozzle attached to a water outlet at all times in case of fire. Be sure the hose is long enough to reach all areas of the home.


Make sure each family member has a whistle for warning others. Have the family keep their whistles by their beds.

Turn off or unplug appliances when you finish using them.

Protect children by buying them flame-retardant sleepwear and costumes for special holidays. If clothing catches on fire, remember to stop, drop, and roll—don't run, lie flat on the floor or ground, and roll over several times then back, leading with the legs. Keep the arms drawn in and the hands over the face. Practice this skill with each family member.

Additional Activities:

1. Discuss the possibility of installing a smoke detector system in your home. You will need one smoke detector for each level of your home. You will also need one for each sleeping area if the bedrooms are not grouped together.

2. Fire drills reduce the chance that someone will be hurt in a fire. Hold family fire drills regularly—at least three times a year. Use your home emergency escape plan as the plan for your fire drill. Make sure that everyone understands the exit procedure. You can hold a drill in several ways.

To start the drill, have everyone go to their bedrooms, close the doors, and wait for a prearranged signal. When the signal is given, have them use the emergency escape from their bedrooms and meet in the assigned place outside the home.

Or have someone give the prearranged signal when no one is expecting it and see how fast family members can meet outside in the assigned place. As part of each drill, have someone practice going to a phone outside the home so that family members will remember that they must call the fire department.

Review these rules each time you have a drill:


• Post emergency telephone numbers at all telephones. See "Emergency Telephone Numbers" for instructions on how to make emergency calls.
• Do not return to a burning building once you are outside.
• Do not try to put out the fire, unless you see that it is confined to a very small area.
• When you hear the alarm, get out of the house immediately. Don't stop to dress, get valuables, or call the fire department. Go to a neighbor's house to call.
• Do not rush into a hallway. Touch the closed door with the palm of your hand. If it is hot, use your emergency exit. If it is not hot, open the door with caution. If there is fire and smoke, close the door immediately. It takes ten to fifteen minutes for fire to burn down a door.
• If you become trapped, don't panic. There is a good chance of survival. Cover the vents with cloths, and stuff cloths in the cracks in the door. If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and tell them exactly where you are. Then signal from the window with a light or bed sheets. Don't jump from a high window unless someone is holding a net to catch you.
• If your room is filled with smoke, get down on the floor and crawl. Cover your face with a cool, wet cloth if possible.
• Always close windows and doors behind you as you leave. This will slow down the spread of the fire.

Closing Song:

Stop, Drop, and Roll (To the Tune of Farmer in the Dell)

Stop, Drop, and Roll
Stop, Drop, and Roll
If your clothes should catch on fire
Stop, Drop, and Roll


Treat:

Fireman Shake

1 cup strawberries
2 teaspoon honey
4 large scoops vanilla ice cream
1 ½ cup milk

Blend ingredients in the blender. Enjoy!


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: Family Home Evening Resource Manual

Family Home Evening - Emergency Phone Numbers

Emergency Phone Numbers



Scripture or Quote:

The Church and its members are commanded to be self-reliant and independent. D&C 78:13–14; Preparation begins with faith, which enables us to weather vicissitudes as they come. We see earth life as a preparatory journey. Faith in the Lord and His gospel conquers fear and begets spirituality.

Purpose:

In case of emergency, can you immediately find telephone numbers that could bring help to you and your family? In a crisis, just a few minutes of time can make a lot of difference. In this activity, your family will post all emergency numbers and learn how to use them.

Opening Song: Lead Me Into Eternal Life – H 45


Activity:

With help from all family members, look up the following numbers:

•Fire department
•Police, sheriff, or constable
•Department of Public Safety
•Ambulance rescue
•(In some areas, the numbers listed above can be reached by dialing a special number for emergencies. Check and see if there is such a number in your area.)
•Doctor—home and office
•Hospital
•Poison control center
•Highway assistance
•Home teachers
•Visiting teachers
•Bishop
•Relative or close friend


List these numbers on a piece of paper to post by each telephone in your home. At the bottom of the list, write the words who, what, and where.
Make sure all family members know how to report an emergency. Explain that, when the person they are calling answers, they should always first say, "This is an emergency." Then they should tell—

Who (give their name). What (tell what is the matter—whether anyone is trapped or injured).

Where (give address and directions).

Then they should answer questions about what first aid has been given and listen for instructions about what to do until help arrives. If for some reason they cannot stay by the telephone until the call goes through, they can give the necessary information to the operator. If the number they call is busy, they should dial "0' to get faster action.

Make sure that each family member knows which numbers to call for which kind of emergency and can relate all important information. It is also a good idea to have small children memorize their names, ages, addresses, and parents' names.

If your family does not have a telephone, find out the location of the nearest telephone or source of help. Because you may need to use a pay telephone in an emergency, it is a good idea to carry change with you. Since you probably will not have emergency numbers with you at a pay telephone, dial "0' for the operator. As soon as the operator answers, tell her, "This is an emergency." Give her the number of the telephone from which you are calling. Then tell her who, what, and where and wait for confirmation.

After you have posted your emergency numbers and taught the proper reporting procedure, have everyone practice making an emergency telephone call. Leave one or two members of the family home to role-play the operator, fireman, doctor, or other person you might call. Have other family members go to another phone and call their home telephone number.

Sample emergency phone number card:

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Rescue Squad (paramedics or EMT)____________
Fire Department____________
Police____________
Doctor____________
Hospital Emergency Room____________
Life Support Unit____________
Poison Control Center____________
Other numbers____________
Who?____________
What?____________
Where?____________


Closing Song: Come, Let us Anew – H 217

Treat:

Microwave S’mores

Place two pieces of a Hershey’s candy bar on a graham cracker, then place a large marshmallow on each of the two pieces of candy bar and place in the microwave. Be sure not to over cook, you only need about 30 seconds. Its fun to watch the marshmallows expand. After you warm the chocolate and the mallows place another graham cracker on top and squish together. Let cool for a few moments and enjoy.


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: Family Home Evening Resource Manual

Family Home Evening - Talk It Out

Talk It Out




Scripture or Quote:

We have built grain storage and storehouses and stocked them with the necessities of life in the event of a disaster. But the best storehouse is the family storeroom. In words of revelation the Lord has said, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing” (D&C 109:8). – President Hinckley

Purpose:

It's important to plan ahead so that during an emergency you know what to do and how to get in touch with other family members! Here's how to create a clear family emergency plan.

Opening Song: Family Night – CSB 195

Lesson & Activity:

As you prepare your FHE Preparedness Fun activities, remember to keep them uplifting and hands-on. This will help focus people's minds on what they can do, rather than focusing on what they could fear. It is important that as families we focus on personal power, rather than the horror of a possible event.

Talk about the following questions and make a list of your family's solutions. Use the tips provided as a guide!

Before you know it you will have a plan in place that everyone in your family can follow. And if an unexpected event does happen you can stay calm; listen to the direction of adults around you, like your teachers or parents and follow your plan.

If there were an emergency and we were not together in the same place ...

How would we get in touch with each other?

A few tips...

Decide that each member will call or e-mail the same person. For example, each person will contact Uncle Bob first. If he's not home, each person will contact Aunt Suzie instead.

If cell phones are not working, you should try using a land-line phone at a neighbor's or friend's house, or a public telephone. Everyone should have coins or a prepaid phone card to make the call.

It might be easier to reach a person who's out of town. You can contact him or her to let them know you're okay.

Where would we meet?

Tips for Selecting a Meeting Place:

Choose an easy-to-find location near your home, then practice getting there from different locations around your neighborhood.

Also, choose an easy-to-find location outside of your neighborhood in case you can't get home. With your parents, practice getting to that location from school, sports practice, or other places where you have after-school activities.

How would we remain in contact?

Tips for Your Call List:

You should keep a copy of your family's contact numbers and meeting place(s) taped to the inside of your binder or homework notebook, in your book bag, or your wallet. Your plan should include all the phone numbers you might need.

Remember, you might have trouble getting through on the phone during an emergency. Just keep trying.

What would I do if I were at school?

Tips for School:

Make sure your parents talk to your teacher or school principal about the school's emergency plan.

Depending on the unexpected event, your school may have a plan in place that will have you stay in your classroom or go somewhere else.

The most important things you can do if an emergency happens while you are at school are to stay calm and listen to the direction of your teachers or principal.

What would we do about our pets?

Tips for Pets:

Visit the FEMA Web site to find out what pet-related items you will need to include in your supply kit!

Make a plan for what you'll do with your pets if you can't take them with you. Remember, you may not be able to take them to a shelter.

Closing Song: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man – CSB 281

Treat:

Monkey Bread

1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoon melted butter
1 package refrigerator biscuits

Mix brown sugar, water, and melted butter in a round glass bowl. Microwave for 2 min. Add refrigerator biscuits onto mixture and place a small juice glass in center. Microwave 2 more min. Remove glass and invert onto serving plate. Serve warm by pulling sections apart.


Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: www.ready.gov/kids

Family Home Evening - Overall Emergency Plans

Overall Emergency Plans




Scripture or Quote:


"We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt.“ President Thomas S. Monson, October 2008 Priesthood Session, General Conference


Purpose:


Does your family know what to do in case of a fire? Where would you all go during a tornado warning? Earthquake? Hopefully most of you have gone over this in your families, but if you haven't, do it now!


Opening Song: I Will Be Valiant – CSB 162


Lesson:

Fire. Talk about escape plans. Ideally, there should be at least 2 possible ways to escape from each room in your house. Go from room to room and talk about how you could get out. Ask your kids what they would do if a fire was in the hallway, or if it was in the kitchen. If they don't know, show them. Teach them how to "stop, drop, and roll." Also, teach them that things can be replaced, but people can't. They shouldn't waste time grabbing toys and other things.


Also, I really hope you have a fire extinguisher in your house. PLEASE learn how to use it. That fire extinguisher does you NO GOOD if you don't know where it is, or if you don't know how to use it. If you don't have one, consider getting one as soon as possible. I'll admit, I don't have one. BUT, I do have something called "Tundra”.



It's a spray can that works for all kinds of small fires (electrical, grease, etc). Boy, I wish I'd had that on hand when I had a fire in my house last October. Lesson learned, though. I don't remember how much Tundra costs (it's under $20), but it's well worth the peace of mind, and it will also be well worth it if I ever have to use it! $20 may seem a little steep, but it really isn't when you compare it to insurance deductibles, replacing your things, etc. Plus, only my kitchen saw the fire damage, but there was soot throughout my ENTIRE HOUSE because the cabinets had been burning for so long. If I'd had Tundra (or a fire extinguisher), it probably wouldn't have been so bad.


One final thing about preparing for fires... decide on a place outside to meet. Make sure it's far enough away that the fire won't effect it, and try to make it on the same side of the street, especially if you live in a busy area. Go there during Family Home Evening so there is no confusion. Make sure kids know how to find that place from each exit.


Earthquake. Even if you don't live in an area where earthquakes are likely, it's still a valuable lesson to teach. Practice getting under the kitchen table, and teach them that the most important thing they can do is protect their head.


Tornado. Another valuable lesson. What room in your home would you all congregate in? It should be a room in the center of your home, and ideally it should have no windows.


What have you done so far to prepare for emergencies?


Activity:


There are so many things to be said about each emergency. A little searching on the web will give you a lot more information about what to do in each disaster. Make sure your kids know what to do in these situations - it could be a matter of life or death. You can make these lessons fun by talking about it at FHE. Practice getting out of the house quickly. Make it a game to see how many people can fit under the table. Run around the house squatted down the same way you would if there were a fire.

Closing Song: The Family – CSB 194

Treat:

Marshmallow Puffs


Take a pkg. or refrigerator biscuits and pat each out flat, place a marshmallow in center and wrap up sealing the edges.
Dip in melted butter, roll in cinnamon sugar. Put in muffin tin.
Bake at 400 for 10-12 min. Eat 'em hot.

Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: safelygatheredin.blogspot.com

Family Home Evening - Why do we prepare for emergencies?

The first postings on this blog will be a series of family home evenings centered around emergency preparedness. The first one is "Why do we prepare for emergencies?"

Scripture or Quote:

D&C 1:12 “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh.”

Purpose:

To learn & teach about food storage, self-reliance and why it is important.

Opening Song: Awake ye Saints of God, Awake! – H 17

Lesson:

“They teach and practice skills of sewing, canning, drying, and other food storage methods. With it went much of the food storage, but there was still the togetherness of a family that had learned to work together, to plan and prepare, and to face a difficulty head on.”
--L. Tom Perry The Need to Teach Personal and Family Preparedness, Ensign, May 1981

Ask what it means to be prepared. Explain that you are going to be talking about food storage which is in the temporal preparedness category.

Tell this story: "The Andersons' Ark“

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; … And of every living thing … shalt thou bring into the ark, … And take … of all food that is eaten … ; and it shall be … for thee, and for them (Gen. 6:14, 19, 21).

“Hey, Mom, I’m home!” I yelled, closing the door. I hung up my coat (but it fell to the floor).

“Hello, dear,” Mom answered. “Come in here and see.” And—like every day—I knew where she’d be.

Hands sticky with dough, flour dusting her cheek, She looked at her bread loaves—enough for a week!

“All ready for baking,” she said with a smile.“ It’s good to make bread, though it does take a while.”

“Then why do you bother?” I asked, op’ning the door Of the oven. “Why don’t we buy bread at the store?”

“Now, that would be easy,” Mom said with a sigh.“ No wheat to be ground, no yeast cakes to buy

“No mixing the flour, no bread dough to knead—All that takes much effort, and hard work, indeed.

“But if we don’t use what we keep stored away In our food storage room, it will spoil and decay.”

“So why do we store all the food that we do,” I questioned my mom, “when it’s so hard for you?”

“For years now,” Mom answered, “the Church leaders say To keep one year’s food saved for a rainy day.

“In fact, you might think—and not just as a lark—Our food storage room’s like our own Noah’s ark!

“We do as we’re told, just as Noah did back then. Remember, he built it before the rain came!”

“But an ark?” I asked Mother. “I don’t understand How an animal boat is like food, dried or canned?”

“Oh, you’d be surprised!” Mother said with a grin. “Would you take this flour back to its storage bin?”

So down to the basement and into the dark I hurried to board our own “Andersons’ Ark.”

There weren’t any lions there roaring aloud, But I saw all the fruit we had canned, and felt proud. I didn’t see bears, either growling or funny, But I thought of the sweetness we get from our honey. Though nary a glimpse of even one otter, We’d never go thirsty—we’d jugfuls of water! No rabbits were hopping about to and fro, But canned garden veggies were neat in each row. No cow was there to moo or to wink; However, we’d powdered milk our family could drink. No elephant stood there to trumpet a call, But I saw our wheat stored—a half ton in all!

I looked everywhere, but there wasn’t a trace Of one single animal found in that place. I saw enough food for my parents to feed The whole Anderson family if there’s ever a need. We don’t know what problem, if any, we’ll face. It’s good to be ready, prepared, just in case.

I went back upstairs to where Mom was still cooking. “So how is our storage? You spent quite some time looking.”

“I know it’s important; I just can’t deny it. And without all those animals, our ark’s much more quiet!”

Debbie Davidson, “The Andersons’ Ark,” Friend, Nov 1990, 9–10
**Use Pictures as the story is being told or after to explain.

Explain to your family that you are trying to heed the words of our prophets… Explain that you are doing this by stocking your food storage shelves and making 72-hour kits.

You can also show them your menus, your tracking sheets, your inventories. If you don’t have these here are some examples. If you need to start with menus, tracking sheets, and inventories involve the whole family in this process. Ask what their favorite meals are and see if it can be turned into something that is food storage appropriate.

Activity:

Make your own Family Ark sign, for older children have them actually make the sign themselves; for younger children make the sign and have them color it… Find and designate a place for your food storage, if there is already a place established; make sure all family members know where it is. If possible hang your Family Ark sign by your food storage, if food storage is in numerous places, place the sign on your pantry as a reminder of what we should do to be prepared.

Closing Song: Follow the Prophet – CSB 110

Treat:

Camille's Granola Bars

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups oats
2 1/2 cups rice krispie cereal
optional: chocolate chips, almonds, raisins, etc.

Start by putting the brown sugar and corn syrup on the stove to boil. While you're waiting, mix the oats and cereal together in a bowl and line a 9x13 pan with wax paper. When your mixture boils, remove from heat and add peanut butter and vanilla, stirring until combined. Add to the cereal and oats and stir until the oats and cereal are covered by the peanut butter mixture. If you are adding any extras, wait a few minutes until it's not so hot to stir them in. Dump the mixture into the pan and spread out evenly with your fingers. Wait 15-20 minutes, and then slice with a pizza cutter.

Prepared by the Harrisville 2nd Ward EP Committee
Source: safelygatheredin.blogspot.com