Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 78:3, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 78:3, 14
For verily I say unto you, the time has come, and is now at hand; and behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization of my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of the storehouse for the poor of my people, both in this place and in the land of Zion—
That through my providence, notwithstanding the tribulation which shall descend upon you, that the church may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world;"

This made me think of the bishop storehouse and the distribution system that we have setup worldwide. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is trying to prepare all that is needful, and so are the saints independently. There is something so comforting knowing this. "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Day 3667

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 70:7, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 70:7, 9
"Nevertheless, inasmuch as they receive more than is needful for their necessities and their wants, it shall be given into my storehouse;
Behold, this is what the Lord requires of every man in his stewardship, even as I, the Lord, have appointed or shall hereafter appoint unto any man."

In the Doctrine and Covenants we learn of the early saints being called to live the United Firm or Law of Consecration. This is how the Lord would provide for the saints, and the building up of the church. Later it is replaced with tithing. In the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual I learned something new. The stewardship mentioned was regarding the printing of the Doctrine and Covenants and the profit generated from it. The men given this stewardship were to use the funds for their needs and what was more than needful went into the Bishop storehouse. The Lord provided a way to supply for their needs, but they weren't getting rich off church proceeds. It is the same today, no one is rich from serving.

"In the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 70, the Lord called Martin Harris and William W. Phelps to join the four men who had been previously appointed to serve as stewards over the revelations. These stewards were not only responsible for publishing the revelations but also for managing the revenue generated from the sale of the Book of Commandments. The Lord commanded them to use the profits to provide for their families and to consecrate what was left to the Lord’s storehouse for the benefit of the people in Zion. The Lord organized this joint stewardship according to the principles of the law of consecration."
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 25: Doctrine and Covenants 66-70, "Stewards over the revelations and commandments")

Day 3659

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 83:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 83:6

"And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor. Amen."

I reflected on how well organized the bishop storehouse is. What a beautiful purpose and mission it has. Members of my faith take this charge seriously. I found this tour that someone posted that was so in depth on the Church Distribution Center, and Bishop's Central Storehouse. It is just massive.

I guess what I would say that's key here is, this is for the poor and the needy, be it financial or from natural disasters. It's not intended as a means to feed the saints that have been unwise stewards and unprepared when shortages happen in the supply chain. What we experienced during this pandemic was a lot of panic buying that wiped out supplies for everyone. At that point the resources are low and the wisdom of having put a little aside for a rainy day doesn't appear so foolish. Many were caught unprepared and we can do better. Just like we make our homes an extension of the temple, our home pantries are an extension of a Bishop's Storehouse to feed our own.

Day 2086

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 55:17, 22

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 55:17, 22

"Yea, even to their women, and all those of their children, as many as were able to use a weapon of war, when Moroni had armed all those prisoners; and all those things were done in a profound silence.

Now behold this was done in the night-time, so that when the Lamanites awoke in the morning they beheld that they were surrounded by the Nephites without, and that their prisoners were armed within."

I'm in what is referred to as the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. It appears to have tactics that will be useful in the last days. Not that the situations are the same but the concepts that are needed. What I first found interesting in this chapter was the mention of arming women and children. Not a nice concept at all, but I cannot ignore the timeliness of this discussion. Out of the blue today I had a discussion with another women, who told me that because of all the violence that is going on she is thinking of getting a gun to protect herself. I told her that while I reading in Alma 54:12 yesterday I was stuck with the mention by Moroni of arming his women and children if needed. Then again at the end of the Nephite and Jaredite civilizations it mentions the arming of women and children in battle. Not a pleasant thought, but it sure does tell us about the times we are living in right, when it's a consideration by some now. 

What I also noticed in this chapter were two things, profound silence and things done in the night-time. To me that feels like a warning. That if you are making preparations they should not be announced to others. Keep those to yourself because you never know who is watching or careful note taking. Having said that I do appreciate those that are sharing their knowledge with others on homemaking skills that have been lost to us. Sometimes what we think of as preppers are simply people that are using homemaking skills, basic to any women over a 100 years ago. It is with my parents generation that much of this knowledge was lost, because of all the conveniences that took their place while they raised their children. I am grateful for a father that loved to garden, even though I must admit I take after my mother and have a black thumb.

Day 1913

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 83:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 83:6

"And the storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church; and widows and orphans shall be provided for, as also the poor. Amen."

I pondered on how the law of consecration is alive and well today. Once a month I fast two meals and donate that as a fast offering to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is how the Lord provides for his own. The blessings now are that we are able to help more than our own members. What an amazing operation this has blossomed into. Even the poorest among us can fast and donate to help others, and receive the blessings from doing so. I am so grateful for the help I received when my children were young and I could not provide for them. I am so grateful that I can now help others receive that same assistance. 

Day 502

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 51:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 51:13

"And again, let the bishop appoint a storehouse unto this church; and let all things both in money and in meat, which are more than is needful for the wants of this people, be kept in the hands of the bishop."

The Bishop Storehouse! I thought this was the first mention of it but I see now it was first mentioned in chapter 42. I just pondered on something different. What a blessing the Bishop Storehouse has been to my family in the poorest times of our lives. Truly it not only filled my needs but my wants also. I have been so grateful. In those humble beginning in the early days of the Church did they even imagine what it would become? How the fast offerings of this people would not only bless our members but others in need throughout the world. Truly if we listen to the Lord and obey his commands there is enough and plenty to take care of the people in this world. Not only will we have spiritual but temporal blessings as well.

Day 470