Being Prepared

I've been thinking a lot about preparedness 

and about the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 30:38, where it says

 ...if ye are prepared ye shall not fear

Mike and I have really been working on becoming prepared.
Having a baby sparked something inside Mike and me.
Both of us now feel such a greater desire
to follow the counsel of our LDS church leaders.
It makes sense though, that we'd feel a greater urgency
 now that we have a little one to take care of too.
We'd hate for anything to happen to him (or us)
because of a lack of preparation on our part. 

The Church has continually counseled us to become prepared--in all areas. As a young single person I didn't really know how I could be prepared, nor did I make an effort. Before we were married (for years and years) I had constant anxiety about the future. I was not prepared. Money was the top of my anxiety list, and it went from there. I wasn't financially prepared, I wasn't physically prepared for emergencies,
and I had many years of not being prepared spiritually. 

Marrying Mike has saved me. 

I no longer feel anxious about the future,
even though I know trials are sure to come.
 I feel peaceful about our financial situation and financial future.
I feel prepared for unseen emergencies.
I feel more prepared spiritually than ever before.

The current state of our government and our country has definitely 
added to our desire to be prepared for the future.

I believe preparation is a continual process.
We must be consistently working on being prepared.
Spiritual preparedness, especially, is a daily process.

So I can remember someday,
this is our current "preparedness effort" list.
 Hopefully we'll be able to add more as time goes on.

Spiritual Efforts
 Current Temple Recommends
Family Home Evening
 Family Prayer
 Family Scripture Study
Couple Prayer
Personal Prayer
Personal Scripture Study


Physical  Efforts
Insurance...
Life, Health, Dental, Car, Renters, Ring, Identity Theft
Pantry Food Storage 1 Month
Storing Milk for Baby


Financial Efforts
Emergency Fund
Christmas Savings
Anniversary Savings
Car Emissions/Safety Savings
Health/Doctor Visits Fund


Emergency Efforts
72 Hour Kits
Water Storage
Long Term Food Storage 1 Month
Portable Toilet
First Aid Kit Home/Cars
Tent
Sleeping Bag


Valuables Protection Efforts
Fire/Water Safe
USB Computer Backup Storage



...If ye are prepared ye shall not fear