December 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the December 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

December brings with it long winter nights perfect for caroling, service projects, gift making, secret Santas, and lots of good cheer! No wonder Christmas - the celebration of the birth of our Savior – has been dubbed “The most wonderful time of the year!” Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, be sure to fit in some preparedness. We can give preparedness gifts, and provide service that helps someone else be prepared. Preparedness giving will include a second gift – peace of mind. Knowing our families are prepared, both temporally and spiritually, will provide our own peace as well as give peace to those who we help. And isn’t that just what the angels sang of – “Peace on earth, good will to men.” This year – give preparedness. This year – give Peace!

Included in this month's newsletter:
"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" - excerpts from a talk by Elder L Tom Perry which include four requirements in preparing for that which is to come.
Disaster Prep - Learning from other's experience: poll results on how prepared people were for a disaster and what we can add to our own supplies so we are better prepared than they were.
Spiritual and Temporal Preparedness - A quote by James E Talmage about the warnings the Lord gives us.
In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for December garden activities.
Christmas Cooking - with Food Storage: recipes (that include food storage ingredients) for Molasses Candy, Easy Caramel Corn, Pecan Brittle, and Bran Refrigerator Muffins.
Christmas Gifts: A Preparedness Christmas - A list of gift ideas to help others with their preparedness.
Winter Ready Chickens: ideas to help your chickens be productive through the winter.

Click here for a complete copy of the December 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

November 2019 Back To Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

“Come, ye thankful people, come; Raise the song of harvest home. All is safely gathered in - Ere the winter storms begin.” This well-loved Thanksgiving hymn draws our thoughts to gratitude and preparedness. If we are thankful – we have a harvest – we have gathered in every needful thing, and we are ready for whatever storms of trials and adversity may come our way. Does your home reflect an attitude of gratitude? As we embark on a month devoted to gratitude, will the lord see our thankfulness with our food storage shelves and 72 hour kits filled? Are we ready for the storms, be they temporal or spiritual? Paul taught “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8) Let us show our gratitude, let us be thankful, let us provide for our families with some to spare for the needy. Let us truly Raise the Song of Harvest Home and have All Safely Gathered In. Let us Be Prepared!

Included in this month's newsletter:
Ere the Winter Storms Begin - a list of items to include in a car kit so you are ready for winter driving challenges.
Preparation with Purpose - a list of possible events where you will need to "Be Prepared," and what kinds of preparedness items to address it with.
Spiritual Preparedness - small and simple - a quote from Elder M Russel Ballard on the small and simple things we can do to fill our lives with peace and joy.
In the Southern Utah Garden - November things we can do to finish up the fall garden and prepare for the spring garden.
Thanksgiving Recipes - recipes for No Fail Pie Crust, Leftover Turkey Roll-ups, and Basic Dixie Salad.
Disaster Prep: Consequences! - what will happen if I don't prepare? A few thoughts on consequences pertaining to disasters.
A Food Storage Thanksgiving - a list of items you can store for Thanksgiving dinner, and a challenge to be ready for next year off the shelves.
Disaster/Emergency Prep - a list of tools and equipment that can help in your quest to be prepared.

Click here for a complete copy of the November 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

October 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

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Hello October…and goodbye summer. This is the month of no more hot days, when frosty nights appear, and leaves put on their best show. Fall is a season loved by many. The harvest is over or wrapping up, and the fruits of our labors are on show with pantry shelves full and gardens being put to bed for winter. It is a great time to take stock of where your family stands with provident living. If all is safely gathered in, we can truly let the winter storms begin. Are your shelves full? Is there a 72 hour kit close at hand? Can you care for your family and keep them happy and healthy “come what may?”  As the shadows of daylight slip into longer nights with cozy fires, let us be sure that we can sit at the fireside with a warm meal and a peaceful heart, knowing we are prepared. That peace and satisfaction is one of the greatest gifts of the harvest.

Included in this month's newsletter:
A House of Order: Prepare every needful thing- making preparedness a house or order with the D&C 88:119 reference.
Provident Living: Winter and Disaster Prep - ideas to prepare us for winter that also prepare us for disasters.
A Quote by Elder Victor L Brown about preparedness.
In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for October gardens.
Cooking With Food Storage: Fall Favorites - recipes for Pear Sauce, Hot Chocolate from scratch, and Applet Candy.
Why Have Food Storage - a list of reasons having a food storage is beneficial, beyond just having food!
Holiday Provident Living: Make your own - recipes for Halloween makeup, fake blood and a tip for costumes.
Slick Facts about Fats and Oils - info about oil, why to store it, how much to store, a what to store.

Click here for a complete copy of October 2019 Back to Basics.

September 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the September 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

September has long been the traditional month when all the schools were finally in session. Learning has officially begun! Although there is a specified age for attending public schools, we know that the acquisition of knowledge is a lifelong pursuit. D&C 130:18-19 tells us “Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” Have you ever considered that gaining knowledge can be a preparedness activity? We can gain skills and knowledge that will help us in our quest for provident living. The more we know, the more we can better care for our families. The world around us is full of daily disasters. Preparedness gives us peace of mind in the face of unknown storms. Let us use the time we have to improve our knowledge in areas that will assist us in following the commandment to Be Prepared.

Included in this month's newsletter:

Making Preparedness a Way of Life:  It is easy to be prepared if it is a way of life. Included here is a list of ideas to help you be prepared by making certain things a part of your regular living.

Life and Disaster Insurance:  We buy all kinds of insurance policies. Preparedness is a tangible life and disaster insurance. A list of"insurances" that we need to include.

Spiritual Preparedness:  a quote from President David O McKay on how our temporal preparedness obedience brings blessings, and temporal obedience becomes an element of spirituality.

In the Southern Utah Garden:  A list of things we can do in September. Everything from what to plant, weeding and fertilizing.

The Fall Harvest: Apples, Pears and Peppers: recipes to can and use apples (Apple Crisp and Cobbler) and ways to store pears and peppers.

Becoming a Provident Provider:  A great quote from Elder Robert D Hales to provide suggestions on principles of provident living.

Food Storage Made Simple:  A list of things to do to help simplify your food storage program.

Click here for a complete copy of the September 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

August 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

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“Today while the sun shines work with a will,” is the first line of a well-loved hymn that is a great motto for our lives. August is certainly a “sun-shining” month; a great time to use those “today” moments to prepare for whatever tomorrow may bring. We can “prepare for tomorrow by working today.” We can “work with a will” as we prepare both temporally and spiritually. “Today while the sun shines” we can put together that 72 hour kit, bottle fruit to enjoy in the winter, plan how to respond to any disaster, and live so that we can draw on the spirit to guide us. We can “work with a will” and “our duties fulfill” as we take the responsibility to be prepared to care for our families in any situation. While this summer sun shines - while we have the resources available – we can take advantage of the bounty that surrounds us . We live in times of plenty where the sunshine abounds. Let us prepare for the leaner times when the winter storms arrive and the sun is not so bright. Instead of complaining about the heat and summer sun – bottle it up for the future. Remember – as Ralph Waldo Emerson said “This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.”

Included in this months newsletter:
Disaster Prep: Be the One - 1 in 10 people keep it together in a disaster. Is that you? Ideas for how you can "be the one!"
Got Milk? Ideas for storing and using powdered milk.
In the Southern Utah Garden - Things to do in August. Planting, weeding, watering and more.
Using Summer's Bounty -  recipes for tomato soup, fresh peach cobbler and dried tomatoes, peppers and onions.
Powdered Milk - Now you stored it, how to use it -Recipes for sweetened condensed milk, buttermilk, cheese and pudding.
End of Life Preparation - a list of 25 things you should gather before you die!
Need Some Incentive? A visual of how much food you can have if you store a years supply of basics.

Click here for a complete copy of August 2019 Back to Basics newsletter.

July 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the July 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

July is the month Americans celebrate the freedoms fought and died for over decades and centuries of wars and conflicts. Blood was spilt so we could all enjoy the life we live today. Are we grateful for our freedom? This is a “choice land” that was set aside as God’s promised land centuries ago. Do we live a life that shows God our gratitude? Part of showing gratitude to God is by keeping his commandments. Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” One of those commandments is to be prepared, both spiritually and temporally. This summer is a great time to use our rich resources to set aside for a rainy day. “Today while the sun shines” let us harvest the fruits and vegetables and fill our bottles and freezers. Let us fill the water jugs and get that 72 hour kit ready. Let us fill some buckets and cans with beans and grains. Let us search the scriptures, pray, keep the sabbath holy, and attend church and the temple so that our spiritual lamps are also filled. Let us use our freedom to Be Prepared. Freedom is not “free”, but neither is the satisfaction preparedness brings. Let us pay the price for the peace of preparedness.

Included in this month's newsletter:
Disaster Prep- Simple ways to be prepared for emergencies: a list of easy do to things that will help us handle disasters.
Honoring Pioneers - Preparedness Style: a list of things we can follow the example of our forefathers to help us be better prepared and enjoy provident living.
In the Southern Utah Garden: items to plant, tips on watering, other garden ideas.
Using Food Storage - in the Good Ol' Summertime: a list of storage items to use and make frozen treats to cool off this summer.
Spiritual Preparedness: a quote from Elder Henry B Eyring about faith and obedience.
Provident Living - Edible Backyard Weeds: a list of common weeds found in and around your yard that are edible and provide great nutrients.


Click here for a complete copy of the July 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

June 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2019 Back to Basics newsletter.

Summer time is here at last… at least that is what the calendar says! The weather all across the country has been full of surprises.  It is said that one of the signs of the times is that you would not know the season except for the leaves on the tree. No one seems to be able to verify this, but it is one of those “Last Days Legends.” Even still – it seems to be true. All around the world are other signs of the times: wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and the love of men waxing cold. (Matthew 24) The purpose of the signs of the times is to warn us of the events that are about to occur, and to turn our hearts to the lord. They can be a reassurance that the second coming is getting close! As we watch the storms of these last days, we do not need to fear! We have been told “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Let us then Be Prepared!

Included in this month's newsletter:
A "Rainy Day" Plan - things to have for a rainy day disaster or emergency.
Disaster Prep: Helping Children Cope: a list of problems you may see in your children after a disaster, and ways to help them.
Emergency Prep - Labeling for Kids: Ideas of labels and contact cards for kids to be reunited with parents after emergencies.
Quote: from Pres. Ezra Taft Benson on food storage and boarding the ark.
In the Southern Utah Garden: tips for June  on weeds, planting, fertilizing and treating pests.
Home Canning - Extended Food Storage: tips to get you going on some summer canning.
Provident Living - What do YOU do in the summertime?  20 things to do for inexpensive old fashioned summer fun.

Click here for a complete copy of the June 2019 Back to Basics newsletter.

May 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

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“April showers bring May flowers” – and they sure did this year. The beautiful blooms around town and on the surrounding hillsides are so pretty and bright. The flowers always bring such a feeling of gratitude for the beauty of God’s earth, and a happy heart to have such wonders to enjoy. So it is with our preparedness… the planning and work that goes into the “prep” stage (those metaphorical April Showers) will provide us with the “May Flowers” of peace and joy in knowing you are prepared. You can say, as Elder Joseph B Worthlin – “Come what may, and love it.” A storm is easier to weather when the preparation is in place. We can be like the story of a farmer who hired new help. The hired hand’s qualification was that he could “sleep when the wind blows.” One night a big storm was blowing in. The farmer called for his new man, but he could not wake him, so he ran out alone  to make things safe for the night. When he got there he found the animals were safely in the barn, the tractor was under the shed, hay tarped, things tied down, and all was well. His hired hand could sleep when the wind blows because he did what was necessary beforehand. So it can be with all of us. As we put in the work – those “April Showers” – we can enjoy the “May Flowers” – and sleep when the wind blows!

Included in this newsletter:
Disaster Prep: Dutch Oven Cooking - tips to cook, get the right heat, and care for oven
Shelf Pantry Storage: The 3 Month Supply - ideas for your 3 month supply
In the Southern Utah Garden - planting, weeding and other tips
Cooking Without Power - indoor and outdoor ideas to cook without power.
Quotes from General Authorities.

Click here for a complete copy of the May 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

April 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the April 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

The month of April brings many things. Of course, we know that April showers bring May flowers! But there are many opportunities and traditions that come with this wonderful month.  April is a great time to check fire alarms, rotate 72 hour kits, and refresh water storage. April is a month we can finish planting just about everything in the garden.  April is a month we can work in the yard and garden without getting too hot! April is the month of General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which makes it a great time for individuals and families to get personal inspiration as we listen to the wonderful messages prepared for us. April is the perfect month! May each of us find the thing that we need to accomplish in April, and let the efforts we make “blossom” with “May flowers” in the form of preparedness, peace, and happiness! If we are prepared we shall not fear!

Included in this month's newsletter:
Preparedness - a Family Affair - ideas to involve your family as you seek to Be Prepared.
Water Storage: Tips from Homeland Security - how much, where and how to store.
In the Southern Utah Garden - tips for April planting, fertilizing, weed killer and spraying fruit trees.
Cooking with Food Storage - recipes for Scripture Cake and Old Bottled Fruit Cake.
Disaster Prep: When to turn the gas meter off. - Instructions for when and how to turn off your gas meter in an emergency.
Easter Egg Provident Living - tips for inexpensive egg coloring this Easter.
Spiritual Preparedness - The Blessings - quotes on blessings we get as we get a food storage.

Click here for a complete copy of the April 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

March 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

The month of March brings with it spring weather – which usually consists of both spring and winter. Whether it comes in as a lamb and goes out as a lion – or vica versa – one thing is sure: it will be full of all kinds of surprise weather days. We adapt as the weather changes, and embrace the warm spring days as we get the garden in, spruce up the yard, and maybe even have a hot dog roast. Being ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at us is the same idea we can incorporate into our family preparedness plan. We never know what storms will blow or when the seas will calm. But we can always Be Prepared. The food storage and emergency preparedness we have is like the Pot of Gold the leprechauns on St Patrick’s Day have. It is at the end of the rainbow – which always comes at the end of a storm. If we are prepared, no matter what storms come, we will be able to have peace and endurance, and a rainbow full of joy!

Included in this issue:

Accomplishing the Impossible Dream -  a list of things we can do to acquire a year supply within a year.

Its Chicken Time -  spring time is time for chicks. Get your own flock going this year. A list of tips to get you going is included.

In the Southern Utah Garden -  a list of veggies to plant, planting tips, and March garden chores to remember.

Cooking with Food Storage: Spring Time Treats – recipes for Food Storage Candy, Whiopped Topping, Fruit Smoothies, and Old Bottled Fruit Cake. Yum!

Disaster Prep- Shelter in or evacuate -  things you will need to have on hand in advance to enable you to live outside of your home.

Spring Weeds – Using the Dandelion!  Lots of uses for dandelions listed, and a delicious recipe for Dandelion Jelly.

Spiritual Preparation – a quote to remind us of the importance of following those promptings for temporal and spiritual preparedness.

Click here for a complete copy of the March 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

February 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the February 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

Love is in the air – because it is the month of Valentines! This month we traditionally show that extra bit of love to family, friends or even those we are a “secret admirer” of. What better way to demonstrate our “love” than to be sure we are ready to care for our family so we can follow Elder Wirthlin’s admonition: “Come what may and love it.” When we follow the commandment to “be prepared” – we also follow the commandment to “love one another”.  As we line our shelves with food, water, and a 72-hour kit, we are ready to care temporally for all those we love. As we read scriptures, pray and keep the commandments we help our family prepare spiritually. The Savior taught us about preparedness with the parable of the Ten Virgins. We have been taught, we have been warned, and now we must act! As President Kimball always said, “Just Do It!”

Included in this month's newsletter:
Disaster Prep: Following the Leader - the church sets an example of preparedness on a large scale of readiness. We can follow this example in our own families as we firm up structures, make our homes ready inside for disasters, have a food storage and emergency supplies, look ahead at what scenarios we may encounter, have a family plan, be ready to serve and be spiritually prepared.
Earthquakes - we can prepare our home for an earthquake inside and out, practice what to do during an earthquake, and know how to take care of things after one.
In the Southern Utah Garden -  tips on pruning, planting, fertilizing, and spraying to get our gardens and yards up and going.
Cooking with Food Storage - Using Bottled Fruit - recipes for Peach or Apple Crisp, Apple or Peach Cobbler, Fruit Cocktail, and Fruit Salad.
Spiritual Preparedness -  a quote from Dallin H Oaks about the importance of preparedness since we live in the prophesied time "when peace shall be taken from the earth, and "all things are in commotion".
Its Freezing out There! - A list of things to have ready in case of a winter storm that puts out utilities and services. Covers light, heat, cooking, clothing, sleeping and water.
Provident Living - a list of ideas to help us simplify, save money, or be frugal.

Click here for a complete copy of the February 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

January 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.

It is hard to believe another year with “Father Time” has come and gone, and baby 2019 is here! Time passes so quickly that each new year seems to roll around in the blink of an eye. That time flash is a good reason to use our time wisely as this New Year begins. Let us focus our efforts on all those things we put aside for another day. Keep in mind the old adages – “no time like the present” and “never put off for tomorrow what you can do today!” Make 2019 the year you finish up the plans for new shelves in the store room, or filling those water barrels (what good are they empty anyway?), or restocking the 72-hour kits, or attach the water heater to the wall. Whatever it is you have been procrastinating, make this the year that every month you finish one more item on “the list”. Like the old song says – “time keeps on slippin', slippin' – into the future!” Before you know it tomorrow will be yesterday, but if you are time wise you can make 2019 be your “time to every purpose under the heaven” – to Be Prepared!

Included in this newsletter:
New Year Resolutions: Be Prepared! Challenges and thoughts to help you get the items needed in four areas of preparedness.
Wheat - the Staff of Life: Tips on using the wheat in your food storage.
In the Southern Utah Garden: Tips for things to do in January.
Cooking with Food Storage - Wheat! Recipes for 7 ways to use your wheat.
Lessons on Provident Living: Quotes that teach what provident living is.

Click here for a complete copy of the January 2019 Back to Basics Newsletter.